The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1866-02-16

arms. those thin, weak arms, and la'd the
child in them.
"God bless YOU" he said, "my darling, my
little d.rlins God bless you, and keep 20"
from all evil"
Then he began 10 cough, and took her
away, and tied her into her tiny rocking.chalr,
where she had learned to sit patiently hour ut.
ter hour, never troubling any one. When the
coughing spell was over he closed his eyes, anu
| hoard him say in low voice:
.rhc angels do always behold the Taco OF
their Father :" and knew hc was thinking OF
his little one, and what her lot would bc when
hc was gone.
Just a, the last hc turned his eyes to mo, and
said in weak, faint tones
you have been my true wife, Mary. You
have walked with mo down to tho very brink
Of the river. You must go back alone
With those words no made II sign Tor mo to
kiss him, and bending down pressed my lips
to his, that even then quivercd beneath my
touch, and family returned my pressure
When lifted up my head he was dead
had been alone month before had cou-
rage IN loDk about ne, or think ut all what
WAS euin. to 10. Tho firm had been very kind.
Tn, V continued Roberts pay through his sick
ness, ani !or two months afterward, making ur
the halt year OF course that was all could
have expected them, and mOre--l must take
care Of myself and my little girl. Robert had
left little money but that did not mean to
touch. lclt that it ought to remain as
provision against any time OF peculiar need, or
Tor Rosemary i( should dio. So | went round
among my old customers and procured tho pro-
mise Of as much work as could do to take
home, for it was of course out OF tho question
to leave my child and so out all day, rs used
10 do. Whom saw how kind they all were to
tue, and felt very sorry for me. began to rca
lizo how many good hearts there arc IN tho
world.
For two years got along nicely. To be
SURE it left an awful void in my lilo to take 10
bert out Of it, bu, remembered that bad
promised to belong to him forever ; so felt
was only waiting. Ny little one was great
comfort. She looked at me with her fathers
eyes, aud there was curious likeness IN her
words and ways to his, which sometimes glad
dcnod and sometimes saddencd my heart
Her constitution was very irail. She had
been u Fat, dimplcd baby enough; but alter
she could run alone sho grew slender, and her
skin WIS almost transparent. But sho was
never really Ill, until the summer two years al
ter her father died. Then she became so DELI
cate that she required great deal o' my tiWc'
thought that at FIRST that it was bectuse she
was cutting long delayed doublo tooth, but
soon began to fear there was grayer cause Tor
alarm. sent for Doctor, kind iatherly
mau-Dr. Grant his name was--hc told mo
that her spine was affected, aud the disoise was
Of such nature that shc would require the
closest care and attention to save her lie. And
even thuu--But Inc did not 6uish his sentence.
I,.., 4 .lt,l, hn
have tho nerve u do 10.
| used 10 hold her in my arms moro than
half the time by night and by day. OF course
could not sew much. and tho money had
left dwindllCd away. began to wonder how
could keep want from the poor. Ono day Dr.
Grant came and seemed to havc soIprthing IN
particular to say. Hc had been very dind to
my little Rosemary and she and had both
grown fond Of him in u certain way, and were
always clad 10 see him. But | never could
tell You tho shock il was when no asked mo to
marry him. had known nuthingoi his his
tury hitherto, but no told mo now that hr was
awidowcr, and lonely chldlcss man, and that
no hud learned tn love lno and mno better than
anythin. clso in tho world. lie wanted to
marry me ut once, and take us homo with him,
where Rosemary could have every caro- and
luxury, and where my lot should bc easel OF all
such burdens as hc could bear in my stead
While hc talked was terribly tempted. The
homo hc offered seemed to promise such rest,
such relief from caro-, and the torturins ankle.
~ how to my duty to my child and g1t my
daily bread at tho same time; thought OF my
littlc ono most Of all. knew that she needed
so much that could not give hcr Perhaps
it would savo her ltc Had u right to 70
fuse? And yet | knew did not love Dr.
Grant. dared not answer him on any mo.
mcntary impulse. So told him ii ho would
60 away and give mo time to think, would
see him again on the morrow. lilo held my
hand moment with grave tenderness.
sRcmcmbcr Mrs Elem" he said, "that what
ever YOU may decide, shall not be any the less
your friend fyou can find it in your heart
TO come to nv home, and let me care tor you,
shall he happy indeed and will do my best to
make YOU SO.
All that night, until tho grey dawn tighten.
ell tho heavens. | sat holding my little one in
my arms and thinking. lweut over and over
the advantages of the case-mOst OF all what 1t
would DO for Rosemary to be in place Of luxu
~ surrounded with every appliance of case and
comfort: constantly watched, moreover by a
skillful physician, whose interest in her,
knew, would only be second to mine. All this
on one side.
On the other, the stern fact that | did no'
love DR.. Grant, the holy and ever present me.
mory that had promised to belong To Robert
Ellen forever Could break that vow? Would
hc forgive Tue il, even for his child's sake,
G,red anv other man TO press the lips on
which his dying kiss still fingered?
Then thought further. Filled as my heart
was with fond memories Of the dcid, thrilling
to that remembered love, as it never would To
the strongest uttcrance Of any living mans
passion, should not be wronging DR.. Grants
noble nature unpardon,bly il gave him
hand which held no heart-yowcd feality
tha, was only lip.dcep? At last, just in the
gray dawnng, I made up my mind that
would be faithful aud true at any cost, and
trust all to God, even Rosemary. would not
sin against my womanhood by purchasing com
forts for her, at the price Of my fidelity toa vow
had plichted to her father. | knew that
had decided rightly by the great peace which
flowed into my heart. lay down ON the bed,
with my little girl still in my arms, and lseem
cd 10 iccl--was it all fancy ?-the presence OF
one could not see, to hear woll known well
loved vOicc lpurmur:
Through life and through death my bclo-
yed, thou hast been faithful"
Then slept the long, deep sleep OF exhaus
tion; and when awoke Rosemary was watch
NJ inc, with her great wide open eyes, and it
| was almost time for DIR. Grant to come.
showed him honestly all nv heart, and
when he understood fully that never could
have given him such love IA he cravad, he told
me had done richt--,hat any other course
would hayo been injustice to myself, to him
and TO the dead. But IL could not he hrs
wife, he said must BE- to him as his sister
a.