Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1886-03-19

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next moment he heard her voice, all
sympathy, speaking to Mrs. Hartley.
Then, feeling like an arrant coward, ho
skunk back to his own room.
Iris left an hour later. Some rela-
tivcs of Mrs. Hartlcy's had come, and
she could do little more. Dick reap
poared as she was quitting the house, to
offer his services as escort.
"Thank you," she said, moi unkindly,
but with quiet decision. ~ would
rather walk alone"
at Is very late, :" urged Dick.
al am not nervous" she said in q
cool tone of dismissal, and he fell back.
But he was not TO be baflled so easily.
Iris might walk solitary IL she liked; but
she could not prevent his following at
suitable distance, at all events, till she
reached the main street He took no
pains to keep under cover, for he was
reckless, and, indced, had she turned,
his tall figure and careless gait would
infallibly have betrayed him. But
whether or not some instinct warned
her OF the truth, | can not tell; but she
never cast glance behind, not even
when her quick footsteps brought her
into an slley rather too riotous for her
liking, and he saw her hesitate once or
twice. But further on, when they en-
tered Garrick street, he himself hastily
lcsscncd the distance between them, for
things were beginning to look ominous.
Half dozen sailors, British and foreign,
but all drunk, and all very much ex-
cited, had just poured out of one of the
worst public houses in the quarter, and
were commencing a free fight among
themselves. A little throng gathered,
cursing and cheering, and obstructing
the pathway, and Iris stopped, good
deal frightened. Dick noted one police
man on the extreme outskirts of the
disturbance lcisurcly whistling for help;
end thon--it all happened in an instant
"a drunken Lascar broke ou. of the
t'irong and caught Iris by the arm. She
Uttered a low cry. The next moment
chat Lascar was lying on the pavement,
% which Dick hail flung him With per.
haps unnecessary force.
Not for long. He was up again, witt
n Economical look of rage on bis face,
and he sprung at Dick like wild beast.
Something flashed in the crimson tavern
lights Then, as in wild dream, the
throng melted away, with fierce cries
and CALCULATIONS, and Iris was kneeling
at Dick Warrington's side chafing his
hands. There was a surgeon standing
by and one or two constablcs, looking
down compasionatcly on the PROSTATE
figure, and some one had said: There
is no hope" For the Lascar's aim was
not made false by passion, and he had
struck ut the heart. A strange and wild
dream, life that she had tried to scorn,
passing away for her sake into the
| darkness. Dick seemed to wake from
n heavy sleep, with the sound of the sea
in his cars as it thundered against far
distant rocks. Stay, was it the sea or
the tumult of the great city? The city
was growing silent now, wrapt in an
ever-dcepening tranquility. Then
memory came back to him; he knew
what had come to pass; knew that he
was dying. With pang of regret at
first, but when he raised his eyes, and
saw Iris Enderby's face bending over
him, he was well content. 1t was as
colorless as his own; but there was q
new expression mingled with its intent
ness, look that he had dreamed of
seeing there, but had never thought to
see in walking life, that touched him
with vague fear.
"Ths is good of you," he said, faint
ly. a think it will not be for long,
"Can you forgive me?" said the girl
in low voice. you have laid down
your life for me-"
Dick looked at her with amazed eyes.
The surgeon had turned away; the two
constables were speaking to each other
in husky undertones.
"What have / got to forgiven" he
asked, wonderingly. "But will never
forget you. All, l wish my life had
been worth your taking! A poor, poor
failure! If l had known you sooner, /
might have had the heart to begin
again; but lost hope early-God knows
why, You will never let It trouble you,
this happy fate of minep"
"lt viii trouble me-" she said, slow
r ly, ''all my life"
| "Ah, no'' he said, eagerly; and in
that instant strange look of nobility
irradiated his face. look it had not
known for many year.
"Forget it. l am not worthy of one
regretful thought from you. Indeed,
| indeed, / am not worthy. And how
could it end more happilyP For if had
( lived should have sunk yet lower, and
now | am not wholly base"
He paused. His words were growing
|
, ''And you will give me the heliotrope
, you are wearing to take into the dark
ness, and / never shall be lonely"
"I have no heliotrope," said the girl
clearly, though she shivered in the
August night, "but 1 will give you a
rose"
The rose she had worn was dropping
now. She laid it in his hand; then
STOPPING suddenly she kissed his fore
head with long, soft kiss. A light
flashed into his face, and an expression
so brief, so transient, she never knew
whether it had been of joy or pain.
Then all grew dim.
For years after there was one street
that meyer echoed to Iris Enderby' s
footsteps; bu. now, of all dreary haunts
in London, she loves Garrick street the
best, and the children have learned to
wait for her coming there, with out
stretched hands, and the scent of hello
trope as she passes floats on the heavy
air.-May Kendall, Longminan's Mag
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