Morgan County republican. (Versailles, Mo.) 1906-1914, 1909-09-02

nae tney been witnesses. To the
mothers offer to relieve him of his
burden he returned a hasty negative
and begged to be allowed the pleasure
OF retaining his charge. She had
turned to converse with the stranger
who manifested such admiration Of
her child. and they discussed the
sleeping beauty exhaustively, from
her dimpled face to the dress and
tiny shoes she wore.
At last Leith casually remarked that
his destination was Chelsea, and
learned that she was bound for the
same place. The conversation drift
ed into other channels and soon he
heard how she had left her home in
an eastern city three years before.
when her husband died, returning with
her baby to the home of her child.
hood. The village quiet oppressed
her, however, she said. and she lOnged
to take her baby and go far away
from it.
II used to live in Chelsea long
ago." remarked Leitl, when she had
finished her story. 50 long ago.
however" he continued. that you
would hardly be likely to remember
me-"
She looked at him c~uriously, but
shook her head.
There vas one little girl there" he
resumed, that | was very fond of.
Her name was Lucy Mayburn. Poor
little Lucy! l shall forget our
farewell. And it was all my fault
that we did not meet again. was
false to my vow. selfish and %forgetful
of all else in the cursed fight to make
money in big New York. | wonder II
You knew her?'
The m turned pale and then
flushed n~ervOusly, controlling her agi-
tation by IN evident effort.
81 knew her." she replied, softly,
but she Is not there worcestershire
yer away"
80 she has gomez" queried Leith;
married. ! suppose. Who was the
lucky fellow who won herr"
He felt sure that she had recognized
their course and awaited her reply
with a brave show of composure.
His name was Logan" she said,
TREMENDOUSLY. Lucy Mayburn was true
to her promise tor seven long years:
her promise to you. But she was an
orphan. practically alone in the world,
and a day came when a good kind
man offered her a refuge from her
loneliness. She was frank with him
and told him the truth about herself.
that the best she could offer him
was her respect and a broken heart.
And he accepted the conditions. When
her baby was born she realized that
she had found peace, II not actual hap.
piness. Then came sickness and other
trials. She had many troubles"
The voice of the speaker faltered
and broke. her eyes filled with tears.
and turning away her face. she
sobbed bitterly. She had betrayed her
self. but she no longer cared.
Leith laid the sleeping child gently
beside him and bent over his old
sweetheart.
Don't cry, Lucy" he whispered;
don't cry, dear. l vas a brute to
play with your feelings this way"
She glanced up with startled eyes
Then you knew me?" she faltered
Eyes. Lucy. | knew you," he said
softly. And perhaps, dear, 1t was
ordained by Providence that we should
meet like this. Listen, little one
Can't you forget the weary years and
let me fulfill the promise made sc
long ago? Let the past be AS a dream
and awaken to the happiness of the
present, Lucy. Whatever I may have
done. no other woman has ever helt
the place In my heart occupied by you
image. And 1t isn't too late now. LIE
me care for your child, and we viii
take up the broken thread Of our live.
where 1t snapped"
The other passengers In the ca
were watching curiously the two act
ors In a little drama which they cOult
not understand. but neither Leith no
the woman beside him were consciou,
OF their surroundings, and the bah!
slumbered peacefully on. The long
warning whistle of the locomotiv,
shriiled through the air, as the trail
hcaiSu Sht'otd' Lucy tiuiiuiy nbppc'
her small hand into Leith's big BROW
one, smiling through her tears, and h.
, knew that he was forgiven. Whel
the train came to a stop Leith swunl
the sleeping baby on to his broa,
shoulder, and with his long-lost low
beside him stepped from the car int
, the purple twilight shadows tina
, brooded over the quiet Genes of hi