Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-05-11

the girl 10 WuOm NC uou ACi uSo" A.S .y--6
father to make offer of his hand, Lena
Munroe.
Long days and nights followed each
other, and Clarence walked from stupor TO
mad delirium, in which he told his patient
nurse all of which she already knew. ana
much besides-told her of the wealth ne
had vowed never to touch. lying IN MS
solicitors hands for the girl he could not
trace; of struggle and trial which he had
gone through, which made her blue eyes
dim.
But he said no word of any woman
whose love was his guerdon, and she was
glad that was spared her.
Once. in a midnight hour, when the
ward was silent, and the lights low about
them, he suddenly put forth his uninjured
hand and took one of hers; his eyes,
brilliant with fever, were fastened on her
face.
"Mv father loved you as q dau ghter,"
he said, softly. and he told me you loved
me but did not believe it, and wanted
him to leave me free. Child. why did you
fiv from mep Did you fear | would learn
to love you?'
She bent her face, and tears flowed
silently down her cheeks.
II was delirium, she knew; but she,
who had been unable to forget, remem-
bered that long hour in the early night too
yiyidly not to again feel some of its pain
as she heard him.
1t was weeks later. when after long
sleep. he Weakened to full consciousness
one morning at day dawn
The lights were low. the scene spectral,
and his languid eyes turned from object
to object.
At last they rested on the quiet figure
of his nurse asleep in her chair, and there
they fingered.
How sweet and girlish the weary face
was under the stiff cap and sad, too, as
this life was not such as her heart yearned
for. And the hands lying idly in her lap
were so fair and white and slender, dainty
enough to be kissed. but too frail and
white tor the tearing of linen and lifting
of dying heads. he told himself.
Then a sort of memory came to him of
those soft fingers on his brow, when it
had seemed burning OF that sweet face
bent over him in his delirium, when he
had taken it for the face of an angel.
He had seen it before, but where ?
Perhaps in one of his day dreams. Now
he would never forget it, he told himself.
as, his own eyes closing, he dropped off
to sleep.
1t was midday when he walked again
and found her bending over him, and this
time recognized her.
"Lenar' he cried trying to put out his
hand.
But he was too weak. 1t fell on the
counterpane.
You know me ?" she said, softly, turn
ing paler.
II know you, and want to tell you,''
he answered, family. and with a warm
glow in his eyes-''you are an heiress
there is no need for you to do this work,
My father"
IL know it ALL" she broke in; land
that was why left Lynn as did. Did
you think that would beggar you? And
your father has been kind to me. for
give him because he loved you. l will
not go back /; | will not take farthing of
that money; it is yours"
Then share it with me-" he said softly
81 would not ask you once, because did
not love you. do now, because love has
grown in my heart for you in an hour
Lena, you have nursed me back to life
from what must have been nearly death
Will you learn to care enough for me to
share my futurep"
"You love mel" she said incredulous-
ly. when did you learn the lesson ?''
cat day dawn, while | watched you
asleep in YOUR chair, ere knew who YOU
were. Lena, do not doubt me!'
Il do not" She knelt at the cot and
put back his hair. as he had dreamed she
did while he was unconscious. "And
will own to you Clarence that | have
loved YOU always since first saw you.
That was why | fled from Lynn"
And now you will come backp'
''FOr the same reason, she smiled, al
though her lips were tremulous. Glove
sent me forth then love recalls me now,
and will share the possessions with you
which were neither honestly yours nor
mine, but can belong fairly to us togeth-
er. Yes, Clarence, will 90 back'