Daily camera., 1897-08-26
CHAPTER VIII.
.O-IlOTTO"
"Yes. Good-day."

When I again passed the depot at
Sidington on my way home, there was
u lady on horseback talking to the
agent.
1t needed no second glance to tell me
. it was Florence Morley. Her face was
turned toward the fellow, and so she
did not see me. | drove along slowly,
keeping my eyes upon her, and debat-
ing in my mind whether | should stop
and address her OF not.
II was a strong temptation, and only
fear held me back. a cowardly fear too.
/ doubted how my overtures might be
received. l had chosen my course OF
my own accord and I'would follow it
If it was contrary to her wish she
would find way to tell me.
After passing the station I allowed
my horse to continue at walk, so that
Florence must catch upwith me if she
intended to ride to her home from Sid
ington.
The resolve to stick to my promise
was growing weaker since Sarah's com
ment upon it. A word from Florence,
knew, "OulNl tuuSc NE W pIttih II, anu
l really was impatient for that word.
Soon the sound of approaching hoofs
beating the hard road reached me.
Nearer it came and nearer, until finally
caught glimpse, out of the corner
of my eye, of swaying petticoat.
She pulled in her horse to walk,
and then turned my head and glanced
at her. My heart was in my throat
when looked, but the smile that greet
ed me dispelled my fears like mist be-
fore the morning sun.
But the smile was not all that told
me of her emotion at again meeting me.
The deep brown eyes were suffused
with tears. With my own heart leaping
for joy, l reined my horse to a stand
j still. In an instant | was at her side.
She extended her hand, and with my
assistance sprang lightly to the ground.
took her horses bride over my arm
and, with the disengaged hand, helped
her climb into the buggy
''Tie the horse to the back axle, then
come here beside me-" were the first
words she said. l lost no time in obey
ing.
Imagine, if you please, the over
whelming joy to be seated once more
beside her who held my whole heart in
her keeping.
1 could not trust myself to speak, and
it was she who began.
"Are you not pleased to see me once
more, Mr. Conway? Because if you are
not, 1 certainly will not tell you how
happy l am in again meeting an old
friend"
The soft, sweet tones of her voice,
which l loved so to hear, had now
tremble to them. l glanced at her, and
well, Florence was still my true heart,
as she had been throughout, notwith-
standing my doubt and fear.
"The past year has been an eternity
to me-" 1 finally said.
"And who is to blame for that, won
der? And, too, when was the mystery
, cleared up, since you are now speaking
to me?" she said, with joyous laugh,
which told me as plainly as words
could how she had missed me.
SIT is not cleared up; sometimes
think it never will be. 1 could not have
found fault with you had you forgotten
me. Will you forgive me when l con-
fess was fearful you had?"
mo. l do. not think can quite for
give that. What reason had you for
fnistrusting me?" she earnestly asked.
"You passed me this morning, you
l>-o,., xr-;fhnut lNOxyipOo
II was so startled, and we had gone
by before I realized that it was you
who were standing there. That was
q slight cause for mistrusting me, sir"
'It was and l am very sorry. Indeed,
/ have been fool right through the