The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1895-09-12

him herself how much she wanted the
money; perhaps she was starving and there
| was no one to help her. He worried and
| distressed himself till the doctor shook his
! head, aud ordered him to the South OF
| France.
Leigh took no notice of his advice.
| Everything seemed to go by him in dream,
until one day postcard was brought up to
| him, with two lines written upon it, that
| ran like an electric stream through his frame.
| The words were these:
"Only just back in town. "a South street,
| Chiffon Square"
Sydney was sitting alone that afternoon
! in her cherries room. She could not afford
a fire, and the cliDging damp made every
| thing chilly and uncomfortable She had at
| last heard of some teaching, but the salary
was very small and she would not receive
| anything until the end of the term.
| A week ago at this time very different
scene bad surrounded her. but that thought
was too painful to be borne rs yeti
A ring at the bell and a heavy step on the
| stair reused no expectations in Sydney 8
mind; no one ever came to see her but her
| cousin. and she thought that he was still
| away. But TO her surprise the steps paused
at her door, and the servant-girl threw
~ opch NibHOub "V
ment, and in another moment Oliver Leigh
stood before her
He was breathless with his ascent. and
leant heavily upon his stick; but he had left
off his bandages, and his eyes rested eagerly
upon her.
& should have been here days ago." he
exclaimed, al but / had no clue to your ad-
dress, and I was Obliged to wait until L
could get it from your cousin. The days
have seemed like an eternity"
He paused; but Sydney could find no
words in which to answer.
'AIe you angry with me for coming?o he
asked. "YOu would not be, if you knew
how terribly have missed you"
81 am not angry" said Sydney, in a
scarcely audible voice, while she raised her
eyes for moment to his.
Leigh's face frightened. az cannot part
from you againl" he exclaimed. a have
come here to-day TO ask you to be my wife"
But we have known each other such a
little time" said Sydney, trying to repress
the JOY that trembled through her at his
words. Sne knew that she should never love
any other man as she loved him, but she
feared that he might be yielding to a sud
den impulse which he would afterwards re-
pent.
DO you call it little while?" he said.
1T seems to me that have known you for
years. You must remember that a fort
night of work together like ours is worth q
year of ordinary acquaintance. No, can
not take that az an answer. The only thing
that will send me away is for you TO tell me
that you do not love me. Can you tell me
that?"
There was an entreating accent in his
voice against which Sydney was not preof.
mo-" she said, softly, and the brief negative
conveyed whole world of assent.
The dreary room, with all its chill dull
ness, disappeared as if by magic, TRANSPORTED
and glorifed by a haze of golden light.
Cold, WEAKNESS, poverty, all were for
gotten, blotted out from Sydney's memory
by the sudden rush of happiness; while
Leigh felt that this was the moment for
which he had been waiting all his life.
You must not forget that you owe me
two days work !" he said at last, looking at
her with smile.
"I don't owe them Z" said Sydney, play
fully. You have never paid me anything
at all yeti"
Leighs smile faded and he bowed his head
on hers.
81 can't bear to think of what you have
suffered, my little one!" he said. "But that
is all over now. There is nothing to wait
for; let US be married at once, and we will
60 abroad together. / believe the doctor
told me L ought to go to a warm climate for
little while, so we will forget all these
dark days in love and sunshine! i shall
never be thankful enough that your cousin
sent you to me-"
"Do you think we need tell him all the
story" said Sydney, anxieusly.
"No, dear, noln said Leigh at is too
sweet story to be spoilt by telling; we will
keep it all to ourselves
And thus it came to pass that when Nor
ris Holt read the letter that told him of
Sydneys engagement he said to himself,
with his usual distracted smile:
"Ah! yes, saw Leigh was interested di-
rectly 1 told him about her; Sydney may
thank me, after all, for having settled her in
life !"-Strand Magazine.