The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1870-11-25

! beside the body that looked so lik
death rs the dim rays of the ianter
1 fell upen it. She. saw him place hi
hand upon Judith's heart; she hear
murmuTing words 0f THANKSGIVING a
\ he found that she yet lived; she say
i him put the hair baok from the fore
head with a tender touch; she saw hin
stoop over and kiss the pale brow, er
he lffted the slight figure in his arm
I ar d bore it to Mr.. Grny's carriage; sh
heard him speak few low words, an,
there was something i'm his voice tina
she had never heard before. .to
y The wheels rolled away in the dis
/ tance, and Faith got l,r, went home
and to bed. She had saved o .ife-tha
Masall; for the next day Judith's hors,
was found In the bottom of the ravine
The next morning Faith was pale
than usual, and there were dark circle:
about her eyes. -.
= .sNIotaer,p she said, "if you are will
ing, will put the baby In her carriage
and draw her upin the woods I car
sew Just as well there as here, and
! can't breathe this morning. 8a
Mrs. Harris looked at her in surprise
"Go, if you want to, she answers ed
"But 1 expect the baby,ll get all stune
up by the mosquitoes" rcd s.'I 81
| Faith went, nevertheless; and before
long Kenneth Marston joined her. Et
did not speakspt first, but held out his
hand silently, and looked at the patient
little face very much as one might
looked at a pictured saint.
At last he said: &
"Where were you last night, Faith
when I found Judith and took hel
away?" e
was-there,n said Faith hesitating
"Op the other side of the stump"
Sand you did not speak to me-
would not let me thank You! Oh,
Faithl' ---- --.. !
She did not answer, but her face was
hidden in her hands. He removed
them with gentle violence, and held
them close prisoners. .rs.. 81
"Judith has told me all about it,u
he whispered. "How brave and noble
you were, and how you saved her
from certain death. You know where
they found the hOrse?"
Faith nodded, shudd eriug.
''She wants to know you better" he
went on. "She told me to bring you
to her to-day, for she is not able TO sit
up, and she wants to thank and bless
YOU" .ztts... ..'
Faith shook her head. -f
"YOu won't refuse, Faith. Is is not
like yOu-yOu who have given her life.
See, she has sent you this" he added,
slipping q costly ring upon her finger
as he spoke.
La;fh q If .r.I Ia;I IL, I,ir
hand again, while her face grew white
as ashes.
81 do not wish to he paid for what
did," she said, while her lips trembled
painfully.
''Paid! Faith, she never dreamed of
such thing. How could she? She
sent the ring simply because she could
not come to you herself. She said, "lt
means less than my simplest word,
Kenneth. But place it on her finger,
and beg hel to come to me.' She has
the gentlest, truest heart, Faith. Do
not misjudge her.
A shade of color had stolen back to
Faiths face. But at these words it
blanched again to the very lips.
II can not wear your wife's ring"
tained Voice III is Impossible. But
tell her am glad that was able to be
of service to her, and that l hope there
are many years of happiness in store
for you BOTH"
"My wife-my wife's ring" eXclaim-
ed the young man, OBTAINING her as
she was about to leave him. ''My
wife! Why, what do YOU mean
Faith?'
Her eyes flashed, then fell as they
met his.
"Tmean that saved your wife's life
last night, Kenneth Marston, and-I
want to go home now. / am tired"
She looked so, poor child!
'tBut, Faith, dear Faith"-and he
twined one arm about her waist, while
he tried to turn her face toward him
"look at me and listen to me. Judith
Grant and my brother Hal are to mar
ried as soon as he comes back from
South America. They have been en-
gagged these two years. Did you not
know it:''
What could our little Faith do but to
shake her head, while the soft color
went and came upon her cheek, and
her heart fluttered beneath his hand
like that of frightened bird.
Kenneth MarstOn read the sweet face
for an instant. Then clapsing her
closer, he kissed her lips.
"Faith, ! love you and you onlyw
And the baby looked Oh in wide-eyed
wonder. a.