Lily's Choice

A solitary figure, with few Unes of comeliness or grace, John Holloway sat upon the meadow gate, looking off into the distance. He was whistling softly, and yet he seemed to be in a deep rêverie, for his great tender eyes had a far-away expression in their brown depths as he gazed out over the sunlit meadows where the blood red clover and the golden buttercups swayed under the soft, caressing breeze. iuddenly an imperious voice broke the ailence. k'Mr. Holloway, please let me take down the bars. I'm in a hurry and carne the shortest way.' - The young man started; he had not heard her approach, and tbere beside him stood the very object of his thoughts. Ah, clover blooms and buttercups, paled were your charms now! Alithe, graceful figure in the daintiest of cambric dresses, and underneath the wide hat a sw3et, girlish face, with velvety, peach tinted cheeks and eyes as blue as freshly gathered violets. Such was Lily Lawrence, the prettiest girl- so the popular verdict ran- in all the country round. A flush rose to John's sun-brówned face as he quickly rose and began to take down the bars. Out for a walk, Miss Lily?' 'Yes,' very briefly. So you are fond of quiet strolls ? I am, too.' Lily drew herself up and looked at the presumptuous speaker. Eeally, Mr. Holloway, I don't see what it is to you-' Then she stopped. Shedid not mean to be rude, but truly she thought to herself, it was high time she should show this young man that his openly expressed admiration was exceedingly distasteful to her. It had been going on for some time, and everyone, even Lily herself, had come to see that the sun rose and set for John Holloway where she was. 'He must be intensely stupid not to know how utterly indifferent I am to him,' she thought. But John was not stupid. üe unaerstood the unflnished sentence, and as he drewtback without another word, to let her pass Lily saw that he did and a shame faced, compunctioua look stole into her eyes. For froai the richest to the poorest, everyone acknowledged John Holloway's noble sterling character. Lily walked slowly along the road, half determined to turn back and apologfee for her rudeness, until a turn brought her face to face with some oce whose handsome eyes met her own with such a glad welcome that all other thoughts were for the time driven cotnpletely away. It was Richard Blake, the most admired and courted young man in the village. 'Ah, good afternoon, Miss Lawrence! I was hoping I would meet you.' And the wavy black locks were bared to the breeze as Richard courteou sly lifted his nat and walked on beside her. What a contrast to John Holloway. And the contrast was great in many other ways than Lily thought. But the girl was but young to read character and that Richard Blake was very handsome and elegant none could deny - a lover ot whom anyone might be justly proud. When Lily's home was reached, and with another gracef ui bow Richard had lef t her, she did not go directly into the house, but lingered awhile amorig the flowers that ülled their little garden. Her thoughts were very busy. She knew that ske had behaved very unkindly to her old friend, and her memory went back to the first time she had met him. It was at a picnic, and she had fallen and sprained her ankle. She remembered how the great fellow, so much stronger than nis mates, had persisted in carrying her all the long distance back to her home. Since that he had showa in more thau a hundred ways what she was to him, and knowing his noble nature perhap3 her heart would have gone out to him before tbis if Richard Blake had not come back from college. But he had, and Lily f ancied his gay, debonair manDers, and his entertaining conversation, and like many another young girl had begun to take for true, heart-deep love that liking which we all have for things pleasant to the sight. And so she shook off her reproachf ui feelings and went into the house. Why, mother dear, 'what is the matter? Crying, and I out enjoying nyself I Telx me what it is, dear. Let me share your trouble.' Mrs. Lawrence lifted a face smiling through her tears. ' Y"es, crying, Lily darling, but not from grief. Slt down here beside me, and let me show you what a load has been lifted from my mind this morning. Lily, I did not teil you, but some time ago Mr. Burton, the lawyer, came to me and informed Die that the holder of the mortgage was in need of money, and intended to foreclose, unless the mortgage was paid in full when he should demand it. Now, child, you know the trouble that has been weighing upon me, for I kneur that it would be almost impossible for me to raise the sum necessary, and that we must leave the dear old home that we had loved so well. And now this very morning, Mr. Burton came and told me that a kind friend hearing of the intended foreclosure, has paid the amount in full.' 'Who is it that helped you mother ?' 