Daily Republican., 1885-08-15
THE MISTAKE OF HERLIFE.
BY ALICE DALE.

BY ALICE DALE.
" And this is your final decision
Miss Arnold? Is IL irrevocable?"
"Quite."
Bertha Arnold's fair face grew colder
and rroudtr as she spoke, and her blue
eyes could not lift themselves to The
face of the man at her side. Lee Alline
ham was very grave and stern; but he
checked the passionate, upbraidine
words that troubled upon his lips, and
bowed courteously.
SO, understand you, Miss Arnold
II is quite ticae that We understood
each other. IL IL simply this: you
reject me bee ause / have been uufor
tunate enough to lose my fortune. /
who. one week ago, was your favored
suitor, am now coldly and scornfully
dismissed. Alb, well since that is your
real nature, AN only thankful to have
found out the truth before it is too late
Good, morning"
And be loft her, proud as she, his
face pale with emotion and wounded
pride, his dark eyes full of misery
He owed her: he had loved her long
and to-day was the most wretched day
of his life, for he had found her out
cold, calculating, mercenary.
There was no mistake, no misjudgine
-she had gaZed into his eyes and told
him frankly, that since he admitted
the rumor of his poverty to be correc
that all his fortune had been swampe,
in ruinous speculation, she could no
consent to be- his wife. 1t was al
over, then. Her love had been weigh
ad in thAh hnt
In the scale with money, love had prov
ed itself Of lighter weight.
No matter" he muttered harshly
az he left the house and hurried do vi
the street set and stern; better &c
God pity the man who may be unfortu
nate enough to wiz her for a wife,
For he saw her nature now in tn
full glare of the light, and In hi
eyes there was no more beauty or swee,
ness in Bertha Arnold. Passing dow
a busy street, wrapped in his ow
bitter thoughts. he was suddenl
aroused by the sound of flying hoofs
and turning no saw q pair of frigh tene
he rses attached to carriage dashin
down the crowded throughfare, righI
in the pathway of a woman who wa
crossing the street.
sprung forward, and seizing the horse
by their heads bent all his strength IL
one mad effort to check them. HEAVIER
only knows how he continued to fore,
the terrified animals back, and with
powerful strength hold them until tn.
lady bad darted past them and was
safe then he fell to the ground, struck
down by the iron -shod hoofs. Darknes,
came to him aud he knew no more.
He opened his eyes to find himself
lying upon couch in neatly bu
plainly furnished room there was tn,
odor of camphor all about, and two
ladies were bending over him. One, al
elderly, sweet faced woman the other
fair. haired, blue-eyed girl Of eighteer
or twenty.
"Oh, mamma :" cried the younf
lady joyfully, "he is conscious q
last 90
The elderly lady took the young nan'l
hand and began to count the pulse
which beat almost mpsrceptibly.
Lee Allingham strove 10 sit up, but t.
his horror q giddy faintness overcam.
him, and a sharp pain in his side warn
ed him that something was wrong, and
he fell back upon bis pillow, while hi,
pale lips slowly framed the question
What has happened?"
The elderly Lady hastened to explain
You saved my daughters life," sht
said gratefully. :" She is my only
child. and you cannot wonder that |
thank you with my whole heart Sht
was on her way to her school, and being
in haste, would have been trampleC
under the feet of those runaway horse.
but for your bravery and heroic con-
duct. Lillian, come and speak to this
gentleman-you owe him your life"
And the pretty Rolden-haired giI
bent over the young man and touched
her llPs to the back of his hand withou
word.
The action was more expressive thar
words.
Lee managed to give his nam.
and address, and then faintness came
over him and he swooned a second
time.
For weeks he lay at deaths door
watched over and tended with assidu.
GUS care by Mrs. Blake and pretty
Lillian.
He had inferred from the old lady's
words and sundry remarks which had
drifted to his ears, between the spells
of funconsciousness, that Lillian was a
school teacher and the support of her
widowed mother. And when he grew
strong enough to think at all, he felt
with . pang Of the keen remorse that he
had unintentionally been source of
pecuniAry loss to her, for Of course sue
had not gone to her daily duties while
he was 80 ill.
The room In which he was lying was
veryplainly furnished, though exquisite
ly neat, and there were trifles ali about
which revealed feminine taste and refine
ment. The crystal vase of violets
on the mantel; the volumes of
Tennyson and Browning-dainty blue
and gold affairs; the tiny basket filled
with scraps of embroidery, minute
gold thimble. and all the usual para
phernalia of lsdy's work bas ket-
these small belongings told him of the
constant presence of refined gentle.
women; and there was something rest
full in the very atmosphere.
The day passed; a slow convalescenc ce
followed, under the restraint of which
his proud spirit Chafed, for he felt him