The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1860-11-09
BEDFORD, Pa, FRIDAY MORNING. NOVEMBER g. 1860

Que little place for the sunshine and the free air
| TO riot in. had known only the wants of
childhood [ had no mother to supply them so
| 1t was that grew into the gentlenesS of the
! mother, and the little soul, grated into the
/ strong tree OF mlne, lived upon it, and the child
became doubly my own.
People said that was cold and dead, on that
first summer of my marriage ; and, in a sarcas-
TIC way, that | had made the beautiful house
OF my husband as much OF tomb, as his first
wife had playground, and others, still that
was working my way to the heart of The father
| through the love of the child. The gossip
came to me in fragments, some from the old
, housekeeper who had a familiar footing every
where, others from The careless tongued few
who visited tne from time to time. But they
did not move ne.
Sometimes as trollcked with the child,
May, | would be conscious that my husband
was watching me closely. But bad no time,
and less inclination, TO interrupt his glances-
| had become his wife as lie had asked me
Wife what dead, hollow word it was to me .
But one sultry August night, as we sat on
the piazza together, the little one with her shi-
ming golden head resting on my bosom, he said
to me letting ns voice slide down to the low
deep tone, to which it always descended when
he was unusually earnest:
''WhaE il the child should be taken from you,
; Elizabeth 90
! lopened my eyes widely upon hIm, and
held the golden head more Closely to my
breast.
eTaken, Mr.. Hueston ~ | said. "What If
God should take the sunshine from US !"
He smiled quickly, and tnrnet his head away
so that | could not see his features plainly
Did he feel that his question was destined TO be-
the subject OF q prophesy? | was not easy or
happy after it. Day nor night did | allow my
child from my sight. Dear God how stilied
with my mad love.
The next week and she srckened-and still
aCother week and she died Her life was
strongly bound in mine, and prayed the Fa-
! ther to take US together. But no mine was
torn-she was freed
! All, was a mother then The beautiful
crown which I had fitted to my brow was ev-
erv biz that of motherhood. In my desolation
/ knew and felt it.
| ooh, my God OF cried, IN the agony Of
heart, ''she is all that love upon earth spare
! her :"
felt the strong clasp of my husbands arms
about me- as I spoke, turned about and looked
| him full in the face. His eyes had strange
! light in them, but his features were calm and
still What dld he know of fa,parent's love q
| | said in my heart. What was the white ia
ced babe, with lis pitilul dying cry o: mamma
mamma to him ?
"Don't hold me-" said, wrestling myself
/ from his arms; 'ny heart breaking"
Sand nine, Elizabeh--."
| He paused ana buried his face in his hands,
while raised tie lntle wasted darling IN my
arms. | was cIasping death with her it was
stronger than it took my light and | was
| left in darkness.
The DAYS were long that followed that night.
The terrible shock aroused me from the ethar-
! gy in which had been. The clear light OF
/ death had showed me the spot where | was
| standing showed me how deeply had wronged
the man whose name bore. But what could
DO He had not asked me for my hye, on
! y % be h,s wife as though that ~ord did not
imply all that was true, pure and holy Of The
heart. What could do The question haun-
ted me for weeks, and moved about silent and
sPiritless.
''rhe loss OF little May viii kill her ?''peo-
pie said, as shey looked upon my blanched face.
| wished that | could believe them.
The week went away and October, the
month Of golden mist and haze, ca ne down
silently upon ps. On ong OF its brightest NOR
nings went INTO the library and seated my
sell by the window which overlooked the gar
den. I did not know at tirst--uot until vas
drawn by the strong magnetism of his gaze-that
Mr. Hurston was but lew rods flom the house,
busy with his plants. OF late | had learned
to avoid bin, but on seeing him there | did
not move, only watched him from the low
window seat, wondering what ii was that drew
his deep eye to my face SO often. AT last he
threw down MS gardening hoe aud came to-
ward me. My heart leaped TO my throat. /
thought that no common words We're at his lips
waiting for utteranc-.
elizabeth, he began, coming close 10 the
open window, so near that hIs eye looked di-
recty into mine, g tell me, please, DO you love
NE :" Something in his manner moved me
exceedingly. tried to speak, but the words
tainted upon my my lips. ''feli me truly" he
urged, still Keeping his eyes fastened on NINE
Was | to blame if he forced the answer from
me ! could not, would not, tell hlm false
hood, and so | said, as firmly as | could
81 am afraid not, Mr.. Huston. You never
asked me to, and"
Sand what 2" he asked. almost fercely,
clasping my hand until l tho't he would crush
IL.
81 thought you did not care for love, Sir"
added.
"Who will ever be able to tell whether or
not you are right IN your conjecture !' he said,
dropping my hand and walking swiftly away
Looking after him, [ could out each the word
.sWho 2"
After that, Mr.. Hueston and were almost
as strangers to each other. Sometimes days
would pass that did not see or hear from him.