The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1905-04-20

high rubber tree admirlng some rare
chrysanthemums when the door was
flung open and gentleman came in.
He was of medium height and had a
kind, brown-bearded, thoughtful face.
Not noticing any one in the store, he
went directly to the counter. To man
at that instant disengaged he gave his
order.
'Twenty-eight lilies" he said. Eyes
like those. Have them tied with broad
white satin ribbon. Send to this ad-
Dress"
And he laid a card and bill on the
counter. An instant later he had receiv-
ed his change and walked out.
The girls stared at each other.
THAT" gasped Brunetta, was Char
lie Everett
"Yes, l know" murmured Mary.
Before she could put out her hand to
stop her meddlesome friend the latter
had stepped to the counter and read the
address on the card which lay there.
"Just Us 1 thought" she remarked a
few minutes later, when they were out
in the street together. 1.-The address is
ii Forest avenue, Idlewild. That is the
suburb in which his mysterious acquaint-
ance of whom told you lives"
That number, street, place, burned in
Mary's brain. She parted from Brunetta
and went home. A fierce fever Of jeal-
ousy possessed her. Who was this wom-
an to whom he sent Lenten lilies? Idle
wild was directly south of her own home.
A cable car ran out to the pretty place.
She would go there. She would call at
the house. She would ask the lady who
dwelt therein: What is Charlie Everett
to you?' When that was answered she
would know how worthy of continued
loyalty was her confessed lover. But
not until the morning. She would not
go until morning.
"Shame to doubt him. cried her heart
through all the sleepless night that fol-
lowed. But her rigid will silenced that
assailing protest So the morning of
the beautiful day that followed found
her at the gate of a cosy cottage set
back amid a group Of bare-branched ma
pies. There were drifts of snow in the
little garden, but the air was warm
with the effulgent prescience of spring.
So peaceful was the place, the hour. her
courage almost failed her. All the blinds
were down. The entrance she chose
brought her to n side door. She rang
the bell. A maid appeared.
MAY l." Mary Vane began, then
faltered. For whom should she ask?
YES" the girl replied. Come in."
Marveling, Mary followed her. She
led the way into front room. The cur
tains were drawn. Tapers burned in the
dimness At first Mary fancied that
There was silence, and nothing there
But silence, and scents of eglanterre,
And Jasmine. and roses, and rosemary
Then she saw that there was some
thing else. 4 coffin, and in it lying a
white-robed form, with folded hands, and
lilies lying on the pulseless breast.
Mary shrank back.
"Oh," she cried. "She is dead"
'Yes, Miss. 1 thought you wished to
see her \ good many of the neighbors
were In last evening. She had many
friends hereabout, for all her misfor-
tunes. Amt those lilies beautiful? Mr.
Charlie sent them. Twenty-eight for
| twenty eight years"
Mary went nearer, looked down on the
dead face, a young face which had once
been lovely, but bore the unmistakable
| impress of sorrow and suffering.
Its not many men," went on the ser.
| want, wiping her eyes, "who would dc
| wha. Mr.. Charlie did. After his brother
was injured in that railroad wreck -four
years ago he begged Mr.. Charlie in dying
to take care of his young wife. Mr.
| Charlie promised him. He has support.
ed her and given her every comfort
| since. She was always weakly, and
when her mind gave out from hroodins
over her husbands death, and she was
such charge, Mr.. Charlie was that gen
tie and patient with henry She had
spells of understanding. Then she'd beg
| not to be sent to an asylunl-not that
Mr.. Charlie would think of such thing
She wouldn't hurt a bird. poor dear
There! That Is Mr.. Charlie now.'
| A step crossed the hall. Looking pale
| and worn, Charlie Everett came into tn,
room. His face lighted up at sight Of
his sweetheart.
"You-Maryw he cried.
ssHush" she begged. She broke down
| crying bitterly. Don't look at me
don't speak to me until have told yor
| how it is that I am here"
| She brokenly whispered the truth.
"You can never trust me again." sh,
said in conclusion.
He took her in his arms.
perhaps I should have spoken to yor
of her, but hated to cast SO dark q
shadow over your young life. could
not keep up two households, and SHE
was penniless. She was my charge be
fore l learned to love you. My frs
duty was to her. The doctors agreed
she could not live long AS for trusting
my dearest, you must forgive me fol
not having confded in you-l you. fol
your doubt of me. So we are equal. l:
| it not Whittier who writes:
Love scarce is love that never knows
The sweetness of forgiving."
They passed out together into the bril-
| lance of the Sabbath morning.