The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1888-11-22

Let me help. you, please" said the
lady rising to assist her. There, now!
Goodbye. | hope l shall meet you
again sometime"
! "Thank You very much," returned
Cassie. Il, too. hope we shall meet
again. Good-bye!1 and she trip..c,I
out of the car and away home to Iril
Romney what a nice lady she had met
and almost fallen in love with.
"Why did you not ask her name?''
asked Rumney good-humorediy.
II had notion to, and ware she,
was going" said Cassie; ''but waa
afraid she would think me in9uisi-
tive"
She did not forget the motherly
lady. however, and looked for her
whenever she went to aud from the
city. She did not meet her again for a
month or two. Then she Glanced to
be coming out of Rnhlbeck's shop one
afternoon just as the plump matron
was entering, and Il pleasant smile and
bow of recognition were exchanged
before they passed on.
II hone she will go down on the
! same train ! do" thought Cassie; s'and
| mean to find out who she is this
time"
F.! When she went to the station she
looked around, and, sure enough,
there was the lady that she hoped to
meet.
Cassie Mt once crossed over To her,
and they began 10 chat in friendly
manner. expressing their pleasure at
meeting again.
II shall be glad to go as far as Linn
vile with you. | think You live therep"
half observed, half questioned the
stranger.
Eyes live there" said Cassie. '.My
husband, Mr.. Reade, is foreman of one
of the paper-miils."
She said this to open the way for her
friend to tell her name. But the offer
was not taken advantage of, the elder
lady only remarking:
Indeed! The mills there are quite
extensive, believe"
And so Cassie answered, Yes, thev
employ great many hands," and did
not like 10 seem rude by pressing the
question of the strangers name.
The two sat together and parted at
Linnyillc, and Cassie was no wiser than
before.
II am really in love with her." she
said to ROmney at supper. land the
next time I meet her l mean to bluntly
ask her who she is. and where she
lives"
Il would. 1t would not be rude at
! all, )" was Romney's answer.
| The next morning Romney received
a letter from Silvcrton which seemed
to amusc him greatly. He laughed
over it, but, strange to say, he did not
tell Cassie anything about it.
1t chanced that only few days
later Cassie was in the train again.
But this time she was not going to the
city, but ''dOwn to jersey" to attend
the wedding of a friend.
1t was lovely autumn day, and
they were anticipating splendid
wedding, SO Cassie was riding along
in fine spirits, enjoying the beautiful
scenery and the glorious colors with
which the trees were robing themselves.
and wondering if her friend would be
half so happy with the man of her
choice as She was with R0mney.
Suddenly there was a heavy jar, a
| laundering crash, and ten the lovely
| day turned dark; jagged flames seemed
to shoot across the sky; Cassie was
! conscious of one swift pang, and then
she knew no more.
When she came to herself, she was
alone, lying on soft bed in large
old-fashioned chamber which she had
never been in before. She. looked
about her with the vague wonder of a
wly-awakened infant. Ali the fur
niture that she could see was old-fash-
ioned, but so daintily clean and shin
ing that it.was delightful to look at
The bed on which she lay was as
fresh and white as SNOW: snowy cur
tains hung at the windows, through
which she had a glimpse of farmland,
forest, field and meadow.
| Where was she and what had hap
pened? She tried to remember, but
could not recall the last dreadful mo-
n1ent in the railroad train. Yes, that
must be it! There had been an acci-
dent; she had been, hurt and they
brought her here. Was Romney here
too? Surely he had not left her all
Eafone.
I She tried TO raise up on her elbow to
see if he was near, but found herself so
stiff and weak that she was glad to
drop back on her pillow and only call
family, ''Romneyr'
In an instant, from part of the
room hidden by the head of the bed,
came his. well-known figure, and hs
was bonding over her.
'Thank God, darling, you are bette
ter now"
.sHave been sick long?" she asked
a.N6t very, dear. You were hurt il
the train. -
"Yes, | remember now. Where an
! l, RomueSP"
''You are in friends house, dear
among those who love you," answered
another voice, and standing beside
! Romney Cassie saw the figure of th'
: plump lady who had pleased her 81
much.
, ''Oh, is it you?" she said. holdin!
out one slim hand in pleased recOgni
ton. .Am l at your housePH
s.Yes dear. The accident was nea
by, and had you brought here" an
swered the lady, pressing soft ham
> on Cassie's brow, and smiling her wei
? come.
"You owe almost your life to he
faithful tender nursing, darling" salt
Romney, bonding over the bed ant
speaking in tones of deep emotion
. I'VE thought you would die at first
3 but she would not permit YOU"
4 "And l do not even know her name,
, | faltered Cassie.
E ''But / do" returned Romney quick
ly. Would you like to call he
2 motherp?
. "NotherP"
t "Yes. Look here, dearest" an
y Romney put his arm around the lady
and drew her close to the bed. adding
e This is my dear mother, Cassie, an
Q ] want you to love her"
:; Love herP Oh, she will never fol
V give me?" cried Cassie, reaching u
It both arms. aud the tears running owe
t her face.
Q But instantly she was drawn into
g warm motherly embrace, and assure
l. that she was both loved and forgiven
Y but that she must be very quiet, bt
II cause any excitement would be sure
d hurt her.
n Poor Cassie could only be obedien
It and lie there, getting well in luxurior
s ease, waited on as if she were a littl
princess. But thanks TO mamma Read
a, cb did unll an