Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1871-01-26

been my home all my life. 1 will
work, beg, suffer for.ye.ssE1 will die
| for vou-oh, how willing, if need
be. But that-oh, father, you dc
not know what it is that you askr'
He did not speak, but moan
broke uucontrollably from his lips
as he rested upon her shoulder. The
struggle in her heart sent dark
shadowy waves across her face.
Could she-could she?
Father" she whispered hurried
| ly; "let me go, now. l will see you
again-answer you tomorrow.
And she left him.
He could not see her face in the
gathering darkness, only glimpse
of something white, but he felt the
quivering of her lips as she bent to
kiss him, and reached out his arms
to embrace her, but she was gone.
Heaven pity mer' The words
came like a wall from her lips. She
was alone in the chamber, flung pros
trate upon low couch, with her
face hid in the cushions. The sound
of the rustling foliage of the garden,
and the chirping of the birds, came
in through the open window with
| the damp evening breeze, and the
pale light of the rising moon filled
the room with soft radiance, but she
was unconscious of everything but
misery. The house was so quiet
that the sound of a footstep cross
ing the hall below fell upon her ear,
and aroused her to a momentary in
terest. She heard a door open-the
library door, and then voice utter
ed few words of common place
greeting. She remembered it well,
and sprang to her feet with des-
perate, insane thought of flight.
But the door closed, the house was
still again, and she was calmer.
She crossed the room listlessly,
and drew back the curtain of the
window. The scene without was
beautiful. The moonlight lay broad
ly on the garden, turning to silver
the tops of the trees, and making
the little lake beyond look like q
great white pearl. Gazing earnestly
downward she saw a tall, shadowy
figure stanking beneath the shade of
the old elm. With a low cry she
sprang from the room, and, a mo-
ment after, stood beside her lover.
"Come at last, my treasure cried
Mark Winchester, folding her in his
arms. She remained leaning passive
ly against his breast, while he
pressed passionate kisses upon her
forehead, cheeks, and lips.
"Why have you made me wait so
long, darling?' he said softly, and
taking both her slender hands in
one of his, he pressed them to his
lips. "Why, how cold you are!
How you trembler' he continued,
as she clung to him, "What is the
matter, May?"
al waited because 1 dreaded to
meet you, Mark
"Why? What do you mean?"
And, brokenly through her tears
and sobs, she told him all. He did
not speak or stir while she was talk
ing, and when she had finished there
was a long silence. She lacked cour-
age to say more,-he would not ask.
She repeated the last words: "And
tomorrow l must give him my an
swer." Still he did not speak.
She looked up at him. In the dim
light she could see his rigid, agon-
lied face, white lips, and cleaning
eyes. She stole her arms about his
neck, and drew his forehead down to
her lips.
"Speak to me Mark; say that you
do not blame me-
He knew then that she had de-
cided, and what the decision was.
"And you will leave me, May, and
marry that old nian?''
Heaven pity me, Mark, for 1
must. Twill become his wife, and
will be true and faithful to him, for
he will be kind to me. You will
hear of me thus and when you do,
remember my words, Mark, that you
have my heart"
l will remember May. God bless
US both, for l shall never forget you.
They shall bury me with this upon
my heart" And he drew tress of
soft brown hair from his bosom.
For moment more-one little
precious moment-he held her
against his heart, and then kissed
her, put her gently from him, and
was gone.
For a moment she stood alone
under the trees, with clasped hands
and face upraised to the quiet sky,
and then she turned and walked 81
lently toward the houss. A light
from the library window streamed
down on her, as she looked up, she
saw the shadow of a bowed figure
fall across the curtain.
"Father, you are saved~ She
murmured.
A hand was laid suddenly on her
arm, and she started with low
cry.
"Good evening, Miss May" said
Colonel Leighton. Il have been
seeking you"
She bowed, and stood silently be-
fore him, with a calm, downcast
face.
81 have been talking with your
father" he continued carelessly
pulling a rose from a bush near
them. "He tells me that you have
promised tothink ofmy proposal, and
let us know what your decision is
tomorrow. Is there anything | can
say which will influence you to form
that conclusion in my favor?'
"You cannot say anything which
will influence me in the least, Col.
Leighton. As my father has said,
you shall have my answer to-mor-
row."
He glanced at the young face, so
sad in its calm dignity, and looked
down at his fingers again, which