The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1896-11-26

and beyond"
Eight years had passed on leaden
wings to Lucia. She had found out
her mistake, but pride had held firm
sway. Only once in the interval had
she heard from Rhodes; two years or
SO after the parting a mutual friend
brought her news of his lonely studi-
Gus life. The knowledge had reopened
the old wounds and caused her so
much heart misery that she had voun-
tarily put from her the chance for
further reports by dropping all corre-
spondence with her friend. She hnd
found her vocation, and she steadily
pursued it, striving to fill with ambi-
ton and work the part of her woman's
heart where wifehood and eternity
should have fourished.
And now fate had brought her to
his very place OF abode-unconscious-
ly on her part. for she had not no.
ticed that Stanford was on her route.
The delay to this especial train at this
especial place, too-was it fate, or was
an all wise Providence overruling cir
cumstances for her good? Since she
had been led to Rhodes Guilford's
home, why not have the battle out
with pride here and now?
She arose, and having the room to
herself, began to pace to and fro,
nervously clasping her hands as she
walked. A sudden noise in the street
attracted her attention, and she
paused by the window. Nothing but
n forlorn cur running by, with half
dozen hooting, yelling arabs of the
street at its heels. She was resuming
her walk when -merciful Heaven!
Surely her eyes had not failed her?
Just across the narrow street she saw
the sign "Rhodes Guilford, Attorney
at Law, 'and behind it, just inside the
open window, the bowed form busily
engaged in writing was surely no other
than the subject of her thoughts.
Breathlessly she stood gazing, hid
den from outside view by the lace
draperies of the window, her heart
throbbing wildly. 1t was fate Ah,
he had suffered, too! With touch
of feminine vanity she crossed the
room to the pier glass, and surveyed
with careful scrutiny the image it
presented to her. 1t was not the
fresh girlish bloom of eighteen she
saw, but the maturer face of twenty
six; vet there was comeliness and even
beauty, Lucia truthfully declared to
herself; and the form was as 1.-the and
as willowy as ever. with an added grace
of matured charms.
ITO deaths door shall be faithful
to you, Lucia-yes, and beyond
the words rang again in her ears.
With sudden decision she took
from her portfolio a card, wrote
quickly line or two, enclosed it in
an envelope, which she addressed, and
rang for messenger. While waiting
she stole another glance at the busy
writer across the way.
''Ah, darling, how happy l shall
strive to make you to atone for these
wasted years of obstinate pride!' she
cried under her breath as she gazed.
What perfect turnout that was.
coming rapidly down the street! Its
occupants were q charming woman
aud bright faced little boy. SIN
Just such a phaeton as that will drive
down to bring my husband home,
dreamed Lucia.
The horses paused directly opposite,
and the little man jumped out aud
disappeared within the building. In
a moment Lucia saw the man she. had
been watching drop his pen and grasp
his son in his arms, while she heard
the childish treble pipe out, ION,
papa! Me an mammals coined for
you early, cause it's my birfday, an
you promised--
But the rest of the sentence was
lost to Lucia, who dropped into
chair, pale and trembling-so pale
that the maid who had at that moment
answered her summons looked Curl
ously at her, as she asked, care you
sick, miss? What did you want OF
me?"
.Just glass OF water, please, an
swered Lacia feebIy, unable at once to
recover herself, and seizing the first
subterfuge that presented itself to her