The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1902-02-20
above the walls.


In one of these gardens, as he idly
passed along, Gilbert heard the mer-
~ voices of children. Suddenly in
the midst came a note of distress.
Mamma, mammal l can't get
down. can't novel My hair is
caught on an apple thorn"
Gilbert looked up. Seated ON a
low branch of a tree, in great terror
and distress, was fair-hHIred little
boy, who, on seeing him, called
eagerly:
"0h, please help me down! Please
open the gate and help me-"
The gate was instantly opened,
and, as Gilbert hastened to the as
sistince of the child he found himself
face to face with Lillian.
1t was no difficult task to break
the twigs on which the child's long
curls had been caught, and to lift
him to the ground. Deity Lillian
untangled the golden mesh.
Nov, thank Mr.. Steele, you little
Absalom.' she said, playfully, land
don't again venture to climb trees
until that golden fleece of yours is
shorn."
Il will go and tell mammal" said
the child, and off she ran
So Gilbert again found himself in
the presence of her whom he had re:
solved for his own peace of mind,
never to see again.
Il think must bidyou adieu here,
Mrs. Waring," he said quietly. Il
leave tomorrow for the continent"
81 also leave Tomorrow, she an.
swered, in a voice as calm Us his own
"for home"
He held out his hand, but when she
gave hers his fingers closed on itwith
a firm, strong clasp.
She looked up, and her eyes, moist
with tears, met his. That glance I'M
manned him.
Lillian" he said, passionately,
Il would give half Of my life to undo
the past five years"
Some one coming down the garden
walk called:
LILLIAN! where are you?"
at is your husband, said Gilbert,
bitterly, as he caught sight OF the
gentleman approaching. There, go
and goodbye"
But she looked up with gaze Of
surprise which arrested him.
MY husbandl' A deep color flush
ed her cheeks as sheadded; "My hus-
band died two years ago"
She could almost hear the great
throb Of his heart.
"And you, Lillian-are you free?"
The conference.-the same that he
had seen through the parlor window
now came up and Lillian introduc-
ed them.
my brother-in-law, Mr.. Waring
Guy, this gentleman is an old friend
of mine-Mr. Steele, OF Lester
Manor"
Gilbert shook hands with an un.
wonted cordially, which at once
made the two fast friends. tits won.
derful how sudden, upon occasions
our feelings will change toward
person
He learned that evening how Lii
liam had been induced, by the advice
of friends, and her own pride and de-
spair in losing Gilbert's love, as she
thought, to wed one who loved her,
and one whom she tried to love in
return-the brother of her sisters
husband. But she had never been
able to forget her first love.
Gilbert Steele did not 90 abroad.
New arrangements were made. The
old manor house assumed a bright
and cheerful aspect, and the last rose
that blossomed on the Dough before
the library window was worn on the
breast Of Gilbert's bride.
81 want you to wear it, dear" he
said. II wish you to look as you
did on that evening so long ago, and
we will forget all the unhappy years
since"
And she, looking up, said, with
almost an expression of awe:
Had we parted a moment earlier,
Gilbert, we might both have been I'M.
happy forever. Our fate turned upon
that last moment"
The Plague Killing 1000 a Day.