The Cairo bulletin., 1911-08-18

ned his letters. she wrote and discard
ed page after page. finding each short
epistle more difficult Of composition.
In the midst OF her perpleSity maid
brought IN The remodcled garment and
ais Imperative scrawl from Mrs.
Wrdgely 10 he cffec! that tie article
be tried on Immediately and. If not
satisfactory. returned for further al
teration.
Amy dismissed the maid and donned
the garment. her mind turning sen
fences over and over still. striving to
express only the proper amount of In.
tereSt. Then, rs she Absently arranged
ribbons and lace. there came the firm
conviction that to write was impossi.
BILE; that she must see him as soon as
distance would allow.
1t would not have happened had
Amy been properly chaperoned aud
companioned instead Of maintaining
the Independence which Mrs. Wridsely
often aud uSeIesSlY deplored The gen
erousy salaried and loyal servants
only looked their establishment when,
wearing the elbow sleeved bodice OF
her elegant reception gown. a black
lace fchu and plain travelling hat
Miss Amy announced that She was "a
ing on Il journey Az she descended
the steps she received y large box
from florists hoy. and this she alb
stractedly carried with her.
She WAS still carrying il when, after
an hours ride on n train. she walked
TO the old Scott homestead. nj The end
Of the village, whore She had been
raised, She had been engrossed in the
past. bnt once inside HE gate she was
ropsed to a somewhat embarrassing
present. With painfully beating
heart she stole away to the summer
house. hoping there to regain self con
troll before ringing The bell As she
entered n voice. speaking from the
gloom, startled her
"Are YOU back so soon, auntie?"
She would have run away. but n sud
den weakness at sight Of him. heavy
shade over his bnndaged eyes. made
her stumble to the bench beside him
He put out a cropping hand as il sens
ing something unusual.
is it you auntie? Is anything
wrong or who is itE'
The shoc, Of his helplessness swept
away everything but tender pity.
yearning love aud longing TO minister
to him. She caGcht the cropping hand
and kissed 1t, sobbing with impetuous
abandop:s
"Oh. Harry. Harry. | came as soon
az l knew. | am going to stay with
Won and take care Of you forever
Ysu shall never. never he alone in the
darkness againr'
Why" he cried why. it. must be
1T is -Amy! My own Amy"
His next movements demonstrated
that hs arms at least We're rs strong
as Of Old ana Miss Colver submitted
to the loving bonds without struggle
Dear" lie said eravey when the old
misunderstanding and the purport of
the purloined letter had been made
clear dear | do not mean to LET you
leave me again. because you might for
get 10 come back. but | must not hold
you Ivy false pretenSe. You came. like
sweet angel, 10 care for Il blind man,
but you will not discard me. will YOU,
though my sight be fully restored, rs
| now have hopes It may be-"
"Oh. Harry
The ecstatic cry and the soft.' bare
arms about his neck were answer
enough
From the crushed box between them
there crept a perfume that presently
brought unpleasant remembranccS 70
Miss Amy.
why" she exclaimed. examining
the contents and the accompanying
card, "the senator's roses. And | have
on my She viewed the costume
with amazement. a guilty sense Of out
ragged social amenities and her sisters
disapproval
When she had made shamefaced cy-
PLANTATION Henry Scott intimated. with
n heartless disregard Of the senator's
shattered hopes. that the parsonage
was close by and that The evening
bodice anl the roses were plainly in
preparation for the wedding that was
TO occur immediately