Year: 1864

at Red Rock farm. as her friends advised,
but lived there still, taking all the respOn-
sibility of the large farm on her slender
shoulders


Mary, beautiful, golden-haired Mary,
was her solace-the only thing she seemed
to love; to her, she was tender, devoted
and self-sacri6cing. The sole tie that
bound Hildred Hayne to humanity! Even
this was rent away. A malignant fever
swept over the vicinity of Red Rock
farm, Mary was among the first smitten.
Three dreadful days of dumb agony to
Hildred passed, and, on the morning Of
the fourth, she held her dead sister in her
arms! And when they buried the sweet
girl, Hil1red's human love was laid to rest
in the grave. Thenceforth, for the dark
eyed, lonely woman at Red Rock, the
world held not solitary charm!


Only once since her banishment of him,
had she seen Paul Lancaster. The day
her sister was buried, he had thrown a
snow-drop into the grave; and, as he
turned away, the two met face to face.
There was a wild, implorlng, passionately
tender look in his eyes "a stony, immova-
Dlc lOOk III ucIc, duu HUI a WOiO Won
spoken. He understood her.


He went away into the world shortly af-
terward the hall passed out of the hands
of his father, who removed to distants
State, and Hildred knew nothing more of
the family. No one ever mentioned them
to her rhe made no inquiries; she said
to herself that she did not care to know.


Life passed on monotonously enough.
She hardly noted the change of seasons,
except as agricultural interests compelled
her to do so. She took little thought for
the things of the morrow; she never
looked forward; it was doubtful even if
she realized the present. She might have
interested herself in the poor, but she did
not she gave nothing to beggars; sat in
no sanctuary, and lived life hidden from
the view of all.


That November night, Hildred, for the
first time in many years, was looking over
her past life. Somehow her heart felt
sOfter-there were tender memories at
work; the spirit of mercy pleaded with
ir0n-b-easted Justice she almost felt that
she could forgive Paul Lancaster all he
had made her suffer. A rap at the door
aroused her. She waited, expecting old
Francis or his wife to answer the call but
evidently they did not hear, and, taking
up the lamp, she went herself. The air
was thick with snow; and, on the door
step, his blue overcoat gray with the feath-
cry flakes, stood man in the Federal uni
form. He lifted his hat and spoke with
courtesy:


els this the residence of Miss Hildred
Hayne?"


"It is" she answered coldly; "what is
your business?"


The young soldiers bronzed cheek
flushed at her naughty tone, but he replied
with feeling:


"Madam, 1 have in my charge a wound
ed officer, who was given over to die by
our regimental surgeon and on his dis
charge from the hospital, he made one SOL
emn request, probably his last one. He
asked to be brought here, that his dying
breath might be drawn in tie place where
the only happiness of his lite had came to
him /, as his friend and subordinate,
have complied with his request Shall /
bring him in ?"


Miss Haynes cool hand trembled slight
ly; FAINT quiver of scarlet shot up to her
forehead


"What is the gentleman's name?" che
asked.


Colonel Paul Lancaster


She made movement as if to close the
door, but the soldier put himself in the
way.


Madam, you may be refusing shelter
to diving man. Reflect before you de-
eide Col. Lancaster was once your friend
will you shut the door of your house upon
him when he asks, with his expiring breath,
the cover of it's roof"


Miss Hayne underwent struggle, but
it was momentary. She threw open the
door, and called old Francis.


Carry him in there" she said, point
ing to the warm parlor. &C will come to
him directly"


She went up to her chamber, and locked
herself in. What fearful trial she passed
through was known only to God and her
own soul.


In little while she came down, pale
and quiet, and entered the room where
they had taken her guest. The sofa was
drawn up before the fire; and the pale,
wan face that was lifted to meet her eyes,
was hardly recognizable as that of the
Paul Lancaster she had once known.


"A slight tinge of color swept the ashen
white OF his cheek he held out his hand
the other he had lost.


"Hildred," he said, feebly, sat last have
dared to return to YOU"


She took his hand her face softened,
there was little tremor in her voice 81
am pleased to welcome you Colonel Lam
caster"


"By the memory of the sweet past. O.
Hildred, let me stay where l can some
times look at you! only asked God to
let me live until I could come here to die /!
pntil, dying, could plead for and obtain