Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1894-07-28
window, would Gnd me bending over
the book had 50 eagerly opened the

self. dressed, on my bed to snatch al
hours sleep, to prepare me for the
manual labor of tho day. grow pale
and thin, bat for that cared nothing, ).
until one morning. when it came timo
to rise. I found my body powerless to
obey my will, and sank back on my
pillows into unconsciousness
For weeks lay tossing in delirium
and fever. A memory haunted me
when once more l awakened to the
realities Of life, OF tender touch aud
o face enshrined on ny heart. Could
it be Miss Meredith had been to see
me?
With garrulous eagerness my nurse
told mo nil. How she had come, not
once, but many times, even in the
midst Of her wedding preparations.
how grand the wedding was, how
lovely looked the bride, md how, rs
Mrs. Crane, she haH left for mo her
good-by, since they were to cross the
seas and might not be back for many
year.
married and gonel"
Like knoll the words fell on my
ear as silently turned my heul away,
and the bitter tears rolled one by one
down my cheek. All. how little was
/ in her life who had helped fill mine
with such glalncss! Yet she had not
forgotten me. The house was in the
care Of servants (her father having
joined them, but the library was left
open to me, with the privilege Of
spending there as many hours as
would.
Ten years passed on. I held Mr..
Cranes old position now. l had won
it through discovery had made OF
great value to the owners, and which
(ike all else that I was, or might be)
owed to Miss Meredith. I could not
think of her as Mrs Crane, not even
when learned they were coming home
again, with the little girl, born the
first year of their marriage in Florence.
but without the father who hal SO
worshiped her whose body lay in
foreign grave; not even when, going
up after her arrival to offer my respect
full welcomes she came forward, hold
iag by the hand a little girl, whose
sunny hair fell to her waist
Ny eyes glanced from the mother
to the child. Was it in that moment
transferred my hearts homage? l
know not. only know that for the
little creature I would willingly have
laid down my life.
1--WE are so proud of you, George"
Mrs. Crane said kindly.
But something in my throat choked
my answer. could only turn awk-
wardly away.
The mill grew and prospered in the
years which rushes SO swiftly by. I
would have gone into the world to seek
wider scope for my ambition but for
something tugging at my heart
which kept me chained l was an
honorel guest now at the old home.
The poor, friendless boy no longer
sought admittance to the library, but
with consummate tact was made to
feel himself friend.
Bat how had l repaid the kindness
offered? How recompensed my debt
Of gratitudeo l had drifted idly
down the current Of the music OF
birds, mid the fragrance OF flowers,
until suddenly, like the roar OF the
avalanche at my very feet, though be-
fo-e unheard, this truth forced itself
upon me. | loved Eleanor Crane.
Sae was 81 yet but child on the
boundary line between girlhood and
womanhool, the age when first | had
raised my eyes to look upon her
mothers face. Yet 1 had loved her
from that first moment she had stood,
child of eight, clinging to her moth
er's hand, regarding the stranger with
wondering eyes.
"Eleano- will marry ere many years.
ani leave ne Oh, George, If | could
bat keep her always"
This was the confidence uttered one
day as we sat alone, that opened my
eyes 70 the fatal truth This woman,
to whom l owed all. everything.
should | rob OF her one treasure?
Some day. perhaps, some man great
and noble might t,sue and be thought
WORTHY, but for me--I turned away