Middletown transcript., 1898-01-15


coming closer aud closer.
Two minutes later Lyddy arose from
her position, and started helplessly af.
ter The retreating train. The engine
snorted and laughed in the distance,
as if exulting in the fact that it had
made gift to the girl of the life she
would so recklessly have thrown away.
"I've been a fool" Lyddy senten-
ously observed. "This was the old
side-track they only use in summer.
I've been fool"
"She stood watching the train until
it finally disappeared.
"I'll go home," she said. pve been
fool, and may God forgive me. There
must be something left to live for, and
I'll find out what it is" with which
sensible remark, the girl, whose unro-
matte name was Lyddy Jones, struck
off into the main road, and walked
briskly toward home.
The moon swupR clear above the
tops of the trees and cast lonely black
shadows across tbe path; but this
country girl knew not fear. She heard
footsteps behind, but did not quicken
hers, supposing them to belong to some
belated farmer hurrying home from
the Corners.
But she trembled when a pair of
arms were suddenly thrown about her,
and voice he we'll knew, burned into
her heart with merry words of greet
ing
"Why, LyddyI Dear Lyddyl l
didn't look for you out here"
''TomP' she could only grasp his
name.
You didn't expect to see me, did
youp o, Lyddyp
"Tomp she gasped again.
Eyes that's my Dame," was the an
swer. "But fellow wants more than
that, you know, when he hasn't seen
the dearest girl in the world for
MONTHS" and Tom took Lyddy's face
in his two hands and kissed it.
"|But Tom-Valeriep" she gasped.
"Valeriel Valerie, what?" asked
Tom. "What do you meanP' and he
repeated the process he had found so
agreeable few moments before.
"But your wife, Tom.'
Eyes, l hope so, soon. Let me tell
you why came, DEAR" was all the re-
ply he gave her.
tom, aren't you married21 Lyddy
began to grow coherent. 4
Married. Well, l guess not" Tom
was a Yankee still,i spite of five years
in New York. "But will be next week,
dear or tomorrow, if you car.''
"But it was in the New York paper,
you and Valerie Mannering, Tom" 4
LII tldoli 1Oul
Now who's been making mischief?
1 remember seeing, while was in the
hospital, that old paper and the mar
riage notice of fellow whose name
was the same as mine. He nor she
either, was no one | knew" concluded
Tom, uugrammatioally, perhaps, but
quite 10 Lyddy's satisfaction.
"While you were sick, Tom?" she
to say. "And you didn't let
me know? o Toni"
81 didn't know myself. Lyddy,"
Tom answered. Look at me-"
The girl saw how he thin was, and
pale, now that the first flush of excite
ment was gone.
II was taken down the very last of
September with typhoid fever, aud was
delirious, they say, for weeks. Itturn-
ed into brain fever, and-well, Lyddy,
I'm just this minute out of the hospi-
tai. Until within two weeks, could
not command myself enough to get
letter written, and then, when I found
1 was coming,I thought would rather
wait so short time and surprise you.
l did, didn't IP Wen be married to-
morrow, and my vacation lasts tilf'Feb-
ruary. Say, are you surprised?"
Eyes, Tom." The tears were roll
ing down Lyddy's cheeks now. "But it
came near not being success, ,th ought"
"Why?" asked Tom.
20, because.
And that was all the explanation she
ever gave him.
The Florida Limited.
mt