The herald., 1893-06-08

not see the girl at her fathers side. A
stone whizzed through tho air 1t might
have been Jere Harman's deathblow,
instead. it struck her. 1t cut a
cruel cash just above the temple.
They sprang toward her-her friends.
her lover-but Nellie Harman put her
two hands out to mo with sharp, gasp
ing cry.
"Jack. JnckP' she said, and | caught
her in my arms.
have lived over the agony, the joy, of
that moment all through the long, lone
ly hours Of this night
It was Big John himself who brought
the doctor and cried like child when
they told him sho was dying. His little
crippled child she had loved and cared
for, and it had died in her arms. Aye.
and that harm should have come to her,
who was more good and innocent Of
wrong than the angels!' muttered Big
John brokonly as he went away softened
and sorrowful.
,Jero Hlrman sent me ont to tell the
men that he had yielded, and in the ST.
lonce Of death they went away.
The strike is over.
AS I'sis here in the gray dawn. whit
ing. fearing, dreading the coming Of the
morning and the news it may bring,
hear the clatter Of horses ho0fs II is
servant from the hall riding to tho viii
lago on some GRAND.
What news?" call out hoarsely, and
learn that the worst is over and that she
will live.
y
Nellio Harman hovered between life
and death for long weeks, and l worked
as l had never worked before. Jere
Harman left much Of tho management
Of the mill in my hands, and put heart
and brain in the work, or should have
gone mad in those weeks with the long
ing to see her face. When she was we'll
again, spent many evenings at the Hall
talking business with her father, who
came'seldom to the office in those days.
He had broken in health with the recent
troubles and had lost energy, but he
was gentler and kinder than Of old
Harry Desmond was always there.
was but dull guest. l could not endure
his light heartedness, the triumph in his
eyes, the happiness in his laugh. l could
not endure that he should call her by
name or smile on her.
was mad fool
/ told Jero Herman that I must go
away, that must have rest, change-a
vacation. Gordon, the young, foreman,
could talse my place, | urged, and he
consented, though grndgihgly.
The last evening l promised him to
spend at tho hall and go over the ac-
counts with him.
Never had Nellie been brighter or
gayer. felt vague pang that my CO.
ing was so little TO her.
1t was early when Desmond left, and /
Immediately rose to go. Jere Hartman
grasped my hand cordially, in farewell,
and Nellie said simply "Goodby," and
went down tho path slowly and sadly.
Suddenly heard light, flying step
behind me as reached the shadow of
tho trees.
1t was Nellie.
stepped back in tho darkness. She
stopped as if listening and then came to-
ward me.
81 thought I should ovortake you,' she
slipping her arm through
mine. "Did you think could let you
go away tonight without last word?"
There was something in her voice, ten
derness, that explained all. She had
como out to meet her lover, Desmond,
and mistaken mo for him in the dark |
less. But to have her SO near wye very
,weet, She seemed not to c for
Ipeeoh. She was very still-jus tsp-
ng my arm and leaning over ltly
against my shoulder. Tho ten ton
was great-I was going away. 4st to
take away with mo the memory of q
heavenl
| kissed her.
"Forgivo me-" pleaded desperately.
"You Thought mo your lover, Desmond,
and was cruel, mad, to take that kiss
Nellie, forgive me-"
But kissed you, Jack" she whis-
pered. "And you won't go--oh, Jack,
you won't go when love you so?'
Jack Spencer, gray haired and 40, COM
and poor-rshe loved him!
That is my romance.-M. A. Wors-
wick in Frank Leslie's Weekly.