The Penn's Grove record., 1886-09-04
know that, wherever 1 am, 1 must al
ways be your own true, loving

ways be your own true, loving
"LILIAN.o
And this was the end of Jacks fever
ish dreaming, of his plans and hopes
and strong resolvesl HIS high-built
castles lay IN ruins round him; but no
one knew, thank Godl of the wreck
and havoc in his lifel Janette hung
sobbing on his shoulder. He shuddered
as he kissed her, thinking how closely
she had passed to a keener and more
lasting sorrow. He could not comfort
her, he was too deeply hurt himself.
The excited talk, the copjectures Of
the assembled household maddened
him. No one had any definite ideas on
the subject; but what could it matter
whom she had married2-George
Archer, young Whitaker, little Harry
| Chase-she was lost, gone beyond his
reach forever, beyond the passionate
following of his thoughts. OF what
avail had been his manhood, his strength
and ardor, and determinations Fate
had cast them aside like straws in the
wind-and to another a had been
tossed the treasure he would have
struggled and have died to win. 1t was
all over. 1t was all over. These words
kept repeating themselves through his
brain. Whether he discussed the mat
ter gravely with DIR. Prayn, Oh talked
soothingly to Janette, or answered the
children's thousand questions, this sad
refrain rung in his ears: sit was all
over"
AS the days went on the fact of
Lilian's flight was followed by the dis
covery of another fact-that George
Archer and Harry Chase were both
missing. This established at once the
personality Of the bridegroom. Archer
had always been a favored admirer of
Lilian's, and as Harry, though an adj
mirer also, was Archer's bosom friend,
the sequence, of course, seemed very
plain. Harry, who wa exceedingly
wealthy. and the soul of generosity be-
sides, must have placed money at the
disposal of the young couple, for
Archer was not known to have any
visible means of support.
"But what a rash step it was for Lii
ian-so young, toto leave her COM
Portable home and go off with one who
might be a worthless adventurer for
anything that was known Of HIM in
Grayton."
And so the tongues wagged, until
Lillian came back and stopped them.
1t was the day before the ono ap-
pointed for her sisters wedding. Yet
they had recaved no word from her,
beyond her little farewell note, until
they heard her voice on the porch. 1t
was nearly twilight. Tea was just
| over. The children were dawdling at
the table, Janette was talking to the
father neal his desk, Jack was smok-
Ing, and the roses from the porch were
trailing over and nodding their pretty
red faces through the window.
No one heard the gate click, nor the
footsteps, but they all heard Lillan's
first word. "Homel homel' she called
out in a gay voice that broke into a
sob.
Wicked, heartless grill Unfeeling
daughterl The tempest that met her
was a storm of kisses-and embraces
of sobs and laughter. But what was
Harry Chase doing, holding his hat
alphabetically, in the background, with
his usual little mild air of wonder? He
was doing nothing, quite c%ontentedly,
until Lillian drew him forward with
both her pretty hands, and said, my
husband, when he proceeded to kiss,
shake hands and wen embrace his new
relatives with prompt enthusiasm.
"Harry Chase" cried Janette, in
utter amusement. "You don't really
mean that you've married Harry Chaser
Is it a joke, Lilian2."
81 think 1t is an excellent joke for
me-" said Harry, radiant.
"Of course I've married Harry.
You didn't suppose I'd marry any one
elsep" Lillian asked responsibility.
Certainly not" said Janette, still
bewildered. "Bnt you were always
playing off little pranks on Harry. You
know you were."
"She has played the final one," said
Harry, with an air of fond ownership;
''there ARE no more prank's to be laid
at Mrs. Chase's door,"
"Mrs. Chasel Mrs. Chaser' The
children seized on the name instantly
and began a wild dance of delight
around its owner. 1t was altogether
such a wonderful idea that Lillian
should be Mrs. Anything.
Jack had kissed her heartily with the
ACoGs hdu oiidhNA Dhllho anu COh6Aatuiu
ted the smiling Harry, and then stood
apart, looking on like one In a dream
He noticed the large, beautiful dla-
monds that glittered from the brides
fair neck and ears.
Poor, empty, worthless heart" he
thought, bitterly, ''you have brought
your pricel' Though all the years of
his life he never knew why L2ian had
married Harry Chase.
But Janette knew in time. When
Jack was dead, and she had lived
through her widowhood, and her chill
dren and Lllian's were counting and
being courted, she learned the unwrit-
ten omance of her sisters life. They
were talking, as gray-haired women
will, of love and marriage, and the
hearts deep joys and sorrows, when
Lillian said. earnestly:
"You have wondered often, jeanette,
about my marriage, because you kAoW
me too well to believe, as many did,
that l married Harry for his wealth.
"Oh, never for that, DEAR" jeanette
said.-"I know you never did-but ]
have wondered sometlmes-if-you
married HIM for love-"
NO." said Lillian, simply; II mar
ried him because l loved some n else
because l loved Jack"
"Jack!" said Janette, blushing as
she looked at her. 'My Jackp"
"Your jack" She smiled softly al
she SAID the words.
"On, Lllianl"
"Yes, l loved him dearly; so dearly,
Janettel l can tell you now-it is all sc
long agol Janette, l suppose a quiet
nature like yours could never realize all
my poor, wild, foolish heart endured
through those weeks after Jack came
back from Arizona and before l went
away with Harry. 1 went, because ]
could bear 1t no longer. l was SC glad
whnn he asked mn To ha his wife y