Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1894-07-04
Haring made tho Spdniord as fast as !
cOl1G

COutU.
mott mean that am going homc as it
grows late. But, say, why do you run Sc
fast, and what has happened to you,
Thomas that your arm is bloody and you
carry sword IL your hand!"
Il have no breath to speak yet, I an
swcrcd "Comc back to tho hawthorns,
and will tell you. "
"No; must be vending homcward. !
have been among the trees for more than
an hour, and there is little bloom upon
them"
II could not come before, Lily. was
kept and in strange manner; also l saw
bloom as ran
Indeed I never thought that you would
come, Thomas" she answered, looking
down, "who have other things to do than
to go out Maying like girl. But I wish
to hear your story, if it is short, and will
walk o little way with you. +"
So we turned and walked side by side
toward the great pollard oaks, and by the
time that we reached them had told her
the talo of the Spaniard, and low he
strove to kill me, and how had beaten
him with my staff. Now, Lily listened ca
gerly enough and sighed with fear when
She learned how close I had been to death.
"But you are wounded, ThomaS!". she
broke in. "See, the blood runs fast from
your arm. Is the thrust deep?"
II have not looked to see. I have had no
time to look.
Take off your coat, Thomas, that ]
may dress the wound Nay, I will have
it so.
So drew off the garment, not without
pain, and rolled up the shirt beneath, and
thc;c was the hurt-a clean thrust through
the ncshy part of the lower arm. Lily
washed it with water from the brook and
bound it with her kerchicf, murmuring
words of pity all the while. To say truth,
i would have suffered worse harm glad
ly if only could find her to tend it. In
decd her gentle care broke down the fence
of my doubts and gave me courage that
otherwise might have failed mo in her
presence. At first indeed I could find no
words, but as she bound my wound bent
down and kissed her ministering hand.
She flushed red as the evening sky, the
flood of crimson losing itself ut last be-
meath ncr auburn hair, but it burned deep
est upon the white hand which had kiss
cd.
"Why did you do that, Thomas'" she
said in low voice.
Then I spoke IT did 1t because love
you, Lily, and do not know how to begin
the telling of my love. I love you, dear,
and have always loved, US I always shall
love you"
"Aro you so sure Of that, Thomasf" she
said again.
"There is nothing else In the world of
which I am so sure, Lily. What wish
to be as surc of is that you love mo as I
love you"
For moment she stood quiet, her head
sunk almost to her breast Then she lift
ed it, and her eyes shonc as I had never
seen them shine before.
'Can you doubt it, Thomas?" she said
And now I took her in my arms and
kissed her on the lips, and tho memory Of
that kiss has gone with mo through my
long life and is with mo yet, when, old
and withcrcd, I stand upon tho borders Of
tho grave. 1t was the greatest joy that
has been given to me in all my days. Too
soon, alas! it was done, that first pure kiss
of youthful love- and spoke again, some.
what aimlcssly:
ut seems, then, that you do love me
who love you so wcll?"
eff YOU doubted it before, can you doubt
it now?" she answered very softly. but
listen, Thomas 1t is well that we should
love each other, for we were born to it and
have no help in the matter, even if We
wished to find it. Still, though love DO
sweet and holy, it is not all, for there is
duty to be thought of, and what will my
father say to this, ThomasT
81 do not know, Lily, and yet can
guess. I am sure, sweet, that he wishes
you to take my brother Godfrey and leave
INC on one side.
'tThcn his wishes arc not mine, Thomas
also, though duty be strong, it is not
strong enough to force woman to q mar
riago for which she has no liking Yet it
may prove strong enough to keep woman
from marriage for which her heart pleads
Perhaps also it should have been strong
enough to hold INC back from the telling
of my love"
mo, Lily; the love itself Is much, and
though 1t should bring no fruit, still it Is
something to have won it forever and u
day"
"You ara very young to talk thus
Thomas. am also young, I know, but
we womcn ripcn quicker. Perhaps all
this is but boys fancy, to pass with boy
hood
at will never pass, Lily. They say that
our first loves are the longest, and that
which is sown in youth will flourish in
our ugc. Listen, Lily. l have my place to
make in the world, und it may take time
in the making and ask one promise of
you, though perhaps 1t is Il selfish thing to
seek. I ask of you that you will be fuith-
ful to me, and como fair weather or foul,
will wed no other man till you know me
dead" -,
1T is something to promise, Thomas,
for with time cclnc changca Still am
s;;-o Js mysc.s tEi!: @"oniae-Hag