The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1884-03-20
have died then before another claimed


obviously at Nina, whose saucy laugh
not even the warning elements could
quell. Lillian, pale trembling from hel
recent exposure, became white as mar
BILE when Nina whispered in her ear:
"Will yon accept my lover now if ]
will give him to you?"
At length the storm was over and the
sun shone out, turning the raindrops
drops on the forest leaves to twinkling
jewels. The party made their way home,
trifie the worse for wear, and it was
not until they had all partaken of sup
per prepared for them at Oakland that
entire composure was restored to them.
After the events OF the picnic Edgar
became a devoted lover, but although
his affections were dear to Lillian, they
failed to bring real happiness. She had
told Edgar that she loved him when she
knew she should be parted from him
forever if she married the husband
chosen for her by her father. She had
betrayed the confidence of her little
friend Nina, and was practic-
ing deceit toward Hugh
Thornton. The girl was driven
to desperation. At last she determined
to see her betrothed husband, to lay her
heart, with all its infrmities, open for
his inspection. Perhaps he, too, would
be glad to be free. Surely he would
not marry girl who had given her
heart to another. She would throw
herself on his mercy. She could but
marry him after he had distinguished
the hope she had been cherishing.
The autumn had now passed away,
and had been succeeded by pleasant
open winter. Gossip had tired of Lii
ian and her affairs. Nina glided about
like sunbeam, refusing to be jealous
of her lover, but when questioned about
him always wore that explicable smile
that puzzled all the wise heads in Bloom
ingdale.
The theatrical season had commenced
in New York, and celebrated singer
there was creating q whirl of excite
ment throughout the whole surround
ing country. 1t had reached as far as
Bloomingdale, and as music was pas
sion with the young people of that town,
party was speedily gotten up to visit
the city and hear the famous cantatrice.
Lillian gladly accepted an invitation to
accompany them, after having written
to Mr.. Thornton to meet her in New
York.
The morning was bright and beauti
full when Lillian arose from her pillow
to look for the first time into street of
the great city already filed with hur-
rying people. Scarcely was her toilet
completed when letter, bearing the
Washington postmark, was handed to
her nom the door. Yes; it was as she
thought-to-morrow would decide her
fate and she would know whether she
was destined for life of happiness or
for one of bitter misery.
Lillian looked queenly in her seat at
the opera house that evening, and many
a questioning eye in the vast assemblage
was bent upon her. Edgar sat by her
side listening to the glorious voice of
Madame Blanco, when suddenly he
laid his hand upon Lilian's arm, with a
shiver that went like an electric shock
to her heart, and whispered to her:
Hugh Thornton is here!" Following the
direction of his glance she saw leaning
against pillar, young and elegant
man, whose light, curling hair shaded
but did not conceal massive forehead.
His laughing eyes were riveted on her
face, which displayed the confusion into
which she had fallen Edgar saw only
her, and his pale face grew paler as
he noted the exertion for self-possession
that Lillian was forced to make. Nina
could not refrain from giving utterance,
rather loudly, to her surprise upon de-
tecting Hugh Thornton among the au-
dience, but was embarrassed when she
became aware of the attention she was
attracting.
cit is all over" Lillian said to Edgar,
as he handed her from the carriage at
the door of her hotel, Eve have been
very happy, too happy! Try to remem-
Der me kindly" Springing past him,
she sought her private parlor, and,
throwing herself upon sofa, burst into
a passionate food ST tears. She had
at last seen Hugh Thornton. He was
handsome, possessed fame and talent
that the world had acknowledged, vet
all this was nothing to her compared
with the love Of the poor, dark -visaged
student, Edgar Wharton.
AS she lay there, utterly abandoned
to grief, astrong arm passed around her
and gathered her to its owners heart
"You have seen him, Lillian" said
Edgar, in his full, deep voice. A sob
was her only reply. "He is a splendid
fellow, while T"
ooh, spare me Edgar! I love you,
only you! You are all in all to mep'
An expression of JOY passed across the
students pale face.
''Think seriously, Lillian, before you
answer me" he resumed. Will you give
up your brilliant prospects as the spouse
of one whom all delight to honor to be-
come the wife of man who can prom
Use you nothing but life of obscurity ?"
Anything, everything, so 1 am not
separated from you"
Again that joyful expression fitted
across the face of the questioner. At
that moment gay laugh attracted their
attention, and Nina accompanied by
Hugh Thornton, entered the room.
Hugh advanced to Lillian and raised her
hands to his lips.
I see you for the first time, he said !;
II would gladly have come to you
sooner, but you forbade me-"
''Iu my letters have informed you"
said Lillian with downcaat eyes, that
my heart has long been given to anoth-
er; but if You insist upon the fulfillment
of my fathers promise will marry you
and devote myself to your interests.
You will forgive me the wrong I have
done you, and my hand and what I can
claim of my heart are at the disposal
Of"
The real Hugh Thornton !" cried he,
whom we have known under the name
of Edgar Wharton. "It is you who
must forgive us now. Conscious of my
unattractiveness, almost deformity,
how could expect to wear so precious
jewel unless I won it first? For this
purpose I beguiled Nina to aid me, and
for this purpose also my handsome
friend Edgar Wharton lent me his
name, which now return to him I'M
furnished. A fair exchange is no rob-
berry, dearest; Nina will be much better
pleased with the elegant owner of it