Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-08-29

forced me 10 QO my uuIy. Lydia, daughter'' But the girl had turned into the hall and was walking rapidly across the lawn toward the gate.
 She went directly to Hillyer's house. Hortense was in the yard gathering flowers and greeted her with a sur l prised smile as she came toward her l across the grass.
 "Hortense" said Lydia tensely, T want to see George. May If' | "Why, yes, of course" said Hortense. 1 'fI have just left him. I came after these flowers for his room. Go right 1 up; it's the first door on the left at 1 the head of the stairs. Oh, Lydia, I'm l so glad you came; it is very good of you: 1t will make him so happy. Ever since he was hurt be has,
 .Oh, know, but it wasn't my fault; | that's what want to explain" 1 The door of Georges room was open. His face was turned from Lydia as she entered the room and he did not look toward her, thinking 1t was Hortense returning with the flowers. It was not l till she stood over him, her burning glance of sympathy on him, that he l looked up; then he flushed and started ] to sit erect
 Don't, don't, George!' she cried, and she laid her hand softly on his brow and gently pushed him back on his pill low.
 | ''It's kind of you to come," he said. 1T really was not-not expecting that 1 is'-
 "No; I know you were not looking for me, George, and wonder what you have thought of me. I've come to ex- l plain and beg you to forgive me. am not quite as bad as seem. George, I did not know of the shooting till we returned from Atlanta. I heard the danger was over. but at once wrote 1 you letter. have just discovered that mother intercepted 1t. Not hear l ing from you, wrote another. It also was intercepted, but, not knowing that, took your silence to mean that you wished all to be over between us.''
 Buckley was staring at her fxedly.
 "What did you writer" he asked. l She was silent; the warm color was mounting into her fine face; her eyes | were downcast.
 | what the letters containedY' he ques- toned gently.
 Fl don't see how can tell you, I George, unless'' She paused.
 Unless" he prompted, the fire of I hope almost af1ame in his eyes-"un- less?'
 You see,' she said, .I don't know how you feel about me right now, and ! when wrote it was under the-mem- ory of what you said that night in At lanta.''
 'I could never change, Lydia. I love you with all my life and soul. am furnishing for one little word of hope from you. Did your letters"-
 II told you frankly in the first one, l George, that loved you, that was ;. tired of the way was being treated at home and that if you wanted me I'd come to you in spite of all the world and consider myself the luckiest wom- an alive to be your wife, but when you did not answer hoped there was some mistake, so wrote another note tell ing you had received no reply and that if did not get one I'd take it that you wished everything over between us. Oh George, have been very un- happy! I never realized how much loved you till I knew you were lying here wounded, and I''- She covered her face with her hands and began to sob softly. He reached out and drew her hands down and held them, while he feasted his eyes on hers. "God bless you, little womanr' he said. Tt seems like dream. I can't realize that you are here telling me you you really care for me and are will. ing to be my wife. Oh, darling, I'm afraid I'll awake. It can't-can't be true!'
 j i've loved you for a long time," she said gently, returning the pressure of his hands, Nbut did not realize it till that night in the summer house, when overheard Governor Telfare insult you as he did. You seemed a king among men when you spoke to him as you did, and what you said about your respect for me and the sacrifices you'd make rather than help link his life to mine-oh, George, then saw the diff ference between you and him; he seem ed dwarf in soul and body contrasted to you. Afterward, in the parlor, tried to show you how felt. but you misunderstood. I did not blame you. I could not have expected you to act otherwise after his disgraceful con duct I threw that In his teeth, too, the other night in Atlanta. I shall al ways be glad did it. 1t was little, but it was all could do for you"
 You told him you overheard it?' said George.
 ''Yes; 1t was this way: He was beg ging and imploring me to give him a final answer. had not openly re fused him. I was afraid he would write to father and that father might be affected by it, to his injury. But the morning we left Atlanta Governor { Telfare came to see me and began again to urge me to marry him. I flat ly refused He then dared to speak dis respectfully of you, and I told him just what coward he was and how knew it. told him also that knew