The Elk advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Elk Co., Pa.) 186?-1868, 1868-08-01

denly seized, and whisper hoarse with
emotion, thrill his ear;
~ must see you now-come /"
He let her lead him INCREASINGLY to
the old trysting spot, when he impa-
tiently muttered
"Mary, you must be mad ~
"No, not mad-sane enough l wish
that 1 was mad, or dead !"
He drew her nearer to him. It SEEM
ed to him that the better part Of his ma
ture dictated truth and love, whilst am-
bition and pride forced them back.
Mary was the first to speak, and stand
ing before him in the bright moonlight,
conscious of her right to dictate her
term, exclaimed:
"Chatles, behold me Charles, you
must be aware that am soon to be q
mother-that there will be born to you
a child-your own child; would you
have that child's mother dishonored and
your child's life living shameY Am l
not your own lawfully welded wife,
though there was none to witness the
ceremony that bound us, besides the
minister, since you were afraid it would
reach your proud fathers ear,,betore you
had time to prepare him for the fact of
your marriage with an obscure country
! girl?
"Have not lived eight months of
falsehood to my parents, and done VIC
lence to my principles by deception, and
is it not time now that you release me
from this secrecy My trial will soon be
here, and how can meet it if you are
not to attest my innocence +? Speak,
Charles-sell me, in the name of Heav-
en-, that you are still true to me in heart.
The circumstances dictates that you con-
form a while yet TO fashion; but you
cannot-must not-say that you love
Mics Anderson. Ah, no ! though you
may play her falsely, yet, Charles,
is it rightI You are mine and mine
only.
And she binds her arms around his
neck, and pushing back his brown hair,
lying in massive waves over his temple,
and kissing him with such an abandon
of affection that Charles clasped her
tenderly to Ills heart, but only for mo.
ment-he unclasped her arms and, seat
Ing her, said, not without some hcsitan-
4 cy, though:
"Why, Mary,I did rot itiuk that you
could feel so deeply. / thought that
women were creatures rlore of passion
than sentiment. And ii must be so.
Arouse yourself. Another will come in
to take my place in your heart. Where
is Rutherford, who seemed yours so de-
votedly when 1 came! He loves you
still, no doubt. Give him all the love
that you are lavishing upon me. For
| get me Mary it will be we'll for you,
indeed W
She stood before him, her arms
dropping low, with the color all fled from
her face but in her eyes depth, Of
determination shone out, beneath which
Granville quailed.
"Tell me, as you regard the mother
who gave you birth, at whose knee you
we're wont to pray ere your heart knew
any sin, that there was no doubt about
the VOW that bound me as your wife
that it is valid /; but tell me that and
will release you'll myself will call FOR 9
divorce, and you can marry whom you
will; tell me that one blessed WORD
that I may not hate myself and you !"
| And she sank upon the ground and
clasped his knees in entreaty.
| He let her remain moment, and the
workings of his face tells the struggle
between good and bad promptings bu
as he releases her hold and says slowly
and emphatically;
"Mary, you will have to know it soon
er or later, and l needn't postpone q
revelation"
The fend triumphed, and he grows
quite fierce in his determination to pu
an end to her claims.
~ tell you that you are not wife
The man who off ciated as clergyman
was one of my own boon companions
We we're in for frolic then and yol
were so sweet, so lovely and con6ding
that l gave myself up to the jest; but
, am sorry now-sorry that / ever saV
, you, since ycu make so serious a matte
. of it; and | beg you to marry Ruther
; ford, and forget me. | will give yo'
money enough to make you comfor
| table,"
, One loud, long shrek bears its bur
den of grief to the winds, and as tn
| echoes take it up and repeat it, it seem
tha. the hour is vocable with sorrow
walls. An old man and women come +
f the spot, bend in mute anguish owe
, their Mary, then bear her into tn
J house. She lies like a crushed flower
-"l pale-a hope that is dead.
N Suddenly, there springs from cloud
IN Ne west, such gusts of winds as seer
strlvit, to tear with their oGtstretche
arms th' very bridge to pieces, an