The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-10-19
THE TEST,
Diana Garland was what the world
calls fashionable young lady 10 years

clife, gravely.
| About our engagement" said d.
ana, Harry, what made you like me
at the very irst?"
"Well--at the very first, suppose 1t
| was because you were so pretty"
And now?"
NOW, 1t Is because you are my d.
ana
But, Harry" with downcast eyes,
suppose l were homely and unattrac-
tive
"Well?"
Then would you care for me?
Would you love me as you do now?"
my darling, I should love Won lust
O. ws,, - vou uora aa ua,,, .sa ~ ' n,a
s,,," IL o' "o.e 40 aey go o'
",9s ii.isey' ?s'0i '"'eu Hihes'i'he'
are you quite sure Harry!
And his laughing, loving glance reas-
sured her for this once. .ss7.- ',,.,.
Miss Garland scarcely knew what
had inclined her thoughts toward this
sfrasfhesisee ~ and unusuai channel, She for.
not - o,.,n H. nov. ,,;,,,., I,,,. sho
eot ~ "e"'. .-e ~ W.. ~
'eAen1oefeu II AGAIN Win all 'ne swil'
ness anu suodehnsss OF reVeiation
some two weeks subsequently, when
she happened to be taken i'll and old
DR.. Vivian was summoned to attend
her,
Dr Vivian ,ooked iptent,v at Diana
uo asked ore NJ two ouostions and
'non 'oo"ou a. nei asain'
Doctor' cried d. what IS IL!
Ihere 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?"
81 thought So" said DR.. Vivian.
"Since then have sent three children
from that house to the hospital"
Doctor gasped Mrs. Garland, mot
-small-pox!"
He nodded his head. every 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 1t 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
Diana looked up with smile.
DO not fear, DOCTOR said she.
Smallpox have always had an un-
defined dread and horror Of 1t. Now
that it is so close upon me the fear
seems to have all passed away. Mann
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 II 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 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
certainly detain him there for a month
at least.
mo one must write to him. It
would be of no use," said Diana, and.
mamma, IL death should come to me.
shall not be sorry that my last work
on earth was minis ering to Gods
poor" =.
"
MAY l 90 to her, Mrs, Garland?"
Harry ErnescHffe had known moth.
ing of it all until. returning from his
Southern trip he, heard of Diana's ill.,
ness. And this was the first occasion
upon which he had been admitted to
the house on Madison avenue.
Harry" faltered Mrs, Garland. q
l have a message for you"
"May not hear IL from Diana's own
Inns. Mrs. Garland9"
ut is not fitting that Won should"
said Mrs, Garland firmly, "Hcre i.
the ring. Harry-the ring vou gave nor
She absolyes Won from the arrangement
and returns the token of your troth
Harry's eyes flashed reproachful Are
Have | asked for such absolntion
Mrs. Garland?" he questioned almost
sternly.
"No-but my daughter thinks that it
Is due to you. She is altered by the fell
hand of disease. She is no longer the
fair, beautiful girl to whom YOU en-
gagged yourself. She"
But Harry Ernescliffe silenced her
"She is Diana Garland still" he said
fsrvently "Tbe Diana Garland whom
alone l love-the only woman | will
ever marry. Pray conduct me to her
at once Mrs. Garland"
And the mother, trembling like an
aspen leaf, could but obey.
The soft, level light of the afternoon
sun was shining in through the rose.
colored chintz draperies of Miss Gar