The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1865-10-26
Marian, darli,,e


wept tears of anguish, Marian, da,liue
Morion.'
A shadow came over the face of Yves.
ton Wilcox as he answered, 'sThat was
only dreams, my wife. Inmy waking
hours do not love her, for she was false
to me-"
"Oh'. Weston. Weston, she was not
false to you! l did til wrote the let.
ter myself" screamed Mabel Wilcox in
tones that sounded like the despairine
shrek of a lost spirit.
The paleness of death crept over the
face of Weston Wilcox as he lnvolunta-
rily dashed the frail hand from his clasp
as if those slender fingers were the coil
of a serpent.
ooh. Weston, Weston, / loved you 50
Il could not help it J" mOaned Mabel
desparingly. -, -,
then. with a powerful effort to control
himself. Weston Wilcox said, "May the
Lord have mercy upon your sOul-and
forgive YOU for His sons sake"
'tSayYouf forgive me, Weston-say yon
forgive me ~ pleaded Mabel.
"Mabel, even as hope forgiveness in
the great day, SO do I forgive you, said
Weston Wilcox. taking her hand.
"Put your arms round me once more,
Weston. and say it again." gasped the
diving woman. With his arms about
her. and his breast pillowing her head,
Weston Wilcox whispered words Of COM
fort and cons olation to the guilty, pen
itent woman, The summer birds out
side of the window nestled noisily mid
the leaves of an cid maple tree moment
preparatory to s|umber-then settled
down with sudden awe as if they knew
what the soul of Mabel Wilcox was wing
ing its way to stand in Gods awful pres
ence.
"a letter for Marian |" said my Uncle
Dick.
All! remembered how, in other days,
/ would have sprung half way acl Oss the
room in my eagerness to get a letter.
Now only reached my hand out languid-
ly. Uncle Dick tossed it toward me as
he followed my aunt from the ROOM
l danced at the superscription then my
heart seemed almost to stand still, as |
recognized the writing of Weston Will
cox. Trembling, opened it and read:
"Marian Graves, you have been
wronged." So deeply that my heart
aches to think oft. Yet, Heaven is my
witness, have never Intentionally
wronged you! I loved you with my
whole SOUL lived but in your smiles
and breathed joyously the atmosphere
of your love. A few months after our
b. trothal / opened, what supposed to
be, a letter from you; found it address
ed to sdear Annie;' | very naturally
supposed that you had written to some
female friend at the same time you wrote
to me and had accidentally changed en-
velopes. / was much disappointed but
consoled myself by thinking Icouldstill
read something from your dear hand.
though it was not intended for me-
How great, then, was my anguish when
Tread in that etterthatyoulo loved another
but would marry me for my wealth!
Marian, Marian, the angels only know
the anguish that wrung my soul in that
hour!
intended to retucn you theletter but
was prevailed upon not to by one con-
sidered my friend. When dying the
author of that letter confessed TT
When had read thus far turned the
page over again to look at the date. A
month had elapsed since it had been
written. l heard a step at the door and
looking up l saw Weston Wilcox. Oh,
the Old love tore off its ssgrave clOthes''
and rose up in new life and strength
Then with a great yearning cry | fell
into his arms.
a When tn the spring e., blossoms Peeped up
the tWittering birds sang glad songs to
the young leaflets; and when nature
clad herself in freshest, lovliest robes.
four years from our first betrothal. we
were married, and like two peaceful
streamlets united in one, our lives flow
gently on to the great ocean of eternity.
iFoneawake in June, in perfect health,
with every SENSE refreshed, and 90 forth
into q clear, calm, and fragrant morning
out of doors, of al the Influences thai
VIII assall him, nothing, ofsight sound,
that will compete for his attention, will