Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1869-06-10

act as escort home after some social meet
ing. and no harm was done-uo harm
Of course, only there were too many blush
es. too many smiles, too lingering CLASH
of parting hands, when one remembered
that Ethel Romor was wife Home Va
neglected but Ralph did not complain.
So the long year rolled round, and
Valentines day came again. Ethel hal
watched and waited for It's coming-not
quite the same pure Ethel Thoughts
she dared not utter had crept into her
soul The soldier with the great black
eyes and soft voice, who made his empty
sleeve only another charm to win hearts
who told her all he dared with his
tongue, and more with glance and sigh
must, she had long ago decided, be the
writer Of those valentines, SO full of love
and pathos, so tender, 50 different from
anything that Ralph Romer ever felt or
uttered
She had given him a hint, and if it
were she would surely know it this day
And fit were he, then Ethel Romer
knew that it had been better for her new
cr to have been born for the sake of
him who wrote those love poems, she was
willing so forsakc home and husband, and
wifrlv name and fame, and be the scorn
and fout Of all the village. To be so loved
for little while, aud then die was all she
asked
IF it comes to that she said answer
iuc her own thoughts, how my name
will rinc-I shall be blacker than Satan.
D. they know-those proper, froz4n vii
lage women, who will scorn me so-what
it is for a loving woman tG lead lo7eless
life ? It witAcrs one as neglect and cold
have withercd these poor flowers there. ;
For Ethel hal set forth no flower pots in
the sun to-day, nor for many days. That
morning she had watched her husband
ride away on his great brown horse
thinking how grave and serious he was
how old in all his ways-how old man
ish was his grey overcoat, and his broad
brimmed hat; Saying to herself, If |
were to leave him, and he we're to find
the house empty he would 60 on reading,
or comfort himself with new bug or new
planet. No need to wonder how he would
take it.. Aud since tlloh she had watch
ed at the window guiltily ard m3serably
for the valentine, 50 sure, she thought, to
come,
At last She saw figure coming straight
and fast towards the house, and the blood
few to her check, and her heart beat fast
but it was not the poatman-only
neishbor With hIanched face and fright
cncd eyes that told bad news before his
lips uttered it.
She went out TO meet him and they
stood there looking at cach other for mo-
mon. Over the hill little crowd was
coming slowly, something in its midst
Don't be too frightened, Mrs. Romer,
gasped the man at last. 1t may not be
as bad as they think. The horse shled,
Just before She post office, and the doctor
was thrown. lie hasn't come too, yet.
oh, no, no for she had thrown her
self on her knees. and cried cut that he
was not dead Not dead, not dead yet,
Mrs. Romcr' But the wretchcd woman
knew that death was very near, and the
food Of agony that swept across her heart
told her that she had not ceased to love
her quiet husband.
They brought him in-and from that
moment. far lrng days and nights, she
kept watch beside his bed, thinking of no
other thing on earth. praying only that
he misht be spared to her. She sut-
fercd aqouies of remorse. Every false
though. pursued her with reyengefu,
stab.
Tlrc grey ovcrcoat hanging on the wall
which She had thought old manish and
like him, as he rode away. seemed to
never be worn again. 1t seemed like
making this sure to put away, but she
could not bear the Sight of it longer, and
50 one day she took it softly in her hand
to hang It in certain clcsct. AS she
lifted it something fell from Que of the
pockets-a letter or a paper. She stoop-
ei to recover it, and saw a tancitul envei-
ope, with bright seal. AMI her name
upon it. Such were the Valentines that
came to her. This was surely one of
them. What did it mean HID her
husband discovered the writer II ID
th,re been some csusc for the accident.
which she knew nothing? ? Sle looked at
the Valentine again. Ii had nevey been
posted. Ethel began to tremble violent
ly from head to foot She sunk down
upon her knees, clasping the Valentine be-
tween both paEm> aud held it thus awhile
Could it Be ?-cou!d it be oh, could it
be , She opened it. The same glowing
verse. but sadler and more hopeless, tel
ing Of love uureturned. The same mea-
sure in the same felsnsd hand, aud yet
not at all unknown. Had she never seen
before that lIttle fouriSh-that peculiar
formation Of letter .Oh, Heaven
make me sure schbed Ethel, ani found
her way somehow 70 her husbands old
brown desk aud opened ii
Within lay envelopes Ike those upon
the Valentine. httle box Of such gay
seals and fragments Of yer>c-the proofs
tina; the writer Il these paS>ionate poems.
Of those Wild pretc>tations OF love. was no
other than Ralph Romcr.
She er,pt ta,k to The bedside. and kis-
sd a.S fac aud his unconscious eyes
She prayed tod 10 give him back to her.
She prayei 70 be forgiven, with a sense
ot remorSe ard shame such as she might
have felt had she been much more wick
ed, aui ted listened 10 her The crisis