The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1893-08-15
L0VEL0RN LIZZIE.

Yes, dear mother, it is l." said the
girl, and she kissed the wrinkled face Of
the hard worked woman.
I'm glad you've come" said Mrs
Kane, glancing admiringly down into
her daughters pretty face. "Mr. Mer-
Ger is in the front room. He's been wait
ing for you for about two hours, and
Lizzie" sinking her Voice, "he had al
long talk with your father, in which he
said that he loved you aud wanted tol
make you his wife. I'm sure it almost
took my breath away when your father
told me about it, for he's got a good
business and owns lots of property be
sides. He told your father that as soon
as you were his wife he'd satisfy the
mortgage on this house and make us
comfortable for the balance of our lives.
Lord knows, it will seem strange enough
TO rest, for I've seen nothing but work
since l was chit of a girl, and I've
grown old before my time trying to make
ends meet. Now put on your gingham
dress and go in to sec him. He is in the
front room"
Mrs. Kane paused suddenly and
stepped back with startled cry, for,
happening to glance at her daughters
face, she saw sucn marvellous change
in its expression that she grew alarmed.
snow, Lizzie" She continued, don't
fret Inc and say you won't do it, for I've
got a raging headache, and little more
excitement will drive me crazy. | am
sure it's not much that your pa and
, ask you to do. You ought to be willing
. to make some sacrifice for our sakes."
} II ami" answered Lizzie, and the hard
lines in her face softened; "Im willing
! TO work early and late for you, but
when you ask me to marry u man whom
/ hate it is too much"
"There, there" began Mrs. Kane. 81
knowedyou'd only have one Of your tan
trums as soon as told you of your good
) fortune, but your father would go to the
saloon and leave me to face it ALL" and
7 sinking into chair she threw her apron
over her head and began sobbing and
crying and rocking herself back and
forth in manner suggesting hysteria
$50 father has gone to the saloon
again, after promising me to remain
away" said Lizzie, and her eyes snap
ped.
a "It's because he's in trouble" apollo.
gized the mother, wiping her eyes. 'If
+ you'd only marry Mr.. Mercer and lift us
! ont OF our poverty, your pa would be a
: different man"
= Il doubt i'll" nuttered Lizzie; and
then, speaking loud, said: "Well, ]
a won't marry Mr.. Mercer--that settles
it. Marry him? I'll go ont and beg
= first!' and, Selling her shawl and hat
quickly donned them before her mother
could interfere, rushed out of the door
: and had reached the end of the alley be.
fore that lady could get to the gate.
THAT girl will be the death of me,
Mrs. Kane moaned, re-entering the
! kitchen, and then rolling down tht
|. sleeves of her faded calico dress sh.
smoothed her hair and walked into thu
front room, where Mr.. Isaac Mercer, /
5 fat, pudgy man of fifty, with smootl
\ and very red face and bald head, sal
Z vacantly staring at the big pattern il
the cheap ingram carpet.
3 Rather haltingly she apologized fol
her daughters absence, saying that the
latter would not be home until late
having to do overwork at the mill, ant
u Isaac Mercer left, promising to call Oh
Il the morrow. .-
Lizzie meanwhile proceeded toward
the saloon which her father frequented
She was obliged to cross the railroad t.
reach the place, and she stopped at tn,
= little signal station, where she knew
S Charlie Hancock, the telegraph operator
t was at work.
| Charlie was the particular friend o
" Ned Howell, a brakeman on the railroad
who had been Lizzie's lover since the,
" were children together, and whom sht
is had promised to marry when he shoult
have saved enough to give her a home.
10 "Charlie," she said, tapping on thu
IL, window to attract his attention, Evil
b3 be down tonight"
At sound of her voice Charlie RAISED
his head from his work and catchin!
= sight of the girls pretty face, sprang t.
his feet.
"a "Great Scott, Lizzie! Is it your wa
his ejaculation, and then, without mean
IL Ing to be harsh or cruel, he told her il
lie excited, disjointed sentences about
1 terrible accident that had taken place OF
- the railroad ut the other end of the di
e. vision.
As he proceeded she in fancy saw tn
=, terrible scene, but she uttered no sound
u and continued staring into his face witt
dry, wide open eyes.
Poor Ned was caught between tw
cara, and the doctors say one of his leg
u will haze to come off. He's pretty badl.
es mashed and may die. All the wounde-
were taken to the Presbyterian nosplt;
- Lnd"-
nj He stopped suddenly, and, rushin
from his little den, ran out on the plat
form and caught Lizzie in his arms jul
as she reeled, fainting.
s. She did not remember much aft,
ar this, and an age seemed to have pssse
= when she finally opened her eyes in he
- own shabby little chamber at home, I
rs find her mother, her father and the do
i; tor bending over her.
The first question was about the acc
J, dent, but they put her off, and it W,
at not until she was able to sit up that 81
C learned the whole truth.
Her lover had lost one of his legs, an
being no longer useful to the railroa
company, had been discharged.
:, They did not tell her that several lie
II ters had come from him, nor did tn,
I'D inform her that her father, being (
,o once in his life sober, controlled and i
nv fucneed by his wife, had written lett
re to the crippled brakeman, informir
&c. him that Lizzie was shortly to be ma
- ried to Mr.. Isaac Mercer.
io The latter called upon her sever
times while she was convalescent, b
rs she invariably refused to see him, al
would never eat the tempting delicaci
that he sent to her bedside.
One evening when her mother W
busy in the lower part of the house, Al