The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1888-07-13
NUMBER %.

other and Clarence walked from stupor
to mad delirium, in which he told his pa
tient nurse all Of which she already knew,
and much besides-told Of the wealth he
had vowed never to touch. lying in his
lawyers 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 tow about
them, he suddenly put forth his uninlured
hand and took one Of hers; his eyes, bril-
liant with fever, were fastened on her
face.
my father loved you as daughter"
he said softly, ''and he told me you loved
me; but 1 did not believe, and ! wanted
him to leave me free. Child, why did
you fly from me? Did you fear would
learn to love you;"
She bent her face, and tears flowed
silently down her checks.
It was delirium, she knew; but she,
who had been unable TO forget, remem-
bered that long hour in the early night
too vividIy not TO again feel some Of its
pain as she heard him.
1t was weeks later when, after long
sleep, he awakened To full consciousness
one morning at day-dawn.
The lightswere low, the scene spectral,
as 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,
IA
yearned for. And the hands lying idlyin
her lap were so fair and white and slender,
dainty enough TO be decked with gems,
fair enough to be kissed, but too frail and
white for tearing of linen and lifting OF
dying heads, he told himself.
Then 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? Per
haps 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 he recognized her.
''Lena!' he cried, trying to put out his
hand
But he was too weak. 1t fell on the
couuterpane-
"You know me?'' she said softly, turn
ing paler.
Il know you, and / want to tell you,
he whispered family, but with warm
glow in his eyes-''you are an heiress;
there is no need for you to-do this work.
Ny father"
Il know II all, :" she broke in; "and that
v-nu left R,I tNfT ,-gr,
think l would beggar you? And your
father had been kind to me. forcayc
him because he loved me. / viii Eot go
back; viii not take q farthing of that
money; ii is yours
''Then share it with me, a" 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 10 life from
what must have been very nearly death.
Win you learn to care enough for me to
share my futuTe?"
"You love me?" she said incredulously
when did you learn the lessons'
''At day-dawn, while / watched You
asleep in your chair, ere I knew who you
were. Lena, do not doubt mer'
Il do not.' She kneit at The cot and
put back his hair, as he had dreamed she
! did while he was unconscious. And 1
will own to you, Clarence, that l have
| loved you always-since l first saw you
| That was why / fed from Lynn
"And now you viii come backsv
| For the same reason, - she smiled, al
| though her lips were tremulous. Love
| sent me forth then; love recalls me now:
and l will share the possessions with you
which were neither honestly yours nor
mine, but can belong fairly to us to-
! gether. Yes, Clarence, will 20 backI''