The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1888-09-07


coming to visit you:''
Visit mes Why, this is his house."
laughed Mrs. Morton, throwing down the
garden-hat- "And with such a lovely
home as this, he leaves me to do rs /
please here, and goes roaming around the
world after a girl he loved years ago.
This was her home. Why, Miss Lath-
rop-"
''Oh, il is nothing, /" interrupted Lucille,
ghastly pale. "Only a stitch in my side
have them frequently. But was inter
ested in your story. / did not mean to
interrupt. Go on, please"
Il really don't know all the particulars,
often as / have heard them, y said Mrs.
Morton But they Were engaged, and
As L say, this was her home; but her
father forged or something, and killed
himself, aud the girl and her mother gave
mp everything and disappeared. But
forgot to say that just before that my
brother had been called abroad, and was
reported lost at sea, but had escaped
death in the miraculous way that some
people"
But with startled cry she interrupted
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 rushed in at her
frightened cry, were indefatigable, 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 quickly
lifted again.
Say it again, - the faint voice pleaded,
in spite OF commands OF silence LLOYD
lives, my Lloyd, Lloyd Murray"
"Yes, yes. But you must be quiet.
will not talk to you," cried Mrs. Morton,
who was in a perfect delirium OF Joy and
excitement.
But Lucille did not want her to. That
one deliriously joyful 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 hast
lily into the village and sent this startling
announcement to her brother, Lloyd Muir
ray:
Come at once. Lucille Brayton Is
with me-"
And cannot you imagine. how, after
reading ii, the speed OF lightning seemed
but snail's pace 10 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 her
self away.
Their meeting was far too full OF sacred
Joy to bear either witness or descIiption.
Mrs. Morton welcomed her brother at
the steps, saw him 20 into the parlor. and
saw Lucille rise from her chair, looking
10 in, har =
the sp-echless joy in her pale face
Then she hurried away with her ewes
full of happy tears for their joy, and tried
to explain to the astonished children how
Miss Lathrop was not Miss L.athrop, and
was going to be their auntie very soon
Did you not notice how like old times
everything looked," Mr. Murray asked
Lucille, as next day they strolled about
the grounds and lake shore, Just as they
had done years before.
''Oh yes, the moment / reached the
gateway; and while, OF course, was glad
TO see it so, it nearly killed me with mem
oriss. j thought ] could never bear to
stay here" answered Lucille, who still
could not realize the wonderful truth
that her lover, SO long mourned Us dead,
was beside her.
Il reached here about six or eight
months after You left, and finding the
house just as you left it, still in the cred
itor's hands, / purchased IL, and then be-
gan TO look for you.
why, my darling, ii seems to me that
j have ransacked the entire world in
searching for you, and advertised far and
wide. How could have failed in findiag
your"
Easily Lloyd. We went so far and
among such entire strangers, and never.
save when j was out of work, and looked
ut advertisements, did we see q paper.
No one gave them to us, and we could not
afford even the cheapest. And to think
all that time you were keeping the old
home apd looking for me"'
She burst into a passion OF tears purely
Joyful, and clung 10 him as il in terror
that the horrible past would prove still
reality, and the present but delirious
heeting dream.
But the claspof his arms, and thesound
Of his tender voice, We're very reassuring
and pleasantly she was smiling through
her tears as he talked Of what they would
do.
And I'll whisper little secret OF Hell
ems, which sho has perhaps not told you.
She goes to n home of her own in just p
little while, and we will have double
wedding, and then, my darling, the old
home is once more your own-all your
own-and you are all my own, after years
OF waiting-my own sweet, sweet wife.'