Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1890-07-12

nAISs leu turned 20 MaO0l, ana SAID,
sadly, IF only could feel safe here,
how happy 1 should bel"
-Oh. Aunt MabelI" cried Cecil.
Surely you need not have no fear now?
Think how far you have travelled, hid
ing, and almost losing your identity ut
each new resting place; and this quiet
Little nook Is certainly the safest retreat
In the world. No one can find you
here. But, auntie, dear, can you never
forgive your husband? Would you
not be far happier if he were with
you?"
/ Il have forgiven him long ago, Cecil, "
answered Mrs. Field, In broken voice.
at is not thst-you do not know-it is
he who will never forgive me. He
swore that he would never look In my
face again. He believed me false to
him. Oh, can forget his look as he
cast me out from his home? His
angry eyes burned themselves into my
heart; and even now I tremble as 1
think of that dreadful day"
There, there, dearest auntie! Don't
think of it now. Just try and rest,
said Cecil, striving to obliterate, with
loving kisses, the bitter memories her
words had called up.
And Mrs. Field, who could not resist
her pretty coaxing ways. smiled, and
promised to be good.
Cecil was very happy at Brookside.
| Out in the woods she sang like q bird |;
merry and free as the feathered song
sters themselves. One morning she
had listener. Two gentlemen had
wandered down from the house on the
hillside to the cool shade of the trees
below. Seeing her there, leaf-crowned,
a very wood nymph-for in simple
vanity she had decked herself, and
smiled at the dryad, who smiled back
at her from the limpid brook-one had
fastened back for his sketch-book, that
the charming vision might be trans
ferred to its leaves.
Their footsteps made no sound in the
soft, leafy carpet, and Cecil, looking
up, was startled to find herself not
alone.
On the trunk of fallen tree sat a
gentleman of perhaps fifty years of age.
with noble face, crowned by iron-gray
hair.
There was something strange in the
earnest, fixed look of his dark eyes
which puzzled Cecil. She rose from
the bank where she had been sitting,
and turned away. Then the gentleman
spoke.
Il hear you moving. Are you going
away? Do not fear me. I am blind"
There was an INDISPENSABLE pathos in
his voice that moved Cecil deeply.
She paused a moment, then went
shyly up to him, and laid her hand on
his arm with a plying touch, as a
daughter might have done.
Il came to hear you sing" he said.
my nephew brought me here, but he
has gone back to the house. Child,
who taught you that song you sang?"
What, Bonnie Charlie?'" asked
Cecil. Il do not know; but my Aunt
Mabel loves it best of all songs, though
it makes her weep"
"Mabelp exclaimed the blind gentle
man, starting to his feet, and stretching
out his hand, as if he were cropping for
some one - Mabel What is her
name? Tell me, quick, for Heavens
sakel"
Field" said Cecil, startled by his ap-
parent excitement.
Field! Oh, not Penfeld? Are you
sure? Oh, child, my wife loved that
song, and sang it to me in the days
when we were happy together, and now
it is So strange! Mabel Field, so near
Oh, must find my wifep
why do you wish to find her?"
inquired Cecil trembIingly, a light
breaking In upon her.
"To ask her to forgive me for cruel
wrong I did her; to beg her in pity to
come back to me, to the home that is so
desolate without her."
@Do you love her yet?" asked Cecil
softly.
And the look of rapture that came to
his sightless face was answer sufficient.
Then Cecil cried, Wait here; will
be back!"
And before he could question her
further, she was gone.
Mrs. Field sat by her window, won
dering so sadly if happiness would ever
be hers again, when Cecil came in to
her.
Aunt Mabel" she said, "the woods
are lovely. Come out to your resting
place under the pine-tree." And Mrs.
Field went gladly, for merry Cecil
would exercise all sad thoughts, she
knew. But now Cecil was unusually
quiet and thoughtful.
At last she said, Dear Aunt Mabel,
won't you sing Bonnie Charlie for
me?"
ooh, child, not that! I have not
sung it since 1 sung it to my husband
eight years ago" ighed Mrs. Field. -
~Ah, sing it now for me, pleaded
Cecil.
And Mrs. Field did sing. Her voice
faltered sadly, as the bitter memories
mingled With the strains of the song,
but it gathered strength and sweetness
as she sang. So absorbed was she In
the thoughts the melody brought back,
that she did not miss Cecil, who had
quietly stolen away; and when she
heard soft football behind her she
still sang on; and the plaintiye refrain
to the old Jacobite song
Better lo'ed ye Gamma be;
WIN ye no come back AGAIN.
had never sounded sweeter to the lis
tener's ears. But it was not Cecil. A
voice. lonC unheard aoundad IN har cara