Won: A Christmas Story.

Hastings Standard, Issue 297, 14 April 1897, Page 4

Won: A Christmas Story.

"bi-EiiAiLY \Vurrri:x in:; Il.wnx.w

;Bv Lat-kksiixa.]

(All lli'jhtx /iV.(i'/tc'/. ) Chapter V. (' 'nntiinti'il.) After a few minntos Harry roused a little, looked at Aland, then seemed to faint again. "Oh, Mr Lister, what si;ail we do? I think lie i; dying. Oh ! 1 wish someone would conic to help lift him into the gig, then we could get him home." " .1 will walk hack to the rise, and coo-ce to them. I think they can't be far behind," he said kindly. Yes, do, do," Maud responded as she bent over I [arty and laid the wet handkerchief on his forehead. '• Harry, Harry, speak to me, it is 1, Mmnd " : hut still ho did not move, and she, poor girl, believing him dyingknelt wee pin? beside him. '•Harry, Harry, speak tome, oh! my darling you must not die, for oh ! I love you so dearly 1 could not hear it," and as if the loving words had more power than ought else to rouse him. he slowly opened his eyes. Seeing Maud he said faintly," Maud don't bo frightened, 1 am not much hurt" ; but even as bespoke he fainted again, just as Ml* Lister and two gentlemen came up. They lifted him carefully into the gig with Maud, and Mr Lister drove slowly home. One gentleman rode hack for a doctor, and the other led Harry's horse home. After the doctor examined Harry he said there were no hones broken : hut that it was slight concussion of the brain, and that- with ijuiet, and careful nursing a few days, -or a week or two at the most, would see him all right again. At the end of a week Mr Lister led Harry to the drawing room, and loft him there comfortably lying on an easy couch while he went oil to had some of the ladies. Overcome by the heat Harry soon fell a-sleep, and slept till sun down. " Why, 1 have slept all the afternoon," he exclaimed, " I wonder where they all are, and why no one woke me ? " He was mistaken in thinking he had been alone, for Maud had quietly entered and carefully darkened the room, and sat there some time ; then, fearing he would wake and find her there she had gone out into the orchard.

Hurry roused up and pulled up the blind. " All ! there is Maud, looking like a pictmv in her white gown, and framed by the graceful willow." Ife slowly made his way through the orchard to where Maud stood. "Oh Ilarry, you should not have come so far,"' she said. "Shouldn't L"? Thou you should not ba\e all left the alone. This seems a favorite spot of yours, Maud. It was here I lirst saw you in this si range land, and it was here, Maud, that I a>k< d you a question that lias not yet been answered. You do not intend to send me hack again alone, do you Maud '■> Elltnore Park wants its mistress, and unless she goes there it will want a master too, for I cannot bear the place since you left. Maud, my darling, you believe now that I love you, don't you"? and won't yon answer me. must I return alone? he asked earnestly, trying to read his answer in her down cast face. " M u>t Igo alone Maud " he saul again, taking her hands. •• Xo," said Maud at la-t, and he drew her to him and kissed her so -passionately that she breathlessly cried " Oh Harry, don't, don't, they will see you

from the Li<m' "Will they ? J don't care if thev do; Inn. look at mo Maud,'" and us she diil so h>' laughed and said " Ah ! .Maud, J do not see any scorn in those dear eyes now, nothing hut lave, Hwoct love-. I can hardly bolicve it —my life's dearest hope fullilled. Tell me, darling, why were you so cruel to me, and why did yon .say it was dishonorable to tell you 1 loved you.'' And then she told hiin all, and he exclaimed : '■ And so my darling, my proud Maud, was jealous, and I was blind, but J was a true prophet, was 1 not? " ho laughingly asked. "What do you mean, Harry ?" but she knew well enough, and how she had fulfilled it as she knelt beside him when she thought, him dying, though he did not know -he had so fulfilled it. '■ Ah, you know, Maud, 1 am waiting to hear its fulfilment." " Have von no merey, Ilarry, have I not said enough " No. to both questions." he !aug!n d. "You do love me. do you not. Man die. come it'll me so.'" And then she turned and said the words he hud waited for k> long, ■" Yes, 1 do love yon, Harry, so dearly that if \oa had died 1 should have ! known no happiness atmiii." And so the liauirhty pride wa? sml>JiH'd, and word-> -aid thut proved -!:e had found her woman's l.medoiii m the heart of her - lord and in; A fortnight later a quiet a: 1J * \ wedding took place in the liilh » t church, mid then Harry an I M 1 took leave of their kind New /< iu. 1 j friends. and of old Mrs Lister mo. for i her >on would not allow her to leave

I tht-iii again. • Aft*-r a pteiiKint voyutrt' t!.- v ««ootl i;t: v .- in thr !:.•!! of i/Juuoni'ark, by Mrs Uuytmmd, Mr aii»l Mrs K-u-ourt. fttnl Mr ainl Mi - Uoubion, "ami the i«ll j*-rvantst. jui<l r« Ct;ive4 >aefa a wuni! vik-onH- that It, • oM >.trri"j\v ;nr.«l tr.n(!>!»'• to ■ -si<. l fivm ii.l:■ 1 ;i n;:4 }iii(H>y ii'e :!:;iu"n. A- M.m<l 1»v 'hi- iii.-c:try {ire i:i■ r !; = !.->■ shh..l i i:■ r-:i. <. itn<!, -.« : ewr, ktssHl hvr u>iitk-rly. *• Let i.lv i also wM my wvlcaim* ts> the Uear mtfe 1 I have at List von."" Harry. ]. "Tim Emp.l