Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-09-17

"a curious story" unused Mr.. Richards, 'bu
have heard Of o number O. similar cases
Strange we didn't think Of that After youl
mysterious disappearance We advertised and
/ put detectives on your track, but 1t was useless
So we gave you up for lost"
And dead, supplemented Lyle.
| "No, never that, !" asserted Mr.. Richards, 81
always felt sure you would come back some
4 time"
There was one more visit for LYLE Dermott tc
pay and he started out with a heavy heart.
Arriving at Mr.. severne's residence, he sent
up word to Mary, stating simply that he brought
news Of Lyle Dermott.
| soft rustic Of silken robes heralded her ap-
proach and in another moment she stood before
| him.
Hope and fear struggled for the mastery in
her eyes as she entered the room. Then she saw
him, and with quick, glad cry Of Lyle. dear
/ est, she crossed the short space that divided
them snd chung to him, sobbing in the transport
| of b ~ Joy.
caressing her silken hair with his hand, sit was
cruel OF me to surprise you so.'
mo, no; am so glad" she said. brokenly.
~ thought you were dead and you have come
back to me. Oh, my love-"
Then he remembered.
cruel pang rent his heart strings and some
thing like groan escaped him.
He led her to seat and sat down himself be-
side her.
Then he told her what he had already told
Mr.. Richards.
How terrible" murmured Mary. pressing
closer to his side, "but it is all over now" His
face grew CHASTITY, but she could not see it. Her
own eyes we're covered with one soft white
hand over which trickled few pearly tears.
wait" he said gravely, "there is more to
tell: Farmer Dean, who was 30 kind to me,
had daughter"
..yes ~ osserts M;ss covarno in Low tomas
With great effort Lyle Dermott pulled him
self together and continued:
''She ia a frail delicate girl, who is already in
the first stages OF consumption. fear. With
careful treatment she might live few years.
A shock would be fatal in O short time"
Mary Severne sat with bowed head, but no
word came from her lips, SO he went on:
'She was an angel of goodness to me while I
was strangely i'll. and under the influence of
the disease which held me for year grew to
like her.
He hesitated, and Mary murmured softly,
''One fatal day-in June-I not remember
ing-you will forgive me, Mary-I asked her to
be my WIFE"
In silence he waited for her to speak
She lifted her head and from her face every
vestige OF color had fled.
Then, with painful gasp, the words came
You had forgotten me. Oh, Lyle, Lyle, my
heart is broken!''
He rose from his seat and stood before her.
while his words came fast. each one dropping
like lead on the gentle heart before him
1T is too true. oh, my God! if l could call
back those days. She loves me, Mary, as ten
DERBY as you ever did, but swear to You in
this, the most solemn moment of my life that
never loved her with the love 1 feel for you
never for a moment"
'Is that true. Lyle, even when 1 was for
gotteny
'As God is my Witness it is true" he re-
sponded.
She arose with the light of a heavenly de-
termination in her beautiful eyes, laid her hand
softly on his arm and said
lyle if never through it all YOU have been
untrue to me, then can bear it. You say it
would kill this girl to learn the truth. Do you
think l would willingly shorten her life? No,
go to her, fulfill your vows to her and make her
happy"
"Oh, my love" he answered her. II cannot. -
"Hush. 1t is the only way. Could you do
anything tina. wonld hasten her death? To
think of all her kindness to You. Oh, you can
not repay it with such cruelty"