The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1866-06-23

paic ais . guOst.
/ struggled hard with myself and to1t
Jack tha. ] had swallowed q lot of ciga
smoke / rose, and opening one Of the case
lnents, stepped out on the bacohy where th'
fresh air restored lne At a late hour Jack
departed for the hotel, ard when ] had re
tired to my chamber | paced to and fro unit
long after midnight. l could no loager mis-
understand the motive which had actuatet
Mary in rel ectIng my hand. Sac knew tha
| | was the habit of using wine, and or tha
evening when wc met she must have discov
cred that | had drank enough TO bring false
fush to my cheek.
"Oh, my God - ! calculated, as | sank
into a chair. II wonder not that she refused
to place her future life in my keeping. She
had suffered enough from the accursed cup
The night of sorrow and desoa,ion had been
long enough upon her. She would be worse
than mad 10 take husband whose opening
path in life lei towards the pi. into which
the loved ones of other days had fallen.
.'Bu.,' | asked myself. why did she no,
tell mo the whole truth ?"
/ found no difficulty in answering the ques-
ton. She had shrunk from woundng my
feelings | knew how sensitive sh. was, and
| I knew she was afraid of offending me.
! Perhap. she thought me proud and head
I stlp4i5 C'l1ASii ~ lESeHb Sptu llDPEtN On utr
( part and r.rhaps she imagined might look
| upon her as offering her hand in cons
! sider,tiol Of renouncing the VINE cap and
| that might spurn her offer.
On Friday Jack Stanton left me. and on
! Saturday evening | called at Mary's board
! ing house. Mary herself answered my sum-
mons. She started when she saw me, and
saw her right hand move quickly towards
| her heart
Mary I said, speaking calmly, for bad
| a mighty strength Of vii to support me. Il
have not come to distress you; | have come
as friend and humby ask that you will
give me an audience for Il few momeats''
She went into the parlor, and followed
her, closing the door behind m. and when
We rcre alone. she set ,hc lamp upon the IT,
bic and ao'ioael N t. seat.
NO said |. al wiI not 81; down vet
Give me your hand, MARY
Mechanicall: che put forth her hands; and
| took them IN my own. There was a won
dcring look IN her eyes ard i slight flush
had come to her pale cheeks.
MARY" ! continued, speaking slowly and
softly, md ! know that moisture was gather
Ing in my eyes, .'you mus. anEwer me one
question. Answer it as you please. and take
Inv ao,emr assurance that | ask it only for
No, no d. not TAX, your hands away vet
Answer me if YOU can. i'e not-O, fear
not: for had rather q into endless night
than do YOU wong. TIL ne, Mary, do you
love me-
Il cannot speak falsely she tremblingly
whispers !, ''!Jr my own peace, p-Ihaps. !
love YOU too well"
Listen TO me for one moment" added,
drawing her nearer u me 'when have
told voI that which have - tel, YOU shall
be the Judge"
She dI not strive to fre, her hands, bat
iookel up eagerly in nv face, anl her eve
/ bearnad with hopeful l:git.
81 ou know Jack Stanton o. | said.
dyes she replied.
.'lIe was nv bes: ilienl when VS. were at
college, and my friendship has not grown
less. He came to see N and toiI me the
trials and suffering OF one Of the school
masters Of his eariief days.
''UB. Mary. know well why nv hand. was
refused, an | blame y,u not It may be
that Our "a rs VIII be d,f re,t through Iife,
Int ycu snail at least know that ha whom
YOU have loved will so live that he shall not
be unworthy OF kiuLgst remembrance. !
knew that I have hitherto wandered into the
path Of danger. but heuceforth ! am free
from the DREADED snare Under thc new
light that has dawnel upon me | hold the
wine cap TO be fearful enemy. will shua
it As | would sLun 4 shameful lie and
clogdet Gca;Gaei. For my own sake v..il
Do this, so that my saiutei mother, il she
csa look upon her boy, can emile approving
Is on tina course be has chosen.
/ And now. Narr. if at soma future time
you .Eenld feel that YOU ear trust YOUR Lap>
piuess in my kee1inf,. Won will civ. me some
token thereof. and vii come and ask vsu
for ycur hand; aud should it be NV blessed
, lot to receive i. will devote every energy
ia my being to make yorr life ijoyous and
psarc.l. one
.=. 70 l.er hinH and bored NJ head to
w.Pe away a tear. / turned towards the
io5r really intending to depart, and give
her time .or reflection. when she pronounced
my nIne. | locked back and her hands
were-s;-etc!.ei uut 'owar s me.
"Not now | whispered. ~ viii not ask
your answer VT. watch me-prove ne
Only give u!e TO know that l have your
love
stopped speaking, for Mary's head lad
been piilowed on my bosom. anl she was
weeping ike Il chili.
"Now now = she uttered, As wound mv
arms around her, "Oh, Charles, never
doubted your truth. | know that You c,nnot
! deceive me. God bless your noble resolution,
and lc, help you t; keep it,
( cannot tell how long | stopped that ewes
ming. ] can only tell that WAS very happy,
/ On the foIIowin, dav-a sal,bath calm and