The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-05-12
wv 80 ~
}THE TEST

thinking!"
us that such very unusual menta
process on your part?" said Mr.. Ernes
cliffe, gravely.
About our engagement" said Di
ana, Harry. what made you like M
at the very f1rst?"
"Well-at the very first, suppose i
was because you were so pretty"
"And now?"
Nov, 1t is because you are my d.
ana"
But, Harry" with downcast eyes
Suppose were homely and unattrac
tive"
"Well?"
Then would you care for me-
Would you love me as you do now?"
my darling, l should love you just
as well II you were as ugly as-as OLD
Miss Hilsey," asservated Ernescliffe."
Are you quite sure, Harry?"
And his laughing, loving glance reas.
sured her for this once.
Miss Garland scarcely knew what
had inclined her thoughts toward this
strange and unusual channel. She for
got 1t again the next minute, but she
remembered It again with all the swift
ness and suddenness Of revelation
some two weeks subsequently, when
she happened to be taken i'll and old
DR.. Vivian was summoned to attend
her.
DR.. Vivian looked intently at Diana.
He asked one or two questions and
then looked at her again.
Doctor" cried Di, what is it?
There is something in your eyes that
you do not speak out"
Miss Garland, when did you last
visit that blind protege of yours in the
Simond street tenement house"
About two weeks ago, doctor.
Why?"
II thought So" said DR.. Vivian.
"Since then have sent three children
from that house to the hospital"
Doctor" gasped Mrs. Garland, mot
smallpox"
He nodded his head. VERY bad cases
of smallpox" said he. "And | very
much fear, my dear young lady, that
you have contracted the same dis
easel"
Il told you so, d." walled Mrs. Gar
land. II always knew how it would
turn out, all that poor district business
of yours. Oh. my child, my child!
your prospects In life will be ruined,
and"
MRS. Garland" Interrupted the doc
tor, "re-collect yourself. My patient
must not be annoyed or excited. These
regrets come too late to be useful.
What we have to do with now is the
present"
Diana looked up with smile.
do not fear, DOCTOR" said she.
"Small-pox-I have always had an I'M
defined dread and horror Of 1t. Now
that 1t Is so close upon me the fear
seems to have all passed away. Nam
ma, don't cry. Beauty is only skim
deep after all, and-and If there be any
among my friends who loved me for
that alone 1t is perhaps as well that
should find it out at once"
but Harry Ernescliffe. my darling?"
Mamma, we won't talk about that
Just now," said the girl, in a low
voice.
But Diana Garland thought within
herself how fortunate 1t was that Har-
ry had just started for that business
journey to New Orleans. which would
detain him there for month
at least.
mo one must write to him. It
would be Of no use," said Diana. "And,
mamma, If death should come to me,
shall not be sorry that my last work
On earth was ministering to Gods
poor"
May go to her, Mrs. Garland"
Harry Ernescliffe had known moth
ng of it all until, returning from his
Southern trip, he heard of Diana's ill
less. And this was the first occasion
Upon which he had been admitted to
he house on Madison avenue.
Harry" faltered Mrs. Garland, e.
have message for YOU"
May not hear it from Diana's own
Ups, Mrs. Garland?"
1T is not fitting that you should"
said Mrs. Garland. firmly. Here Is
he ring, Harry-the ring you gave her.
She absoves you from the engagement
md retur.s the token of your troth."
Harry's eyes flashed reproachful fire.
Have asked for such absolution,
hrs. Garland?" he questioned, almost
ternly.
"No--but my daughter thinks that it
) due to you. She is altered by the fell
land of disease. She is no longer the
air, beautiful girl to whom you en-
aged yourself. She"
But Harry Ernescliffe silenced her.
"She is Diana Garland STILL" he said
ervently. THE Diana Garland whom
lone l love-the only woman l will
yer marry. Pray conduct me to her
t once, Mrs. Garland"
And the mother, trembling like an
spen leaf, could but obey.
The soft, level light of the afternoon
un was shining In through the rose
olored chintz draperies of Miss Gar
and's boudoir, and Diana stood in the
fiddle of the room as he entered,
obed all in white, with her lovely
olden- brown hair falling in glisten-
lg shower to her waist, and her large,
vistful eyes turned toward the door,
o scanned and Scared skeleton, no dis
cured and haggard remnant OF her
primer self, but Diana Garland, as
eautiful as ever, save that she was
rife thinner and more pale.
my Diana, oh, my darling!" he
ried, claspins her to his heart.
Eyes, Harry, yours forever" she
lurmured, be: soft eyes full Of happy
ears. 80 you would not give me up
mot even when you fanc!ed me dis
cured for life. But, oh! Harry, when
fancicd that all my beauty was reft
ON me, the one thing that hurt me
lost was the fear that you would not
we me the same. Now know that
on are true as Gods own sunshine.
h, Harry, how can we ever be- sufl-
emily thankful that Heaven has been
} merciful!"
And thus all Diana Garlaad's fears
nd doubts were exercised forever.
l
TeiIS All