Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1898-01-19

but slowly Lancelot Richards eyes went
back to the fire, and his lips regained
their steadiness.
"Iou are wishing that | would marry,
and l have already done so. Make a bet
lost my wife"
"feli me about it, she said quietly.
at happened long ago, when l used to
go down there" indicating he picture.
"That was before Mr.. Osmond discovered
the place, and hardly know how 1t was
that he did not hear about it. l used to
be out at the village good deal, where
met her. She captivated me at the very
tirst-such u demure, sweet little maiden.
| was young then and l lost my heart
quite after the usual fashion of novels,
and l managed to spend good many
half hours with her when the boys
thought I was out hunting Everyone
had a good word for her, and she did not
seem at all eiated by the attentions OF
young man from the city. In fact, /
could not fluid out whether she cared for
me or not, until at last l grew desperate,
and asked her to be my wife.
1T was madness, admit, because had
my way to make in the world, ano | had
no right to task your Kindness further.
But was afraid of losing her, SO afraid
that when message came from Mr.. Os-
mond, summoning me home to start for
the West Mt such time, insisted on
marrying her before left. 1t caused a
little delay, perhaps you will remember.
| had to wait for the seven days notice,
OF course, but was not due here for five
days, and left her the moment the cere-
mony was over, intending to return when
I came East again.
But had to be away longer than we
expected, and had only two nights in
Boston before starting again for Canada.
When l reached Boston again. Mr..
Osmond met me at the station, saying
that must go to Europe for him. My
passage was already taken, and had just
time to reach New York before the
steamer left. He had brought what
necessary luggage would need, money,
and instruction, SO l took the next train
to the other station.
"You know that l was i'll long time,
and could not return to America, my
letters went astray, and | did not hear
from my wife, and | went to South
America before l had time to hunt her
up. OF course | knew that | had only to
tell Mr.. Osmond of my dilemma, but at
state, about evenly balanced between
success and ruin, and very little would
turn the scale either way. | felt that |
was under too many obligations to him,
and to you, to let my own affairs inter
fere with his"
Il remember how he kept you going
from one place to another. He could not
leave me then, when he did not know
that he would find me alive when he
came back. He could trust you better
than anyone else, so he depended on you.
But we never dreamed OF this, my dear
boy"
"And | did not mean that you should
ever know. thought the story dead and
buried in the past, but somehow it would
not be stiled tonight"
"And you could never find her?'
No NeHt tneTe, Dut SIZE HaO gone
away long before, had lost her parents,
and no one knew what had become Of
her. | felt at last that she could not have
cared for me, or she would not have dis
appeared SO utterly"
"May 1t not have been that she wanted
to hide herself from all who knew that
she was apparently deserted wiie?"
h..I r,t
other ties, even il 1 cared to do SO, there
fore there seems to be but poor life left
to me, he added little bitterly.
Mrs. Osmond leaned forward and pu,
her hand on his arm.
My poor boy, am sure that all this
trial is going to work for your good.
Never, never think that God sends us
unhappiness without some purpose
though We are not wise enough, often, to
distinguish it. 1t is almost Christmas,
Lance. and He who sent sinful world
such precious gift centuries ago, will
some time send His Christmas JOY to
you"
There was spirit OF prophecy on her
earnest face, and Lancelot Richards felt
his heart grow lighter.
He rose suddenly to his feet, bent to
leave kiss upon her cheek, and with
whispered word OF gratitude, went out
into the night.
Barby, hearing the outer door close,
came in to replenish the fire, and her mis-
tress babe her retire when she wished,
she would sit up for Mr.. Osmond herself.
Left alone, she rose once, and going
into the brightly-lighted parlor looked
out upon the street. 1t WAS a moonless
night, few stars illuminating the dark
ness OF the sky, serving to make it look
colder and its darkness more profound.
And Mrs. Osmond, shivering little, went
gladly back to the fire and the cosy semi
darkness OF the other room.