Year: 1873

"Not meet you again Don't you know
that no power could prevent my seeing you
while we breathed the same air All, no,
Maud, we are but human. Do you know
how fierce the temptation to take you in
my arms has been ever since you entered
this room And yet, though | am speak
! ing to you for the last time, l will not,
dare not, touch your hand 1t is best that
| should go.


''There is another duty have to per
form, too Joe Melton walks the earth a
free man. This should not be. ] will
seek him and shoot him down like a dog.
I eff you go, take your wife with you,
and forgive her. Try to be happy with
hen"


/ "Never I'd sooner take to my arms
the vilest creature who walks the streets
! than that woman, and can you bid me do
| that II you can forgive her you are
more than human.


81 see you still wear the ring gave
/ you," he continued There is one re-
quest | wish to make Of you. Can you
guess what it is !"


Perhaps. But tell me, what is it r.


That you will continue to wear it as
long as you live-thst no other shall re-
place it. Oh, Maud, | can be happy if
know that no other will ever take my
place with You. We are divided here, but
will be united in the better land Will
you promise me never to marry


"You might have known that without
exacting the promise. | shall die as ]
have lived-loving you, only you"
He started towards her, but she stepped
back, waving him off with her hand


''Go now; you are killing me, she
cried.


''Do you refuse to touch my hand r. he
asked, mournfully.


| She gave him her hand He pressed it
silently, and left her forever. With a
moan Of anguish. she fell upon her knees
'Oh, Father, how longT T. The voiceless
cry went up to a pitying God, and the
holy balm was poured upon the bleeding
heart. She arose from her knees resigned
to His will.


Day after day for many years a sad
beautiful woman, dressed in deep mourn
ing, might be seen amid the poor and
needy of the great city, relieving their
wants and encouraging them to their duty,
telling them Of a home above, a ''hOuse
not made with hands, until her name be-
came a household word with them and
they blessed her coming.
Only once did Maud Hinton hear from
/ George Lyle, then a letter with these
words was handed to her:


My enemy, the despoiler Of our hap
piness. is with his God. He did not meet
his death at my hands, but was killed by a
companion in drunken broil Still the
same, u. L."
/ A weary smile fitted across the woman ;
pale face, and a sigh Of satisfaction, not
so much at the death Of her enemy AS the
knowledge that he was not his murderer
4 Ella Lyle returned to Europe with a
party of friends and made that her home.
I AT last the gentle voice and the lovely
face Of the ''sad lady" ceased to light up
the homes Of the children Of want, and
when one of their number went to the
great house to seek her, they found the
doors closed and the handles muffied with
Grape.


Their friend was gone, but she did not
\ forget them. In the hands Of her minis
ter she lett her will, requesting that her
property be sold and the proceeds given to
the poor, a request which was faithfully
carried out, as the well-clothed and we'll
I fed children and comfortable homes could
testify.


| Yes, she was dead-a Lucille whose
praise has never been sung by an Owen
Meredith "


THE END.