The Sumter watchman. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1855-1881, 1871-04-12

"a
could only swallow little. Her mind
wandered and she talked Of her child
hood and mother. Then che slept for q
few moments, but reused suddenly u, and
placing her hand in her bosom, drew
out tiny locket suspended BY a cord
around her neck. 81 must have one
more look, just one." She tried to open
it, but her numbed fingers refused to
serve her. Mrs. Maynard opened it for
her, aud from necessity saw the face
enclosed. Whoever it was, it seemed
to have some strange spell for her foi
she sank upon her knees, burying hei
face in the bed.
Clara held up the locfet; the poor
lips tried to kiss it, then she motioned
tor it to be replaced, and in a whisper
said:
"Pray; quick p
Clara waited but no sound came;
then she touched Alls. MayDard's shoul.
der, and asked:
"will you pray? I think she's go
ing"
Never will a more touching prayer
ascend from this earth Of ours than
went up in that miserable room from
that stricken heart, which had to hold
back her own misery, while she com
meuded to the Infinite Father, the dying
child, to whom life had seemed but
curse.
And while she yet prayed the curtain
Of the room that held her soul was lift
cd, and it futtered out into space
Farewell troubled spirit. It is not for
us to Judge thee. He who is without
siu may condemn thee, not [.
We can go no further with her, and
our story deals now with the living.
Mrs. Maynard closed the eyes which
once had been so beautiful ; with her
own handkerchief wiped the death dew
from the brow which death had seemed
to make pure; folded the hands over
that cherished picture, then hesitated a
moment, and with look, such as We
sometimes see 10 rare picture of some
sanity face, she bent aud pressed long
kiss upon the dead girls cheek.
Clara had been fearless through it
all, but when she saw that last crown
ing act she burst into tears.
"Good God, if it was possible, / would
be better woman from this day"
Others came 10, aud the words and
prayers which were uttered may yield
their fruits in the great harvest time Of
eternity.
The christian voman went home like
one bowed by years; several times she
would have fallen if she had not stopped
and rested against something, until she
could steady herself to pass on again.
In comforting others she had gained a
stab to her own heart. AS she entered
her door, she was met by her beautiful
aughter, who exclaimed:
"Why mother, l saw you coming, and
was frightened, you walked so strange
IT,"
The motiier1as helped to her room,
aud loving hands removed her bonnet
then, as though her peut up agony
would kill her unless she gave it vent,
she clasped her daughter to her heart,
aud swaying to aud fro, she cried out
in heart-broken accents "Oh, my child,
my darling, it will kill you; but you
must know. To think that 'tis your
mother who must wound 30 cruelty
God help US BOTH"
And then ia hurried words the sad
story was told. Alice shivered 10 every
limb and wept but evidently could net
comprehend Why they should be 80
much affected by it. A. last ths mother
exclaimed: "Oh, Alice, can't you guess
who it wasl Must tell you even
that" The girl asked vonderiuely:
"Was it any one We know mother! /
hope not, twas so wicked" Mrs. May.
nard dropped down upon the floor, and
pulled Alice with her.
"I:it kills you my child, tits better 10
ttau to see you the wife Of an adulterer
End murderer. saw in that locket the
face OF Robert Aiusworsh."
At frs. she doubted, loyal still to the
man she loved; but somehow, Mrs. May
nard could not question. A terrible
conviction had settled down upon her
heart.
There was no food taken there that
day, and as night came, the Two women
looked as though they had watched for
days beside the dying aud the dead.
The servent amounted, "Mr. Robert
to see Miss Alice.
Mrs. Myuard said, "You have no
father or brother, AID It Is not fitting
for you to move in this matter. shall
90 down to him, and may God give me
wisdom aud strength"
"If he can prove himself Innocent,
mother, you will believe him.. Oh, be
seems SO strong and good"
The mother went ont, aud slowly des-
cended to the parlor. The man she
had gone to meet looked up, expecting
to greet his fair betrothed. He started
at the face that looked upon him.
"Mre. Mayuard, are you i'll, or Is
Alice 7" She refused bis profered hand,
suuk quickly into chair, and said, q
though she did net dare trust herssaf'ts
watt
"Mr. Aiuswortb, I have 8 strsnge:
question TO ask you. Be seated asss
give me- your attention. If Alice hao
done something dreadful in the past spd
was consequently leas pure than you
thought her, would you desire to marry