The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-10-31

the voice for that Of one Of my fathers
serving men. To him she spoke in low
tones, then led thcway by the garden path
to the front iEsr of the house, which she
opened with q key from her glrdle, mo-
tioning to me to pass in before her. did
so, and thinking little of such matters at
the moment turned by habit into the
doorway of the sitting Dom, which knew
so well, lifting my feet 30 avoid stumbling
ON its step, and passing into the room
found my way through the gloom to tho
wide fireplace, where. ]. took my stand
Lily watched me enter; then, following me,
she Lit q taper at the fre, which smoldered
ON the hearth and placed it upon the table
in the window IN such fashion that, though
was now obliged to take off my hat, my
face was still in shadow.
s.Now, sir, your token, if it pleases
you
Then I drew the posy ring from my fin
ger and gave it to her, and she sat down
by the table and examined 1t in the light
of the candle, and as she sat thus saw
how beautiful she was still and how little
time had touched her except for the sad
ness In her face, though now she had seen
eight and thirty winters. Isaw also that
though she kept control Of her features as
she looked upon the ring her breast heaved
quickly and her hand shook
1.-THE token is true one, she said at
length. s.I know the ring, though 1t Is
somewhat worn since last saw it. It was
my mothers, and many years ego gave
it as love gage to q youth to whom I
promised myself in marriage. Doubtless
all your tale is true, also, sir, and thank
you for your courtesy in bringing itso far.
It is sad tale, a very sad tale. And now,
sir, as may not ask you to stay; in this
house, where live alone, and there Is no
inn near, Ipropose to send serving men to
conduct sou to my brothers dwelling, that
is something more than q mile away, It.
indeed" she added slowly, s.you do not:
already know the path. There you viii
find entertainment, and there the sister Of
your dead companion, Mary Board, viii
be glad to learn the story Of his strange
adventures from your lips. .
bowed my head and answered: First,
sonora, would pray your answer to my
friends dying prayer and message.
s'It is childish to send answers to the
dead.
s.Stil pray for them, as I was charged
to do.''
s.How reads the writing within this
ring, sirs''
Heart to heart,
Though far apart"
said glibly, and next instant could
have bitten out my tongue.
seAh, you know that also, but doubtless
you have carried the ring for many months:
and learned the writing! Well, sir, though:
we were far apart, and though perchance,
cherished the memory Of him who wore
this ring and for his sake remained un-
wed, it seems that his heart went a-stray-
ing-to the breast indeed of some savage
woman whcm he married and who bore
him children That being SO, my answer
to the prayer Of your dead friend is that
forgive him indeed, but must needs take
back the vows which swore to him for
this life and forever, since he has broken
them, and as best I may strive to cast out
the love bore him, since he rejected and
dishonored it, And, standing up, Lily
made as though she tore at her breast and
threw something from her, and at the
same time she let fall the ring upon the
floor.
heard, and my heart stood still. So
this was the end of it. Well, she had the
right Of me, though now began to wish
that had been less honest, for sometimes
women can forgive lie sooner than such
frankness. said nothing. Ny tongue
was tied, but "a great misery and wcarlness
entered into me. STOPPING down, I found
the ring, and replacing it on my finger
turned to seek the door with a last glance
at the woman who refused me. Half way
thither paused for one second, wondering
if should do we'll to declare myself, then
bethought me that if she would not abate
her anger toward me dead her pity for me
living would be small. Nay, I was dead
to her, and dead would remain.
Now was at the door, and my foot was
on its step, when suddenly voicc-Liiy's
voice-sounded in my ears, and it was
sweet and kind.
Thomas, ''said the voice, Thomas, be-
fore you go will you not take count OF the
gold ard goods and land that you placed
in my Keeping
Now I turned amazed, and, 10, Lily came
toward me slowly and with outstretched
arms!
'.Oh, foolish man. she Whispered low,
did you think to deceive woman heart
thus clumsily-you who talked of the
beech in the Hall garden, you who found
your way so well to this dark chamber
and spoke the writing in the ring with the
very voice of one who has been dead so
long! Listen. forgive that friend of yours
his broken troth, for he was honest IN the
telling of his fault, and it is hard for man
to live alone so many years, and in strange
countries come strange adventures. More
over, 1 will say it, still love him as it
seems that he loves me, though in truth
grow somewhat old for love, who have lin
gered long waiting to find it beyond my
grave. -
Thus Lily spoke, sobbing as she spoke,
then my arms closed around her, and she
said 10 more And yet as our lips met
thought of Ctomic, remembering her
words, and remembering also that she had
died on this very day q year ago.