The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1901-11-08

saw only heF eyes, tnfY were l0rkes
dark and strangely soft, yet grave and
steady.
Lentran went forward and laid his
burden on her lap.
"Thls is your child; have killed
him." he said simply. Ills voice was
hoarse, almost choked. The woman
sat motionless. as II turned TO stone.
The little girl burst into loud sobs.
"He didn't mean 10. OH don't be
angry. He's all hurt and bleeding
himself"
The woman gave him q quick
glance, then bent over her child.
"He still breathesl He Is alivew
she exclaimed. 1.-THE doctor"
"He Is coming" Lentran said fee
bly,; then sight and sound failed him,
and he stumbled forward and lay,
like one dead, at her feet.
Was 1t weeks, or months, when he
struggled back to consciousness? Jack
Romer, by his bedside, burst into a
sob, like school boy, when he saw
Lentran's eyes open.
Eyes, you've been nearly dead, old
chap, but she saved you"
1.-THE child" Lentran gasped feebly.
"0hl the little fellows oil right,
Hen be in presently"
A short time after a woman's arm,
strong and steady, but infinitely gen.
tie, was put below bis head, and a
woman's soft hand held something hot
and strong and strengthening to his
lips.
"Drink this, 1t win do you good"
said the pleasant voice that seemed to
have haunted Lentran's dreams, "You
will soon be oil right; and my little
Don-oh! he is quite well. He Will
come and see you by-and-by."
He did so, and sat staring at Len
tran with wide wondering eyes, till
his mother bore him away.
Lentran was In Woodbine cottage
for three weeks. Mrs. Rayne nursed
him as if he had been a brother; and
Lentran dreamt every night Of those
large, luminous eyes and the smiling,
tender mouth.
He was convalescent at last. One
afternoon Mrs. Rayne came in and
sat sewing In the room in which he
lay on q couch.
1.-THE doctor says you are GONZALES
cent now" she said, laying down her
sewing, a touch of nervousness in her
voice. $50 am going to tell you the
truth, Mr.. Lentran. l have deceived
you. My name is not Rayne, but Mad.
den. Ny husband was Mr.. Winthrop's
nephew. Since his death have lived
here In my native village and taught.
II would have told you at first, but
the doctor forbade any excitement"
A dark flush had risen to Lentran's
face Mrs. Madden said gently:
Have l been wrong in deceiving
you? If so, will you forgive mel"
II have nothing to forgive. You
have been kinder to me than 1 de-
serve"
"Then let us be friends" she ex-
claimed eagerly. "Why not settle this
between ourselves-out Of court, as it
were?"
The flush on Lentran's face deep
ened.
"Are you in earnest, Mrs. Madden ?
There is one way in which we could
settle itr'
At the look in his eyes her own color
rose, and her lips grew tremulous. He
caught her hand.
"You are the best and sweetest and
kindest woman in the world, the only
woman in the world for me- l love
you; have never loved another WON
an before. was q scoundrel
to dream Of fighting the case. If you
will Motif you cannot-care for me
l shall give it up. Mrs. Madden
She raised her eyes. The look IN
them thrilled Lentran.
'My name is Doris" she whispered
Somehow she was nearer his couch
somehow his uninJured arm was
round her. After a long silence, be
whispered:
us it settled so then, Doris?"
There was a low whisper.
Seal the bargain, then"
And then and there the case of Len
tran versus Madden was settled an(
sealed.-American Queen.
A Strange Disappearance.
Strange hiding places, says the Lily