Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1886-03-20

But, with startled cry, she inter-
rupted herself and sprang up, just as
Lucille sank from her chair to the
floor in utter insensibility.
1t almost seemed as though life
would not return, but Mrs. Morton,
together with the servants who rush
ed in at her frightened cry, were in
defatigable with brany, camphor, and
chatting the lifeless hands, and at last
they were rewarded.
"Do not speak," Mrs. Morton ex-
claimed, as the gaze on her face grew
rational, and the white lips began to
tremble. 81 guess what you would
say. You are Lucille Brayton. Close
your eyes if am right"
Instantly the lids fell, but as quick
ly lifted again.
"Say it again." the faint voice
plead, in spite of commands of
silence. "LIoyd 6UeS? my Lloyd?
Lloyd Murray?"
eyes, yes. But you must be quiet.
| will not talk to YOU" cried Mrs.
Morton, who was in a perfect deli
rum of joy and excitement.
But Lucille did not want her to.
That one deliriously juyful truth was
enough to feast on for the present,
and gladly she closed her eyes and
lay quiet, while Mrs. Morton, calling
her carriage, drove hastily into the
village and sent this startling an
nouncement to her brother, Lloyd
Murray:
"Come at once. Lucille B,oyton is
UiM me-"
And cannot you imagine how,
after reading it, the speed of light
ming seemed but snails pace to him,
who, since his wonderful escape from
the sea, had never ceased looking for
the one who, believing him dead, and
caring for naught else in the world,
had so sedulously hidden herself
away?
Their meeting was far too full Of
sacred JOY to bear either witness Or
description. Mrs. Morton welcomed
her brother at the steps, saw him 60
into the sitting-room, and saw Lu-
ellie rise from her chair, looking like
an angel in her white draperies and
the speeches. joy in her face. Then
she hurried away, with her eyes full
of happy tears for their joy, and tired
to explain to the astonished children
how Miss Lathrop was not Miss La.
throp, and was going to be their
auntie very soon.
"Did you not notice how like old
times everything looked?" Mr.. Muir.
ray asked Lucille, as next day they
strolled about the grounds and lake
shore, just as they had done years be-
fore.
"Oh, yes! the moment / reached
the gateway; and while, of course,
was glad to see it so, it nearly killed
me with memories. | thought
never could bear to stay here" an
swered Lucille, who still could moi
realize the wonderful truth that hel
lover, so long mourned as dead, was
beside her.
81 reached here about six or eight
months after you left it, and finding
the house just as you left it, still il
the creditors hands, | purchased il
and then began to look for you
Why, my darling, it seems to me thai
/ have ransacked the entire new
world, and advertised far and wide
in both old and new. How could
have failed in finding YOU"
Easily, Lloyd. We went so fal
and among such entire strangers, an(
never, save when | was out of work
and looked at advertisement, did We
see paper. No one gave them to III
> and we could not afford to buy them
And to think all that time you were
keeping the old home and looking fol
mew
She burst into a passion of tears
purely joyful, and chung to him as i
in terror that the horrible past would
prove still a reality, and the presen
. but a delirious, fleeting dream.
+ But the clasp of his arms and thu
sound of his tender voice were very
: reassuring, and presently she wa
smiling through her tears as he talk
I ed of what they would Gle.
e "And I'll whisper a little secret o
Helen's which she has perhaps no
r told you. She goes to home of he
S own in just little while, and we viii
; have double wedding; and then, m!
darling, the old home is once NOR,