Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1865-10-07
OLD SERIES, VOL. 26, NO. |.

" 4
the habit of using wine, and on that ever
ing when last we met she must have di,
covered that had drank enough to bring
false flush To my cheek.
"Oh my God y / CALCULATED as I sanl
into a chair, II wonder not that she refuse,
to place her future life in my keeping. Sh
has suffered enough from the accurscd Gun
The night of sorrow and tlcsolation has bee,
long enough upon her. She would be wors
than mad to take husband whose opening
| path of life led towards the pit into which
| the loved ones of other days had fallen.
| But" asked myself, "why did she moi
tell me the whole truthl' .
! found no difficulty in answering the
question. She had shrunk from woundina
my feelings. / knew how sensitive she was
and knew that she was afraid of offending
me. Perhaps she thought me proud and
headstrong enough to resent such liberty on
her part, and perhaps she imagined might
look upon her part us the offering of her
hand in consideration of my renouncing the
wine-cup, aud that might spurn her offer
On Friday Jack Stanton left me, and on
Saturday evening called at Marys board
ing house Mary herself answered my sum
mons. She started when she saw me, and
saw her right hand move quickly toward
her heart
Mary" said speaking calmly, for had
mighty strength of will to support Inc, II
have not come to distress you have come
as II friend, and | humbly ask that you will
give me an audience for II few moments"
She went into the parlor, and followed
her closing the door behind me and when
we were alone she set the lamp upon the
table and motioncd me to seat.
n said ] will not sit down ypt
Give me your hand Mary"
Mechanically she put forth her hands and
took them i'll my own. The Z WAS won
dering look in her eyes, and slight flush
had come to her pale cheeks.
Mary" | continued speaking slowly and
softly, and knew that moisture was gath
ering in my eyes, you must answer one
question. Answer it as you please, and
take my solemn assurance that j ask it only
for your own good Tell me, do YOU love
me! No, no-do not take your hands away
yet. Answer me if you can. Fear not-O,
fear not; for ] had rather 20 into endless
night than do you wrong Tell me, Mary,
do you love mel"
II cannot speak falsely" she trcmhlingly
whispered. For my own peace, perhaps
love you too we'll"
"Listcn to me one moment" / added
drawing her nearer to me; "when have
told you what have to tell you shall Dc the
Judge"
She did not strive to free her hands, but
looked up eagerly into my face, and her eyes
bcamed with II hopeful light
"Iou know John Stanton" l said.
"Yes," she replied.
'llc was my best friend when we were at
College, and my friendship has not grown
Ia, 4 al I, |,
story of the trials and suficrings of one of
the schoolmatcs of his earlier days. Oh,
Mary, know well why my hand was refused
and blame you not. 1t may be that our
paths will be different through life, but you
shall at least know that he whom you loved
will so live that he shall not be unworthy
of your kindest remembrance. l know that
| have hitherto wandered INTO the path of
danger. but hence fnrth / am froe from tho
dread snare. Under the new light thar has
dawncd upon me ! hold the wine-cup to be
a fearful enemy, and will shun it as | would
shun II shameful life and cloudcd death
bed. For my own sake will do this so that
my saintca mother if she can look upon her
boy, can smile approyingly upon the course
he has chosen.
"And now, Mary, it, at some future time
you should feel that you can trust your hap
piness in my keeping, you will give me some
token thereof, and will come and ask you
again for sour hand; and should it be my
blessed lot to receive it, l will devote every
energy in my being to ma Ike your life a joy
Gus and peaceful one"
let go her hands, and bowed my head to
wipe away a tear. | turned towards the
door really intending to depart and give her
time for reflection, when she pronounced my
name. lc okcd back and her hands were
stretched out towards me.
mot now," whispered. Il will not ask
your answer yet. Watch me-prove me.
Only give me to know that have your love
and will"
| stopped speaking, for Marys head had
been pillowcd upon my bosom, and she was
weeping like D child.
"Now now!n she uttered, as | would
my arms about her. "Oh, Charles, l never
doubted your truth | know you cannot
deceive me God bless your noble resolu-
tion; and let me help you to keep it J"
| cannot tell how long | stopped that eve
ming. can only tell that | was very hap
py, and that my prospect of the coming
year was bright and glorious.
On the following day--a Sabbath, calm
and pleasant--the organ gave forth new
strain The daughters of Zion were no
longer in strange land. They had taken
their harps down from the willows, and
within the chambers OF the new Temple
more rcsplendent far than the old, they
sang the songs that aforctime made joyous
CITY of their God All marked the gran deur
of the music TINT spranG into the life be
meath the touch of the fair orSanist on that
beautiful Sabbath morning, and all seemed
moved by the inspiration. To me it was
like the holy outpourings of redeemed
soul, and with bowed head and folded
hands gave myself up TO the sublime in
fluence. AS Mary TUNED from the instru'
ment | cought her eye. Mine were dim
with moisture, but hers were bright gleam-
ing with seraphic light.
Ere many weeks had passed, another
hand pressed the keys of the organ for Mary
was no. in the choir. She kneit before the
altar-by my ide-and over us both the
aged Clergyman stretched his hands with
prayer and blessing.
And we went out from the church togeth
| er-Mary and I-out in the new life-bound
! heart to heart and hand to hand, to love
J honor and cherish forever more.
The health of our troops in Texas, IN th'
region near Brownsville, is still unsa'isiac
tory, and many officers are rcsigning on ac
count of illness.
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