Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1871-01-14
FORGIVENESS,
BY A. NJ. DANA.

vosu6 AuSV SWhASutS 0uO S10 UuVWs tu0t u0O
been threatening oil day, was beginning 70
toss about tho first Of its white .fsvors, a.
lady stood at large easement auxiously
gazing across the valley on the cedar
fringed mo1utais read opposite.
She was apparently about twenty 1--WE
years Of age, With soft gray eyes and q
clear, though pale complexion. Could she
have been transported to Chestnut Street
or Broadway, with the accompaniment Of
crimps, rats, turban, aud pheasant wing,
she might have passed for scarcely twenty;
but, here at home, in her soft lavender
dress which harmonixed 80 we'll with the
shining brown hair plainly braided back
from her face, aud the tiny blue bow at her
throat, the Eve years seemed rather to be
on the other side. But her countenancc
was not dependent for its charm on either
youth or beauty; being one of those quiet
home faces, which, as the years pass along,
gather by the side of sick. beds, over cradles
and it may be over graves beauty
which the evanescent glow Of youth rarely
equals. So at least thought DR.. Ashley,
when, three years before, he took her from
the village school, and tl,c tuition Of rough
miners children, to be the light aud com.
fort Of his home.
1t is for him that she is straiuing her
eyes with looking into tho darkness, and .
glad smile rises to her face ~ something
moves among the ccdsrs, clatters across
the bridge in the valley whore tho village
lights are already twiukling, aud . mo.
mcnt later the wellknown gig rattles up
to the door.
lie was ouly a rough old country doctor,
this husband Of Lucy Ashley, but, to her,
he was ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS representa-.
tive Of all that is noble and good in man.
hood. And, indeed, we might make he.
roes Of worse material than Of some of these
bronxcd aud weather. beaten disciples of
the healing art, who, regardless alike Of
heat or cold, night or day, spend their
lives in attending suffering.
",Watching, Lucy!" cried the CHEEKY
voice. as having shaken off the feathery
snowAakes the doctor eutered the easement
which she held open for him.
1t was very plain room deriving the
most Of its charm from the white curtains,
fragrant plants, and neatly arranged tea.
table. yet pcrvadcd by an mir Of comfort
which in more luxurious apartments is of.
ten lacking.
After the pleasant tea was over, and tho
doctor established in dressing. gown and
slippers by tho 6reside "a position which
he might poss;bIy hold throughout the
evening, but from whence it was more
probable that he would soon be called to
drive six or eight miles over the noun.
tains.) Lucy brought her low chair and
her knitting and sat beside him. Evident.
ly she had something Of importance to say.
for her work progressed 6tfally, till At
last, throwing it down in desperation and
raising her eyes, ahe exclaimed, hurricdly,
as though the subject was disagrecable and
must be gotten through quickly
"Rnbert, another letter came to-day
from Mrs. Harvey"
ITO your
"Yes At least it was addressed to me,
though Of course it concerns you more
nearly. I'll bring it,"
"No," said he, OBTAINING her, I don't
care to SEQ it. I Isuppose It 10 only rsas.
sertion Of her husbands innocence :"
"Yes, principally that; she says that
his last words we're Ask Cousin Robert
to forgive me for these years Of estrauge.
ment, and tell him, on the word Of dying
man, that I know nothing Of the deed
which has occasioned oil the trouble"
"I've heard all that before Had the
woman sent the decd, It would have made
. difference but - she wont Why should
she presume to trouble you about itr
II suppose she thought that I could
plead her cause better than herself; aud,
indeed. Robert, I cannot help thinking
that there may have boon some mistake.
Another reason 10, she says, that she is
herself sinking rapidly, that she has 90 70.
latious IN tho world, aud asks us to receive
her little boy, who is your namesake. She
adds that if she could only get your for.
giveness to carry With her TO her husband,
she would be willing 70 travel on foot from
Phil.delphis, lay her baby in my arms,
and die"
"Nonsenss r exclaimed the doctor.
"She neod do nothing more mslodramtic
than sending on the deed. Aud, ~ for
her husband, If he has Gods forgiveness
he does not need mine. tell you, Lucy,
that man injured me more thaa you can
uudsrstaud; but for him, I might now Be
iu possession Of lucrative city practice,
instead Of dragging out bsggarly exist
enoe among these bills"
But l would never have known you,
thsn," said Lucy, layiog her slasped hands
upon his knee.
!" Which means, I suppose" he rejoined,
smiling, and smoothing back stray tress
from her face, "that I would never have
known you; but I should, pot; I would
have found you out somehow, and then
you might have had silk dresses, aud all
manner Of 6ne thisgs ~ other ladies'
have"
II don't want. them" she answered
quietly. II would much rather thas you
would let me have that little boy"