'That is the strangest part of it, Lily. Mr. Barton said he bad strictly promised not to toll the name of my benefactor. As to who it can be, I have no idea.' But thouuh ahe did not say so, Lily had; and when later, in her usual impulsive way she told John Holloway how sorry she was that she had been so rude to him, and then askedhim frankly whether he was not the kind friend who liad come so opportunely to her mother's relief, his manner conflrmed her suspicions. It is said that 'gratitude is neighbor to love,' and whether that be true or not, it is certain that from that time the manly young farmer was often in Lily's thoughts, while Richard Blake was just as stead:ly losing ground. But John of course did not know it. He was not one to wear kis lieart upon his sleeve, and at length, af ter a hard strug?le, had decided to abandon his hopeless suit and leave the field to that rival, who evidently was the favored one. Lily noticed the differeoce, but womanlike she eid not appear to care, and so the months went by much the same, until at length the crisis came. The village iü which our heroine lived was just on the shores of alittle bay, and many were the pleasure parties that enjoyed a trip over its limpid waters. One afternoon Richard Blake obtaining Mrs. Lawrence's consent, invited Lily to take a aail. When they reached the beach who should be waiting in readiness to manage the sail boat but John Holloway. nono, Hoiioway, are you rarning ínto boatman ?' exclaimed Blake iii astonishment. Lifting his cap to Lily, John answered: ■ 'Not exactly; but Joe carne to me in great di stress; he did not feel well enough to go out, but had promised not to disappoint you, and knowing I could manage a boat he asked me to take his place. Joe has done me many a good turn and so I could not refuse him,' he added, wrongfully interpreting the little flusli that had risen in Lily's face as she listened; 'and he said, too, that it was your sister who wad to be your companion. Else I should not have come; I would not for the world be a mar sport.' The bitterness in his tone touched a like chord in Lily's heart. For some little time back she had been slowly but surely learning a lesson - the difference between real worth and mere glitter ; and now her heart sank, as she saw, or thought she saw, how neieiy ner conaucc nau uriveu auiiuat all affection towards ber from John's mind, and that she had thrown away her own happiness, Well, Holloway, l'm sure I'm much obliged. It's very kind of you,' was Blake's reply. And the two young men soon had the little craft in readiness for its fair freight. Blake had seen John's liking for Lily, but his vanity had not been alarmed ; he knew by experience the power of his dark eyes, and Lily Lawrence was like any other young lady, if she were ten times prettier. So he reasoned. They floated lightly over the blue water, ancboring after awhile under a bluff, and dropping their lines to flsb. Lily chatted gaily in her own fascinating away, and never had she seemed more lovely in Richard Blake's eyes, while poor John who had thought of late that he had driven her image from his mind, feit the olh charm creeping over him again stronger than ever before ; but he hid his pain manf ully, and kept his part in the lively conversation. Time crept on, and iust as they cided on returning, to their dismay the heavens suddenly clouded over, and a peal of thunder brought them to their feet in alarm. Squalls were not common upon the bay, but one was evidently upon them, and John saw the great danger. A moment and they were dashing at a mad rate over the waves, while overhead the awful darkness gathe.red more ominously all the while, and every now and theu vivid flashes of fíame seemed to envelop them on all sides. Suddenly there was a blinding glare, then a terriñc flash, and half the mast dropped into the seething water. Por an instant John was almost stunned; theh his flrst thought was Lily. Where was she? A second more and he caught the gleam of yellow curls in the cruel waves arnang the tattered sails; the ropes had twisted about her light figure and dragged her over the bow. He sprang to Blake's sidc. 'If she is to be jours, it is you who ought to save her! Quick, or it will be too late! Your chance will be gone!' But Blake still cowered tremblirgly where he was, unheeding the peril of the one he professed to love. Another instant John was struggling among the sails; a few second3 of awful suspense while the waves were tugging savagely at him; then, weak, almost fainting, he crept back into the boat with Lily's insensible form clasped close to his brave heart. He had saved her! Then, still in imminent danger, tbey remained clinging to the dismantled boat, until, as suddenly as it had fallen, the squall lifted, and a welcome hail from the shore proclaimed that help was near at hand. Lily came to herself at last, to find that John was holding her fast, with her face close to his own. In au instant the memory of what had passed came back to her. She did not draw away, but raised her lustrous eyes to his as if to read his inmost thoughts; then the cold cheek pressed itself closer against his own, while her arms wound themselves softly around his neclc. 'John - dear John!' was all she said. And John knew that with the greatest peril the great blessing of his life had come to him; while Richard Blake, looking on with pale, scowling face comprehended clearly that John's words had been prophetic when he had said, 'Your chance will be gone.'