Smyrna times., 1884-10-08

Id; a woman, whom the first breath
f misfortune had not blasted to de-
pOndency or languOr, but rather had
and invigOrated.
She listened silently, while he told
er the story which had lain so long in
is heart unsaid. And, when he had
poken, she gave him frankly the love
which till then womanly pride had
eiled.
He brought her to a home which,
hough bright and cOzy, held none of
he luxury of that which she had
but she made it home in fact
S well as in word the dearest spot in
he world to Tom Lysander.
One evening Lila Lysander came up
o where her husband sat wearily
linking. Through the open window
anne the breeze, laden with promises
# the coming summer. Below, boys
we're crying blue violets on the city
streets.
"Tom, dear, what is it ?"
He started at the sound of the ten
Ter voice, and put his arm around her |
IS she stood beside him.
"Can you bear bad news, pet?"
l can share it, Tom"
He laughed at the brave, wOmanly
answer.
The gun of bad luck was double
barrelled to-day, my dear. Our sala-
ries were reduced One-third on account
Of a partial failure Of the firm, and
had a letter from Aunt Sarah"
"Oh, Tom, what does she say?"
"That she is making arrangements
with her lawyer to discontinue the al
lowance I have had ever since was a
boy; also to eradicate my name from
her will THERE"
"And all this on my account" ," wist-
fully.
"Ah that's where the joy comes in,
my darling. have yOu-the rest is
nothing"
is She not cruel, Tom?"
"Far from it. She is peculiar and
easily prejudiced. She used to love
me dearly. And if her blessed eyes
caught but one glimpse Of my bonnie
bride-Come for a walk, dear"
x
"Work! for you, Mrs. Lysander?
You surely don't mean it! Why, my
QGdI CIllOs you NOll hllON lllC AlChA-
ing Of the word"
Lila Lysander, standing before her
fathers old lawyer, slim, childish
figure. looked up at him with resolute
eyes.
"But / do mean it, Mr. Mitchell.
Some position which will permit me to
be at home in the evening before Tom
returns. lie is working nights, now,
to make up for the decrease in his sala-
~. 1t is terrible to think he should
toll so hard, while am comparatively
idle. You will help me, Mr.. Mitchell,
you must"
"Come to think of it, know a place
that would suit you. She els a client
of my office mate, Hillside, board
ing at the Revere-Rich, bless you
rich. She wants young girl to stay
with her part of the day while she i:
in the city; companion. guide, tha
sort of thing, YOU know. No on
would ever take you to be married
Miss Lila. There! Pm dropping int
the old name myself. Craig-you
second name, Lillian Craig. Capital
A harmless deception. Sit right dOwl
here while l 90 and see Hillside. Dea
dear"
He hustled eagerly off, and hustle,
smilingly back.
"Hillside says it's all right. He
privileged TO engage you. A compan
iona few hours a day-ten dollars
week to the right person. That WASH
much to you once, Miss Lila. Nc
much, was it?"
There were two $40 bills on the to
pantry shelf. But Tom didn't know
"Pil wait till it grows little" Mr.
Lila said, gleefully, to herself, IAN
then I'll give him a surprise party"
One day in her luxurious room ;
the Revere, Mrs. Percival lay iii wit
a feverise headache. Her cOmpaniO
went softly around the room, droppir
the curtains and stopping the clock
lest the ticking of the latter should di
turb the invalid. When she came baC
to the couch she found two dim o
eyes fastened on her in kindly scr
tiny.
"TwO weeks"
"Do you know I've grown very for
ofyou in those two weeks, little girl
A thin hand was caressingly
Lila's.
; What heavy gold ring you we
- like a wedding ring. l wish it wi
1 wish -
She grew dreamily silent.
The afternoon slipped away. 7
shadows gathered. The room w
darkened, the clocks stopped, and Il
did not perceive how late it was gro
ing. -,
"No, but my heart does"
She sat suddenly erect and cast t
rich wraps aside from her stately {
figure-'I am rich and you are pO
, We are both lonely. You have ere
- into my heart, sadly against my WI
confess, for | had grown very bitt
and critical of late. If you come to
YOU shall be as my daughter"
=" Oh, no, no, forgive me! | cannC
What-what sound is that? A b'
Hark I"
"That, why that is only the Ange
from the French Catholic Church" ."
"The Angelus y She sprang to
feet in alarm. " Then it is six o'clo'
1 have Outstayed my time. I must
going"
J.. She lit the gas and hurriedly fOu
AM her wraps.
d" Why, my Cinderella. What pal
YnHy Leave me your glass slipper-Co
est in.'
an The door was flung wide, and a II
,id. brushed into the room.
- "My darling, how you have fril
ened me-" he said, crossing to wh
1sB Lila stood. "I got home early
night, and l forced Mary to tell
where you-Aunt Sarah" He wheC
uri- around and clasped the old lady in
tss oS arms in impetuous boyish fash
sold "Well, this is a surprise How
ow;; and Lila"
IN EHu "You know Miss Craig?"
- "Niss Craigw mystifiedly.
Lila came swiftly forward
" did not know she was your a
Tom. / have never heard you 81
of Mrs. Percival by any name
o,d Aunt Sarah"
Is in 'Miss Craig, you cannot be-"
, on " 1 am Toms wife," simply.
gans gstf You-Tom's wife 2n
. Il am" with quiet pride.
los "But he married a horrid city
) be who was extravagant and knew I
ex- ing about worS-and-and She"
b. Lila laughed ut the vague hears
"I am that horrid city girl, I