The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1886-02-18

1ace.
But the darkness of the room only re-
vealed its excessive palior-nothing
more.
Il would be pleased to secure the po-
sitiOn; and can teach music. French.
German. and, with little study. Latin.
But am a-stranger here. and nv ref
erences are from places and people so
distant that | did not know whether YOU
would be willing 10 accept them"
Two keen bright eyes had been
searching her face rs She spoke. and
their owner was making up her mind in
hurried decisive way characteristic of
her.
Il think | would hc willing. Are Won
fond of children
Yes, madame"
'And have you taught befOre9''
''For three years. in family from
whom bring a Recommendation.
A few more questions aud answers
followed; and then, almost before Luz
ellie realized it, she was engaged. shown
to her room, and u boy dispatched to the
village for her trunk.
Can il be possible. or am | only
dreaming!' she mulrmured. sinking in
TO the chair by the window. in the very
room that had belonged to her cover
ness. ''Father. mother. do you know
that l am ut home? Home! Oh, what 4
bitter mockery! l must go away again.
| can never bear it!'
! But she did bear it, and soon learned
TO love those who now called it home.
Mrs. Morton was 4 widow. with frank
! impnlsiye heart, that was soon won bv
! the stranger: and the children fell
promptly in love with their new cover
ness. who never grew Tired OF strolin~
about the grounds with Them. and tell
ing the most wonderful stories, of how
another little girl had once lived ia their
house. and had done so and So.
1t was life nearer happy than any
she had lived for ten wears; and many.
many times the truth hung To her lips
when talking to Mrs. Morton. But abe
never spoke it.
''Such piece of news" said the lady,
coming in one day with an open letter
in her hand. '-Alv brother is coming.
hOme.'
Yes" said Lucille. with polite inter
est. The one you call Your fayOrite? !?
Is he coming to visit yOu9'
'.Yisit me? Why, this is his house, :"
| laughed Mrs. Morton. throwing down
/ the garden-hat. And with such q love
! ly home as this. ne leaves me To ,ln as |
! please here, and goes roaming around
The world after Il girl he loved wears
ago This was her home. Why. Miss
Lathrop-'
''Oh. it is nothing interrupted Lu-
ellie; ghastly pale. Only 4 stitch in
my side. have them frequently. But
| l was interested in your story. did
not mean to interrupt Go on. please
Il really don't know all the particu-
lars, often as have heard them" said
| Mrs. Morton. but they were engaged.
and as say, this was her home; but her
father forged, or something, and killed
| himself. and then the girl and her
mother gave up everything and disap-
peared. But forgot TO say that Just be-
fore that my brother had been called
abroad, and was reported lost at sea,
but had escaped death in the miraculous
way, that some people"
But with startled cry she interrupt
ed herself and sprang up. just as Lucille
sank from her chair 10 the floor in utter
| insensibility.
1t almost seemed as if life would not
return. but Mrs. Morton together with
the servants who rushed in at her
| frightened cry, were indefatigable. and
at last they were rewarded.
.'Do not speak, Mrs. Morton eN-
claimed. rs the gaze on her face grew
| rational, and the white lips began to
tremble. Il guess what you would say.
You are Lucille Brayton. Close your
eyes if am right.
Instantly the lids fell, but as quickly
lifted again.
Say it again" the faint voice plead
ed, in spite OF commands of silence.
LLOYD lives? my I.oyda Lloyd Murray?"
| '.Yes, yes. But you must be quiet. |
will not talk to yOu.' cried Mrs. Nor
ton, who was in perfect delirium of
! Joy and excitement.
But Lucille did not want her to- That
one deliriously joyful truth was enough
to feast on for the present, and gladly
she closed her eyes and lay quiet, while
Mrs. Morton, calling her carriage. drove
hastily into the village and sent this
! startling announcement TO her brother,
Lloyd MURRAY.
Come al once. Lucille Brayton is
with me-"
And you cannot imagine, how. after
reading it, the speed of lightning
\ seemed but snai's pace to him. who,
since his wonderful escape from the sea.
had never ceased looking for the one
who, believing him dead and caring for
naught else in the world. had SO sedul-
ously hidden herself away.
Their meeting was far TOO full OF
sacred Joy to bear either witness or de-
scription. Mrs. Morton welcomed
her brother at the steps, saw him into
the parlor, and saw Lucille rise from her
chair, looking like an angel in her white
draperies and the speerhless joy in hel
pale face.
Then she hurried away with her eyes
full of happy tears for their JOY, and
tried To explain to the astonishtd chill.
dren how Miss Lathrop was not Miss
Lathrop, and was going to be- theil
auntie very soon.
did you not notice how like old
times everything looked?' Mr.. Murray
asked Lucille, as next day they strolled
about the grounds and lake shore, Just
As they had done before.
"Oh, yes, the moment reached the
gateway; and while, OF course. | wa.
glad 10 see it so, it nearly killed me
with memories. thought could never
bear 10 stay here, answered Lu.iile
VINO Sill cOiliu hot fealfZc tue Nbhutf'
full truth that her lover, so long mournet
as dead was beside her.
Il reached here about six or ei9hr
months after you left. and finding The
house just as you had left it. still in the
creditors hands, | purchased ii, und
then began to look for you. Why. my
darling. it seems to me that have ran
sacked the entire world in searching fol
YOU, and advertised far and wide. How
could have failed in finding yOu?"
Easily, Lloyd. We went so far ano
among such entire strangers, and never
save when | was out OF work, anc
looked at advertisements, did we see ;
paper. No one gave them TO us, an,
we could not afford even the cheapest
And to think all that time YOU were
keeping the old home and looking fol
mer'
She burst into passion of tears, pure
ly joyful. and clung to him as if in ter
ror that the horrible past would prove
still a reality, and the present but de
lirious tieetin0 dream.