Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1894-11-02

the deep seas; she chose to share the
lot Of no man to whom she could not
give herself heartily, wholly.
II knaw ye like me, Andrew" she
said frankly; "Pve al'ays knawn it, an
! thank you. II ever | come to think
Y that other way, an II see ye're /
the same mind still, III speak first.
Don't ask me any more, Andrew, I'll
speak first"
Henceforth, as before, they were
friends-close, firm friends--but no
further. Season after season Andrew
sailed off in his yawl for the white
fishing on the Dogger, returning each
time with brain afiame for the sight OF
her. And she met him with mere
smile and handshake, in her eyes no
token of change, no glimmer of awal.
ening affection.
Eight years thus numbered away
eight weary, joyless years land nei
Their Hilda nor Andrew had sought to
break through their part of silence.
About this time, Hilda was sore
stricken with typhoid, then rife in the
village, and for an anxious space she
dwelt on the very border-line of Here
and Hereafter. On Andrews persua-
sion-he stalking his word that the
great mans fees should be forthcom.
ing-Abel called in DIR. Ratcliff, OF
Morperland, under whose care Hilda
slowly began to mend. 1t was while
Andrew was away at the Banks-the
doctors comforting assurances for
company-that the truth stripped itself
before Hilda, to torture and affiict her
with its hooking ghastliness.
Asyet she was not able to leave the
bed, but lay there with pinched face,
her hair tangled on the pillow, her
thin blue fingers twitching idly at the
garish patchwork quilt, her eyes wan.
dering to the half-open lattice through
which was borne the distant sough of
the waves, and whence she could see
the sun-flecked crests far on { beyond
Fork Rocks. Then she would turn to
answer some question put to her by
her little niece, Mary-Abel's eldest
daughter, rising ten"-who had crept
into the sick room. Presently the lit
tie maid fell to babbling, childlike, OF
the doings and sayings of her school
friends
SAY, but yell be gettin' fine schol-
ard, Mary" said Hilda. "Itwas guild
thing for the weans when t. parson
opened a school. | wish 1t had been
done long SIM"
at was our Examination to-day" re-
piled Mary, eager with fresh news.
Mr.. Harvey heard me read an patted
me o the head. Out OF a newspaper
hard words they was, too"
AN maybe we can read writin',
Mary?"
"Oh, yes" returned she, nowise dis.
posed to belittle her attainments.
"When you get any letters, Aunt Hilda,
I'll read them all through to YOU
every word. I'm sure could"
well, I'm goin' to try ye," said
Hilda, smilingly. Now, open that
drawer no, the second one-an' bring
the little black box to me. Yes, that
is it,"
Tcnderly picking out the fnery with
which the box was filed, Hilda placed
the various articles by her side on the
bed Underneath, untouched since
that day, lay the very letter which had
told her it's sad tale through Andrews
mouth.
Now, what names that?" said she,
pointing to the signature.
Mary screwed her eyes into beads,
hung her head sapiently on one side
and spelled the words under her
| breath.
Ben, Ben; Webb, Webb" she
announced, at last, with ring OF
triumph. "lt's main bad writin, but
mo! mol" cried Hilda, rising ex.
citedly upon her elbow. Not Ben
not Ben Webb. Are you sure, Maryof
BEN; Webb, Webb, repeated her
niece.
Hilda sent up a choking cry. He
said it came fro Capt. Worsley," she
calculated gaspingly, He lied TO me.
It's fro Ben-fro, Ben Ben isn't
dead!' Her whole frame, atremble,
she turned to Mary with: Begin al
the first. Read it all to me. Can We;
can yep"
Mary at all events was willing tc
try, and although she Numbered often
and painfully under the task, between
them they managed to piece the words
into sense.
Dear uilda, it ran, Il didn't near
to say word, but can't do it without
telling you first. Don't hate me, for
did love you, and do, more nor her
Anyways, you can't say | di Int tel
You all about Polly Barclay how we
was to be married, and how it wa.
broke off Well, me and her have
made 1t up again. Her uncle's dead
and left her everything-hi three
houses and G400 in the bank You see
| didn't have a free hand, so you can
blame me. Besides, there Andy Cop
ley only too glad to have you; and the
banns has been read twice in Grimsb,
church, think things are best lef
alone, and no fuss made, especial us
don't ask the presents back, nor"
Mary had plodded through her letter
SO far, when Hilda, with loud shrek
dropped back upon her pillow Abe
and his wife FASTENED upstairs to hnc
her again sitting upin bed, round-eyed
and gesticulating with clenched fists
Il might ha' won him back--I would
hal" she cried, shrilly. "A lie, An
drew Copley! 1t was lie!"
In this fashion she raved all through
the night and long into the next day
DR.. Radcliffe said it was brain fever
and, although he eventually brough
her back to bodily health, her minC
never recovered its sanity.
Poor Hilda! She knows not that TO
the bread she eats, for the shelte