The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1893-09-20
CHAPTER XIV.
MEET MY LOVER, BUT ALAS. ALAS

was upstairs the day Mrs. Law
tons guest arrived and did not know
anyone was in the house until | walked
into the parlor and suddenly found my
self in the presence of the gentleman.
The room was rather dark and the WIS.,
itor's face was turned from me, else
should certainly have recognized him at
. once. AS it was how great was the
shock | sustained when Mrs. Lawton
arose and introduced her nephew. say
ing:
miss Owens, this is my nephew. Mr..
Hanley."
came near sinking to the floor, and
! am sure my heart came into my throat
at q bound. TO have met win Ilanley
at all, in any place and under any cir
cumstances, would have overpowered
me, but to meet him there so uncXpect-
edly shocked me beyond description.
suppose acknowledged the introduce
ton in some way, though am not cer-
tain Of it, by any means, and in fact |
am not sure of anything that trans
pired at that time.
dropped into seat that was near
! and for time my brain seemed to be in
/ whirl. For moment was uncon.
/ scious, think. Fortunately neither
Mr. IIanlcy nor Mrs Lawton took any
notice of me and my discomposure es-
capped detection. When regained per-
feet consciousness MIR, Hanlcy and Mrs.
Layton were talking quietly, she ask
ing questions regarding himself and he
answering them. listened, and dis
covered after awhile that letter or
two had passed between them of late.
"Then," | thought, "he knew was
here, and perhaps he came to see me-"
had very little to base such thought
or hope on, confess, for he had not APP
peared any more pleased to meet me
than he had when | saw him last,
but loved him yet, and was anxious
to believe he loved me. was fondling
the hope that it was for my sake he had
come, and had almost deceived myself
into believing it, when he gave me an
other shock that thought must surely
kill me.
"And now, Aunt Lawton," he said.
"a have little surprise for you. am
almost afraid to tell you what it is, for
fear you will never forgive me for not
informing you through my letter"
what is it, WHIP" Mrs, Lawton
asked.
win blushed and for an instant was
silent flushed burning hot from
head to foot and trembed like leaf.
"Am right" I. thought, land is II
true that he has come on my account!
What else can he have in mind, except
to inform his aunt that he knows nae
and that it is he has come to see?"
wait breathlessly for him to an
swer, and do not wait long
Aunt" he said, ~ did not like tc
write to you of certain little matter
because never told you that was il
love, and that had some thought o.
getting married"
was rigid with expectancy. Mrs
Lawton looked over her spectacles a
Mr. Hanley but said nothing.
} "Ycs," he continued directly, 'such il
the case, and realize now that ough
to have told you. But better late thai
never, so will tell You now. 1t wa
out at Aunt Browns that met the dea,
girl love. Her parents live there ant
we were children together. Her fathe
| is Daniel Owens, Aunt Browns neares
ncighbor."
l gaspcd for breath. My heart wa
t in my throat, choking me till l coulc
| not breathe. 1t was me he had COM
to SCENE he loved He had said a
much. He and were children togethe
and Daniel Owens was my father.
"Hc loved me-" | cried in thought
t after all. He will be mine and l shall
, be his"
I The happiness of that moment is be
/ yond the bounds of language. Their
are no words that will portray it. l
was heavenly. listened with rapture
, my heart all in tumult, for his mex
words. lie was coming to the clima
= and in his next sentence he must speal
? my name. His lips moved and l sa
? breathless.
, Yes" he continued, 81 loved Mis-
' Owens, and she was good enough t
: love me; and now-she is my wife. W
I were married only three days since
, and she is at the village hotel waitin
: for you to welcome her.
D Reader, tainted. wonder l did nc
: die. had suffered untold miseries an
: heartaches In my time, but never any
l thing like what experienced then. I
5 be wrought up to the very apex of JOY
D then like a flash plunged down tn
: steep abyss into the darkest despair
( too terrible for pen to picture. Wit
? one sweep my hopes were all goat
viii Hanley was lost to me forever. II
, was the husband of my sister.
When | returned to consciousness
, Mrs. Lawton was bathing my face an
: chatting my hands. She appeared deer
i. " anxious, evidently at loss to "a
: count for my condition She had neve
i known me to faint before. pcrpleze