Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1886-08-17

to the astonshment OF the family, appeared
Mt breakfast In vain they urged her to lie
on the lounge, at least. She assured them
she was perfectly well, and in spite of all
they could say, went into the sick-room and
took her seat by tho bod; and here, with
tireless eyes, she watched for long days and
nights.
The sufferers condition remained unal-
tered. Tho same dull stupor and heavy
and with the rest Lily began TO
despair Of any change in him but the great
one, till ono night, as she sat by him whilo
her fellow watcher lay sleeping on the
lounge, he suddenly started from his pill
low. In an instant she stood bending ovor
him, His eyes were open, but they, were
not notice her, but seemed looking at
something beyond, and he pointed with
his hand, as he said:
"Do you SEQ her There she stands, Ed
tolla She has discovered my secret and
come to gloat over mo. U, Estelln Es
tella Why were we two ever born I" His
voice died away in wall, and then he
broke out fiercely; Laugh on, beautiful
demon Triumph while you may But
You vent all your ire on me. Meyer, never,
shall you have powe; 10 touch her For
though with oil the strength Of despair l
love Lily, will never forget that you arc
my wife"
The laugh aroused the sleeper, and 1t was
well II did for Lily stood by the bed as cold
and whito as the patient, and for once sho
loft the room without objecting,
From this time the patients caso changed
Wild rawlings took the place Of tho stupor;
but never again did LILY, who wos constant
as before at her post, hear him speak qs he
did that night But that once had been
enough. 1t had shown her her heart, torn
the veil Of the future from her eyes, and
let her see it stretch O droary, hopeless
blank before her. The long dreary winter
dragged by, and Mr.. Brown battled for life
till the snow began to melt, and then youth
won tho fight, and he entered the slow
road OF convalescence; but the blossoms
were on the trees before he left his room
and stood in the sunlight again. A great
change had come over Lily in this time.
She abandoned the sick room when Mr..
Brown began to mend, and took up all tho
little household care she could te assist her
mother.
And thus time run on, till one lovely
evening toward the close Of April, Lily,
wearied with Tho house, went out for
quiet walk. She had fclt lonely and de.
pressed oil day, hut undur tho inauence Of
the soft, balmiy dir her gloom faded and
she trippcd along with almost the blithe-
somen6ss Of the old days. Unconsciously
she took the path to the schOol-house and
she had nearly reached tho well-known
door, when suddenly she stopped short, for
Just emerging from tho shadow of tho
woods she saw tho tall form Of Mr.. Brown.
1t was the first time she had met him alone
since that terrible day, and she stood hesi-
tating whether TO push rosolutely past him,
or turn hastily back but fate decided for
her Before oven these few thoughts could
rush through her mind, Mr. Brown stood
before her
''Good evening Miss Lily,n said he pleas
ahtly,. "Do you intend walking any far
therln
mo, sir" she stammCred. II an going
home now"
''rhen may accompany your
The form was q question, but without
waiting for a reply, he walked on, and she
minutes followed, during which Lily feared
he heard lnr heart beat, and then Mr..
Brown spoke:
II am very glad that have met you this
evening, Miss Elmer, for have heen wait.
ing and wishing for long time for an or
portunity to thank you for your kindness
TO me.n
He stopped, and q spark of Lily's old
spirit flashed up, and she cried;
Thank mo! You mean tell me how you
hate and despise me, for that is what l do.
serve, and confess It'll"
A great sob rose in her throat, but she
choked it back, sand looked at him with
flashing eyes.
Hate your hc said sadly mo; what.
ever the past has been, have been too fai
from blameloss In it, to think harshly OF
you even if wished to; and now, as we
shall so soon part, perhaps forever, can
remember nothing but your kindness"
The light all died out Of Lily's eyes.
l.portf How, ~ eia bo 10
Il shall leave your fathers house to-
morrow. / should have gone before, but
we don't always do as we Should.n
The last with faint attempt at q smile.
But Lily did not notice it. Her poor little
heart seemed choking her, and her head
was dizzy with the Going! going go.
ingn that the trees wore singing to her
She dared not trust her voice to speak, and
they walked on In silence again for some
and stood directly in front of her, and,
fixing his eyes almost tlercely upon her, hs
said, In q hoarse voice.
Lilly Elmer, they tell me that you nursed
me through my fever, and that you alOno
heard me tnlk OF my past life. Is it sol"
He stopped. Her face grew whittier than
the rutiles at her throat but some unknown
power held her and raised her eyes full of o
wild, henrtbroken anguish to his, and her
pale lips said;
at isw
For minute each looked into the other%
soul and there read the secret their lipS
dared not tell; and then with a shuddor,
Mr. Brown turned and said;
"Come, the dew is falling, 1t is time You
were home" ~
And then they walked silently ON TIL
they reached tho gate. Here Mr. Brown
again stopped and held out his hand,
saying;
early to see you, and we had better say
goodbye here"
She placed her hand silently in his. He
grasped it tightly, and wild impulsn
seized him to fling defiance at the world,
and clasp her in his arms, and tell her tho
mad love that was burning his heart But
that mighty power the human will, that
holds even the elements in check held him.
He wrung her hand, and whispered
hoarSely:
"Good-byel God bless you Be happy
l ought to say forget me, but God forgive
mo, ean notW
And then he hurried away, and left hSs
in the pale gray veil Of falling twilight
Five years passed by with the change,
they always bring. Another April twilight
was falling over the little school.house iu
the woods and mlngling its golden light
with the brown hair of tho mistress, as she
closed the door and camo slowly down the
path; Five years had made changes in her;
recognize the Lily Elmer of old. The
color In her cheeks was fainter,
the outlines Of her figure slighter and
more elegant, and the soft light in
her eyes told as plainly as her sable robes
that sorrow had not spared her. The five
years had robbed her Of parents and home
and now she earned her bread in the little
brown school-house. She came slowly
down the path, swinging the big, rusty
key she, carried, and going back in
that other April evening, that mem,
ory would not let grow dim. She had
almost reached the edge of the woods, when
she stopped, and cry half escaped her
Was she dreaming, or were her eyes and
memory tricking herl Neither, for the
next minute Mr.. Brown stood beside her
holding both her hands in his, while hil
eyes were asking the question they dared
not ask five years before, and hers, in hel
firm faith in his truth and honor had giver
back the answer her heart held so long
This was their betrothal; in the shadow o
the school-house, where they first met with
the trees aud pond that knew their story
so well softly murmurlng their congratu
; lations.
/ And then as he walked to her humble
home he told her the story of his life
J betrothal in childhood, made by parents
to join two fortunes, and an early, hasty
marriage, followed by years of unhappines
abandoned wife, friends and fortune, anC
sought under a false name forgetfulness IL
/ poverty and work. And he thought HI
had found il. till in spite Of himself, hi