The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1886-09-02

very garret floor. Surely it could never
be May Elliston, the heiress, lodged so
high as this!
But my small guide was pushing the
door open before | could stop her.
Little Mother
There was a slender figure in black,
STOPPING over long, white seam over
her knee.
1t must have been the sun that shone
full on the window where she sat which
dazzIed me, for 1 seemed to see a halo
shining round the dropping golden
head, that never lifted, though MAYS
yoice-it tCas Mays voice, faltering
with the sound of tears in Unanswered
the child
My little BERTHE back again already?
Why, you couldn't have got as far as
the park. darling; and it would have
done you good To play there in the SUM-
shine Did dolly get tired and want to
get home?'
She was stitching away SO busily that
she never glanced round.
Il didn't take dolly out to-day, Little
Mother. | didn't want dolly Look
and see what I've got here insteadr'
wait, darling; am just finishing.
Then We'll 60 out together and take all
this work home, and if they pay us this
time"-this in lower tone = well
get a nice dinner that will make up for
the breakfast"
Little Mother. seer'
The child had slipped behind her. and
was showering down the fragrant bios
SONS over her shoulder into her lap.
white lilacsr'
1t was with a wild sob in her voice
that May cried out. and she gathered
up the fragrant Glacs and buried her
face in them.
When she lifted her face, they were
all shining and wet, but not with dew.
And when she lifted her wet eyes, it
was straight into mine that they looked.
Slowly she yielded her hand into
mine, outstretched for il.
Donald! After all these years"
''And changes"
Perhaps my voice was bitter, for after
that first impulse to draw her to me, to
claim her in spite of everything that
had come between, came the revulsion.
looked down at her black dress, and
/ seemed to see, under the mocking
heap of flowers, and the coarse white
work, the little left hand with the we'd
ding-ring upon it.
No, could not forget that she had
forgotten-that she had given herself to
some other man! touched a fold of
the black dress. letting go her hand.
He is dead, May?" | said.
She gave a startled glance at the
child, pressed against her knee, alb
sorbed in punching the flowers to-
gether.
"Yes, he is dead"
And then. very softly, lifting up her
lovely eyes to me:
IF you know so much as that of him,
Donald. it is likely you know ALL But
let his memory rest; he was sorry
enough at the last" :
Sorry! But first he brought you
down TO this. Your fortune"
''Goner' she said; and with the hand
had let fall she gently stroked the
golden head of the little one, intent
upon her task, not needing U.S. His
child" she said. Donald. when l
parted with my last sovereign for the
simple cross that marks his grave, that
Sacred to the Memory made his memo
ry ever sacred to me. So let it rest, un-
touched 10y any slightest breath of un-
kind word"
looked down into the dropping face
of the girl-my May Queen once; and
suddenly | knew that, try to dethrone
her as | might, she was my queen still
and mistress of my fate.
''And because of that stone, sacred TO
his memory" said bitterly. because
of that, May, you are going to send me
from you again, more wretched than
when we quarreled and parted. years
ago?"
Send you from me AGAIN.
There was frightened gasp in the
sweet voice; and in the blue eyes lifted to
me look that told me | might venture
10 do what thereupon l did-that is, to
catch both her hands in mine, to draw
her to me, the left hand as well as the
right
Then, suddenly and sharply.
"May, what have you done with your
wedding ring?"
"My-wedding-ring?"
''Oh, see-all the poor, pretty flowers
spiltr' the child broke in, trying to
push us back from the fragrant showers
lying about our feet. "Oh, Little Moth
er, see what you have doner'
felt the start that went through and
through May. as l still held her in my
arms.
And then she looked up at me, smil-
ing tremulously, blushing ravishingly.
"Ah, now see what Bertie has done!
1t is her Little Mother that misled you
into fancying could ever have been
false to youi Yes, l am her Little
Mother'-the only mother she has ever
known; for her own mother died before
she could remember. She is poor Ber-
ties child, Donald"
| stopped and caught up the little one
rapturously, setting her down again,
bewildered and staring, in the midst OF
her blossoms.
Blessings on her pretty face! 1t is
just what yours was, May, when can
first remember it"
She shook her head.
81 never could have been as pretty as
that" she said simply, lowering hel
voice that the child should not hear
"But my brother and l were very much
| alike"
. Her voice softened.
"After all, he had never sailed or
that Inflated vessel" she explained
"And when he wrote me to come tt
him, after grandpapa's death had lef
! me alone in the world"
"After it had left you an heiress,"
answered. in my own mind, but nevel
from that day to this one syllable of i
aloud.
.'Of course l went" she continued
Sand had to disappear, for it was not
safe for him to be seen by any who had
even known before" she whispered
with panied glance at the child. :.
never thought you would care-we hat
parted in anger, we two"
stopped the last word with my lip
on hers; we would never be two again
She whispered, clinging to me:
'.Never ask me of those years, Don
aid. if you love me. Only, he was sor
ry-sorry at last.
The tears vanished in sunshine il
Mays blue eyes as l made her look a
the child among the flowers.
Little Berthe never shall be sorry al
her bright life long, if can prevent it,
/ said. Il owe her all that fortune cal
give her for bringing me again to WOO
my love among the white lilacs. Sweet
heart, long ago bought back the oil
place, for the sake of that white lila
bower, where once-you remember it
Won were enthroned MAY Queen, an