The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1897-04-10


echoes dying away in the perfumed 81
man called. No answer. Donald,
fearing he knew not what. went on
more quickly till before him he saw
the PROSTATE figure of the girl he
sought the sweet brown eyes closed,
| the curved lips silent, the beautiful
death-like face not more pure looking
than her own white-souled lilies.
She is dead. She is dead. Oh. my
daughter, my darling" moaned the old
man. wringing his hands in anguish. as
Donald gathered the slight form in his
arms to take her home Pulseless and
cold she seemed indeed the bride of
death. Once in the house Donald. hop
ing against hope it seemed worked
over the girl till faint culver gave
him some sign that life still remained
| in the Slight form.
| Then noise of tramping feet out
side and a hasty rap at the door. The
policeman black visage and his voice
saying In the name of de law" Then
he stopped, for Donald with stern white
! face and commanding gesture dis
missed him with the words she is
dying" and he fed, followed by the
| excited crowd
! The stranger had been two weeks in
his grave when Aline recovered and
was summoned to appear in court. Her
manner was calm and proud as she
faced her accusers.
fes, l knew the man." she said. 81
knew him in New York He came to
Bermuda to see me, to ask me to mar
| ry him. / refused him and as he ar
gued with me about my reason we
walked to the North Shore road. He
grew excited and angry and missed his
footing and slipped over the cliff
she shuddered and passed her hand
over herfacea as if to shut out the scene
Ihen she went on: Il came home and
tainted among the lilies. DR. Nc
Kane said l was nearly asphyxiated
when he found me-"
is that the reason YOU did NOT re-
port the ACCIDENT" asked the Queens
Counsel.
she colored deeply. NO" she said
honestly. Il was afraid"
The case went on Aline. was ac-
quilted. Then Donald, faithful to his
sweetheart through it all. heard the
past from her father at his request
lie cher father) had been EMPLOYED as
bookkeeper in a large mercantile firm
In New York. He had been tenDted
10 steal large sum of money on the
day that his daughter had been in TO
see him. She, with filial love, took all
the Diane; was imprisoned for term
but as phe money was returned the
firm had her sentence commuted. When
she was free the father and daughter
sailed for Bermuda
In telling Donald of it the old man
said: Il was a cad and a coward NV
only excuse was age and ill-health and
an actual terror of confinement My
daughter easily persuaded me to let
her take my sins on her young Shout
oerS. The sin and disgrace hurt us
both in any case, she argued Now, if
after hearing this you can still be
friends with u.s. we will both be CRATE
full, but Aline wishes me to tell Won
that she don't expect you to keep on
the engagement (the old mans voice
quavered), but the sin was rnine-all
mine. Don't you ever blame her for
no truer girl ever lived. Her soul is
as white as her lilies and her life has
been as pure. That I ruined her life
is a heartbreak to me- Neither time
nor eternity can efface the wrong I
have done. My confession to YOU is
only to clear her in your eyes Do not
betray my confidence Promise me
that will you not? 1t would ruin our
prospects here"
He peered into Donald's face anx-
iously as he finished speaking. Il
assure you replied Donald. your Sc
Crqf is fp with D,,f
indeed, have a poor opinion of the
depth Of my love for Aline to imagine
for moment the confession Of your
guilt and her noble sacrifice for you
would lessen either my esteem or my
love for her. If she will allow me to
make amends for any unhappiness in
her past by trying to insure her pres
ent happiness through my love for
her - have l your permission?" he
asked earnestly. The old man grasped
his hand in wordless Thanksgiving, and
Donald went to meet Aline among the
lilies.
A lovely color flooded her fair face
when she saw him coming. He took
her in his arms, kissing the sweet
downcast eyes as he did so.
Forgive my doubling, dear" he
said. but all my life and best mo-
ments will be spent in trying to atone
If you will be mine"
Her happy glance answered him; and
the perfume of the lilies was as a
benediction on their pure true love.
THE little church around the cor
ner'' in New York City received that
Easter a beautiful box of Easter lilies.
with the written message: "A thank
offering from a grateful heart in the
Bermudas."
And on the strangers grave in that
far-off, sea -girt isle blooms a single
blossoms tall, fair Bermuda lily.
THE SPELL.