Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1861-10-30
CHAPTER Y.

/ CHAPTER V
/ Meantime kow passed the years to Mary Eus-
! tace? As the time drew near for the return Of
+ her husband did not her eye grow brighter. her
football more elastic; and lingering over his let
, rers did she not count the few short months
/ which must elapse ere be would be hack saying,
soon, soon, viii lie be here 2 for the third year
of his absence had half wared to a close.
Yes, wearily she counted the waning months:
her eye did grow brightei-ah too bright for
health but her footsteps grew slower and heavi
err Cor Mary had not seemed strong or well Of
late But still her smile was as sweet as OF Old
her voice as pleasant. aud at.nlght(all she sung
her little Harry TO sleep, and told Charley sto
ries of his papa who was coming home soon from
that far of land Of gold. But all this time her
step dragged more heavily, her frame grew more
feeble, and hope was dying cut from her heart.
What did these changes pretend?
All, Mary Eustace knew what others did not
know; tha; which would have struck terror into
the hearts Of her friends-what would have
brought the husband of her youth home right
speedily; Cor slow but surely was she dying.
The presentiment which had come to her heart
when Harry left ker was not false; too true alas
was the warning voice which then whispered in
her ear-'We shall never meet againl'
Consumption fastened its icy grasp upon her
Day by day she felt the destroyer winding its
chill fingers upon his heart, plucking thence ev
cry joy, withering every blossom day by day
she saw how it painted still brighter the hectic
on uer check, and added new brilliancy to her
eye. and while others were deceived, and said,
Why how well you are locking, Mary she on
ly shook her head and sadly smiled, for she knew
she was surely walking path they could not
tread with her.
But looking upon her two darlings, upon the
bold brave Charley, manly fellow of six, who
still clung to the memory of the pony, and wish
ed his papa would make haste aad come home
from C,liforney and upon the little toddling
Harry, delicate. golden haired child, the boy
Of her love looking upon them she strove to
crush down her fears and bear up little longer
for their sakos.
..Oh if Harry we're only here" she said one
evening as she went to her room more than usu-
allv wearied and exhausted, feeling III, both men
tally and physically. g But ho'S can l write him
the trutk-how can tell him all Oh, if he
he would but come before it is too Late.
At last the eye of affection could not fail to
perceive the change. He- mcther's heart grew
anxious; relatives and friends all come with ex-
pressions of sympathy and kindness medicai aid
was solicited, and Mary was prououdced an inva-
lid, And the patient sufferer saw that it was
useless to strive against the increasing debility.
letter was despatched to Harry.
Do not alarm him needlessly, but tell him
he had better be thinking of coming home very
soon,'' said good old Dr. Grant. do not ex-
actly understand Mary's case. Her symptoms
are not wholly unfavorable. ard do not deS
pair of bringing her up a. ain--but we cannot
tell, 1t is best that Harry should be here, but
say it without alarming him
And so a letter was despatched, telling him
that Mary was not as well or strong as for
merlv, though DR.. Grant apprehended no immi-
nent danger. but lac should come home soon
as he could arrange his business to leave. But
he must not be alarmed summer was approach
ing and the warm airs might revive Mary She
had no. been out much of late. had not taken
not taken much exercise, and her illness might
be in a measure owing TO that At present moth
ing serious was apprehended.
So Harry's sister wrote, and in due time the
letter reached him but that letter aroused the
wanderer. The spell was broken "a voice SEEM
ed to say, return, and quickly, Why have you
fingered here while your loved one is suffering {!
What if she should die. and you not there ?
Oh, hastenl'
And the first homeward bound steamer bore
him from the harbor of San Fransisco-
And all this time the hand Of affection was
striving to stay the hand Of the destroyer; all
the while the delicate, tirnid, and gentle Mary
was getting weaker and weaker. Day bT day
she slowly sank, until the dear ones clustering
around her couch could no longer be deceived ;
until old Dr. Grant shook his grey head, and
murmured, poor thing. poor thingp
Suddenly there appeared now phase in her
diseas,. The brain grew weary, and wandered
! estray, wild, strange fancies crowded her mind.
memory was a waif, unknown and unrecognized.
Reason had failed.
The letters from Harry did not arouse her from
this sad state save sometimes in tful intervals.
Sometimes laying wan and weak upon her pillow
,ba world fold and refuld the closely written