Daily Republican., 1885-07-24
Ny Own Lost Love-
BY MRS. e. BURKE COLLINs.

shall never forget her, as I hrst
looked upon her, never to the day die |
How the beautiful, pure face framed |
in by sheen of golden hair, lit up til |
dingy old office like a ray Of sunlight |
shining athwart Its dusty gloom.
And ifany painter drew her,
He would Laint her unaware
/ With halo round her hair"
The words of Mrs. Browning's Por-
trait" picture in rhyme, kept floating |
through my brain like an echo. Butt
what right had 1, poor nobody, only
an employee in her fathers Office, to
think of her at ali ? Yet who, having
once seen Lillian Fane's perfect face,
could forget 1t
Let me tel! you how wetirst had met
l was bending over my desk writing
bnsiiy, when all at once something fair
and white stood before me; slim figure
In floating draperies, q face that was
perfect, and pair OF wondrous eyes
gazing upon me, while sweet, low
voice asked gently:
els my fa.her-is Mr.. Fame in?"
Then as she observed my glance of sur
prise, she added briefly: :" have Just
returned from school, and 1 must set
papa
And the sweet voice had ring of
impatienc ce in 1t. OF courseI provided
her with 3 seat; Mr.. Fame would soon
return, and M! !ss Lillian chose to wai'
f. r him. Sitting there We chatted
| pleasantly, and before we scarcely
realized 1t we were on friendly terms,
quite overlooking the wide social gulf
between us.
| A heavy footstep, and then pompous
looking man made his appearance and
had Lillian in his arms kissing her ten
derly. Lionel Fame, my employ 81, the most
naughty, purse proud man In the great
city. l stood aside until tho meeting
was over. then noticed that ths girl
had whispered something to her father
he turned carelessly to me.
Ny daughter Miss Fame, Mr.. Bar
ton Grey!" he said hurriedly, and there
Fane's tone that CALLED my pride mex
pressibly. 1t was AZ though L were al
in ferior and my presence just tolera
ted.
"Come, Lillian, said her father, "let
US 20 home. 1t Is such a comfort
TO have you back again. Mr.. Grey
l-tu rning to me carelessly-" you will
have those papers ready when returl
an hour later"
bowed.
al will have them ready" 1 ans We
ed.
JI Then Lionel Fame moved away, and
: she, with bow and II sweet smile, turn
cd and followed her father.
How dark and dingy, and, oh, how
lonely the office was. 1t was like
! wintry day, and it had been as sum!
i and perfect as spring only q shor
). time before. Something allied the
sunshine, and, oh, the gloomy sepsa
:. Idarkere ed all hope. But l worked ava!
b at the work before me, knowing full
we'll that Mr. Fame had intended u
rebake me for the time which l ha'
lost while his daughter was present
The papers were completed before b
returned he glanced them over, AM
because he could find no flaw II
their execution, WAS compelled to ap
prove.
"Ah, by the way" he added Ian
puidly, as he was about to leave tn
Ioffice, " my daughter, Miss Fame
>, intends giving q reception on Thurs
day evening, aud she has invite'
y you !"
| bowed in acknowledgment. Th
II invitation was extended as one fling
z a bone to adog.
u Miss Fame is very kind !" l re
70 sponded shall take pleasure In nc
Il cspting."
r. He bowed stiffly and lett me alone
But, between my pen and the pape
l. before me, there came the vision OF
10 fair, sweet face, with pansy.blue eyea
T. and clouds Of yellow hsir-the face
D. the woman whom was destined to Low
X until died.
y The night of the reception came.
10 ascended the marble stepsof Mr. Fame
TX lordly mansion with wildly beatin
20 heart; and not long afterward wa
a ushered into The grand drawing room
IN A glitter Of jewels, tie rustic OF silk
s' and satins. lovely facesall around, an
ne over all, the perfume Of rarest flowers
30 Behind y screen of blossoming plant
70 In band of music was discoursin
d. sweetly, and as l entered they wer
IL playing Mon Rove"
IL Ab. mon reve, indeed 1t was but
No dream after all in which l lived ths
ur night.
T.. A plimmer Of pale blue satin an
.th frosty lace; ;he faint perfume of woo
I'll yiolets; l glanced mp a small glove
II band was extended and sweet, wei
remem berel-alas too we'll remembers
Voice spoke my name. was IN M
presence once more.
She danced with me-not once, br
mapy times quite ignoring her father
black looks and the very evident di
satisfaction of more than one eltgib
60 paru. She seemed to note their disaI
N pontmept witta Rirlish delight, an
~ nv heart grew cold, for ] remembers
to that 40 in TIM she might deal with m,
But I deterrined to be happy for OF
la hrjef nigh; after that, Heaven onl
I'M knew wit might tear us asunder.
Rut ~ hours flew by as only bapp
ur bours an fly, and the reception was
thin rof the past Miss Lillian Fame
deh,s had been made-henc ceforth IL
q derands of society and fashion mu
AZ her time to the exclusion Of q
n. ,se.
y We met but seldom after that.
RS was invited no more to the Fame mar
a sion, and save for an occasional chan,
:. encounter, my acquaintance with Ii
IL sian Fame seemed at an end.
el But one day business called me to b,
% home; / was sent there (ahi how
writl cd beneath my yoke of servitude!
ard in the great marble entrance. ha
. saw Lillian; Lillian in lovely tel
e gown 1f palest green. She held out he
q, hand.
q "Just In time for fve-o'clock te,
Mr.. Greyl" she cried; "oh, yes,