Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1889-05-23
"a TRLESMAN."
BY HON. MRS. ME-.
CHAPTER V.

crescent which she had given to Eber-
hard Leigh.
The surgeon hurried away, but Dor
othy still stood there, for once forget
full of time and place and duty, until a
movement on the bed Aroused heT, and
looking up, she met the wounded SOL
dier's eyes fixed upon her own.
"You have found that little thing"
he said, indicating the trinket she
held in her hand. You recognize it?
All, do you remember giving me it
Dorothy-little Dorothy?"
''Mr. Leigh" the girl said, uttering
the old familiar title with a catch in
her breath, a sudden transient glow
upon her face. How blind was
how stupid! But you never let me see
YOU clearly. and | knew there was
always something about you which
recalled some vague old memories"
Little Doroihyr the man repeated,
smiling tenderly into the lovely face
as it bent over him; then, lingering
languidly the crescent; Il have worn
this ever since you gave me it, and |
think it has been in some way u tails
man.
''Mr Leigh Dorothy again uttered
in the same dramy tone; then, with
quick sudden change and animation:
"No, not Mr.. Leigh-Lord Lester
now. You knew, did you not, that
your uncle died last month, and that
some weeks before his death your
cousin and his only little boy We're
drowned in an accident on the river. >
Il did not know slowly, wonder
ingly; 81 have heard no English news
of that kind since | have been here. ="
"But you realize it now, don't you?'
she said, wondering at his indifferent
tone, but attributing it to the languOr
OF exhaustion and pain. You are the
next heir, Mr.. Leigh-yes. | am sure
of it, When l heard of your
uncle's death, expected to hear OF
your return to England"
at does not make much difference
he said YEARLY, leaning back.
"No difference, being a peer OF the
realm and Il ri,h man?"
She glanced significantly at his
bare surroundings and uniform.
mo difference in the circumstances
which led me to quit England" in
quiet sadness.
A sudden wave of color flooded Dor
Othy's face, and she turned it quickly
away.
She thought she understood the cir
cumstances which had driven Eber-
hard Leigh from England; her cousin 5
heartless preference of the old baro
net.
And was this man faithful to her
still?
Had so selfish, shallow, worthless q
nature as Elyira's power to ruin,
blight for ever such life as his-this
man, so noble, so strong, so brave, SO
faithtul-ah, faithful to less than a
shadow .fata morgana that had
wrecked his life?
A sudden wave OF bitterness went
over Dorothy.
Suddenly it seemed that her life was
filled with more grief and heartache
than she could endure. Suddenly the
darkness and trouble and misery which
she had borne so nobly and smilingly
seemed to eliminate and weigh her
brave heart down beyond its powers OF
resistance.
A glimpse into the future seemed
given her.
She saw Sir Peters aged life sink be-
meath the trials now overwhelming it.
She saw Elvira again free, and turning
gladly to her handsome and now rich
and titled lover; and with that peep in
to the future veil was suddenly taken
from the past, and Dorothy read her
own hearts secret.
This man before her-the horo OF
her childish days-was dearer to her
than all the world beside.
She understood now the mystic ir-
resistible fascination which from the
first hour OF meeting, had drawn her
towards this private soldier.
"You never recognized RE,
Dorothy, though / knew you at
nm instant's glance" Leigh said
smilingly. when we parted you as
sured me you never forgot your friends;
that was why | accused you of over
rating your memory one day-do you
remember You were very angry with
my presumption, think"
M'Lord Lester!" the girl said, speak
ing the unfamiliar title slowly, and
wi h still averted face.
The man interrupted;
don't give me that title; / question
whether | shall ever bear it; anyhow,
/ like the old familiar name best from
you. ! suppose you would not call me
Eberhard?"
A faint dusky color overspread his
face; but Dorothy, in her own contu-
sion, never noticed his.
"You will go back to England a
peer, decorated with the Victoria
Cross" she said, hurriedy; "but now
you must DO perfectly quiet, and not