The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1892-07-21

tone, feeling as OF one at hopeless vari.
ance with fate. l used to cry over them
and reproach myself so bitterly--for whati
Surely need not blame myself when he
had not reproached me. II only once he
had written to me, "Dell, come back, j" or
"Dell, miss you," or made me in any way
conscious Of nearer duty to him, / am
sure could never have borne so patiently,
nor at ALL my exile. But as it was, l could
only let the days go on-though the sweet
ness Of my life seemed going with them
and wait.
We had lovely little cottage for our
housekeeping-father and Tom and Ion
the outskirts of Denver, and a view of
valleys and mountain tops that were a
ceaseless wonder and delight One day
came in before dinner, rather tired,
very sunburned and dusty and was about
to disappear for half an hours seclusion
and a bath, when | heard a mans foot
steps sound quickly on the wide piazza.
knew 1t was not time for Tom, but never
theless Tom it proved to be. He had come
In from town little early, his hands full
Of packages, books, etc., as usual.
Della" he called, ''can you come back
down the road with me now, this minutep
There's poor sheep there that's badly
hurt in some way. don't exactly know
what has happened but bring some milk,
will your and we'll see what we can do.
1t isn't far; just off the first turn, by the
wheat field. I'll run up stairs with these
things first"
But did not wait for Toms escort. /
was off down the road with little tin pail
of milk almost before his last word reached
me. The sun was near its setting, and the
low evening light seemed to spread in a
hush over the wide beauty of the world.
| crossed to the wheat field and through
the gate in search of my wayside patient,
and there, a little in from the road, stand
ing quietly against the hedge and looking
at me as l came stood-Loftus.
/ didn't know what happened to the
milk, but / knew afterward when he
showed me how badly his clothes were
deluged, for the dear fellow was kneeling
on the grass before me with his face hid
den in my arms.
i can't remember what we said at first,
It was so mixed with sobs and tears and
kisses He looked pale and worn and thin.
Lotus thinl And, oh, it was SO sweet to
laugh together as we laughed when l
stammered out, "Tom sent me here to find
a-sheep-that was hurt"
"And you've found him, haven't your"
said my dear, dear LOTUS. "And whom
are you you little brown milkmaid, with
the sunburned facep
Oh, those wonderful sweet first mo-
ments, when knew he was with me once
againl But 1 think he must have been
aware that my face was dirty, though he
called it sunburned.
And why have you come in this wayp"
asked him when l began to collect my
thoughts a little.
"Oh, the idea of surprise was Toms. l
found him at his place Of business and we
came out together, and then he told me to
wait for you here and he would make some
excuse to send you alone"
"Oh, Loftusl but mean how happened
you to come from Pimley so suddenly and
without telling mel"
Dear" said Lotus with a very grave
face, 81 came because-because Eunice is
dead"
I could only look at him with wide eyes
Of amazement
"Eunice Craig is dead" he repeated still
more softly. II can tell you now why
could not sooner claim my wife. But you
have trusted me as never woman trusted
husband or lover-Dell, Dell, how could
you know that have loved you all these
long, long, weary years that we have lived
apart"
But 1 did not heed his question. "Oh,
poor Eunice," said, with rush Of sor-
rowful remembrance. We had both known
her as beautiful strong and young, and
the ending Of the story seemed pitiful.
Her life was too sad, Loftusl We can
only be glad Of the release"-
l., 1. 4. Ia r.
Della" said LOTUS gently, "nor how
much suffered for her. While she lived
! could not ask you to be my wife. She
had made me promise this long, long ago,
though she knew loved you with every
beat of my heart"
"Eunice made you promise" / asked
slowly. 1t seemed could not understand
his words.
"She had no right to ask this sacrifice"
he said quickly, "but-she had loved me
all her life. did not dream of her feeling
until once when was ill-you remember
the time when / was hurt SO badly in
Craig's lumber millp They nursed me at
the house, you know, and Eunice was with
me day and night. She thought / was
dying and did not hide her heart, poor
child-but / was engaged to you-and i
tOlt utI-duu dllcT budD BIG uCNcT beemeu
like herself again. And then her great
illness came, and the doctors gave her no
hope Of recovery. That was the time she
made me promise not to marry until she
died, and above all never to tell you she
had asked this promise. No one thought
she could live longer than that summer
and yet for twelve years-twelve years,
Della, she has kept me from your side.
81.
thing could happenS".
"Oh, you dear, splendid martyr, you'll" I
said, gasping. "And all the time thought
you didn't carer"
''Carep said Lotus, with an emphasis
that made me feel myself wretched in
CRATE. And then he added in determined,
businesslike way: 81 want you to marry
me tomorrow, Dell-not one day later. pve
been martyr long enough"
felt that he had been indeed, but an
swered laughingly "Then you must begin
to be saint" And he really proved himself
worthy Of the name by waiting more than
week with most exemplary patience un-
til had pretty white dress made for the
wedding.
We are living in Pimley in the old house
under the naples. Father is with us and
Tom comes on flying visits now and then.
Our children play among the lanes and
meadows where l and Lotus played. I
am very happy woman, but often won
der how would have been If Eunice had
not died.-Ladies' Home Journal.
A Curious Australian Pig.
A Mr.. lie Mortemore, living at Seriana
creek, Queensland, has lately shot an ami
NAL which he describes as sort of tree
climbing pig. For number of years wild