The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1911-01-05

the youngest boy were working. The
two other boys had gone west.
lilly never went home. now. The
space between her and her father and
brothers had widened imperceptibly
until neither she nor they cared to
croes 1t. AS they had Withdrawn, Joe
had come nearer, until now It seemed
he filled her Iife and her heart. She
longed to see hlm; the picture she had
of him told her little.
One dull March afternoon, after a
hard session in the classroom, Tiily
capfe home to her boarding place to
and letter from Joe awaiting her.
As she took it UP she felt the usual lit
tie thrill Of pleasure and interest. She
began to read expectantly, then all at
once something seemed to 80 wrong
with her heart. Slowly she turned to
the bed and sat down upon 1t and hid
her face In the pillows. But she could
not cry, though she thought her heart
was broken. Joe had written to say
that at last he was going to be mar
ried.
The most beautiful girl, Tflly-a
butterfly, an orchid, what you win Of
such rare delicacy and brightness that
trembie at my temerity In daring to
possess her. We shall be married this
late fall and want you to come to
the wedding"
She lived through II, Tilly was not
without admirers amy one Of whom
she might have done well to marry.
But she did not care for them, and had
no intention Of marrying Just for a
home. Some time, perhaps-but not
now, not now
Joe continued to write as formerly.
Sometimes he spoke Of being at par
ty or the opera with his fiancee and
Tilly tried to imagine It all, with a
brave attempt at equanimity.
That fall she got a call to a city
school at an increase Of salary. II was
Joe still helping her, and she knew It.
She wondered whether she were
strong enough to 60 where she must
occasionally see him. And then the
longing to see him, to be near him,
overcame every objection.
II shall be there in plenty of time
for his wedding" she thought.
She began teaching almost immedi-
ately after reaching the city. She had
found good boarding place near the
school and felt that she was going to
be very comfortable, She had written
to Joe before coming, end she won
dered why he had not come to sec her,
or at least write. tHe did write pres
emily from a distant state, whittier the
interests Of some client had taken him.
i win see yoa just as soon as I re-
turn," he said, ''but can't tell exactly
wLan that viii be-" He did not men
ton the most beautiful girl"
1t was on a Saturday evening a
month later that Tilly was called
down to the parlor to see visitor.
She was receiving good many calls
now from her new acQuaintances, but
somehow this summons seemed preg-
nant with meaning, as II Joe himself
might be down there waiting for her,
Hastily she changed her work dress
for one OF plain white linen. She
made herself move slowly; she walked
downstairs quietly She would not
lose control Of herself. The instant
she saw the man who was waiting for
her she knew him. though she felt
with a glad thrill that her idea of him
had never done him Justice She went
toward him, holding out her hand
quite colleotedly.
'I'm so glad to see you, Cousin Joe, "
she said,
They sat down together and talked
more like old friends than the stran-
gers which in reality they were. After
a while Tilly asked him about the
"most beautiful girl"
"oh," he said, Il really cannot say
She has, you know, ceased to be my
own particular most beautiful girl
She has--in fact, she Tilted me be-
cause she found someone she liked
better. / didn't blame her. Her selec
tion Of me was poor taste in the first
place. AS for me, had reached the
point where | must either neglect heI
or my profession. And I had worked
too hard for my profession to neglect
It at my time Of life, So am very
we'll suited"
Il am sorry" Tilly said. She sal
looking down at her hands and trying
to think,
"Are your" Joe said, smiling, "Bu
shall have more time for you now
"Stlll, am sorry for YOU" Tilly per
sisted. "You must feel so disap
pointed"
ooh, Welt" he said. when half
gods go-you know the rest?"
Tilly did. And then they began t
talk about Emerson.
That winter went on wings for Tllly
Joe was very nice to her. He took he
about great deal and gained an en-
trance for her into the houses o
many charming persons, who were de
lightfully kind to her.
One Saturday afternoon, Just at tn,
edge OF the spring. as they CHANGED t,
be walking together, ali Of sudden
so suddenly, in fact, that Tilly's breatl
was quite startled away-Joe aske,
her 10 marry him