Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1871-04-08
MlsEeIIaaa.
HISS RARkKS.

3My last hope rests IN you, Nay
ssin me, father2'i
May Warren made answer in q tone
ofsurprise raising her sad, anxious eyes
to her father's face.
As II her gaze discOmp0sed him, Mr.. I
Warren turned bis head, and his glance
wandered Festlessly around the apart |
ment He was an old man, with 4 tall
spare figure; thin, gray hair. and was
sitting IN an armchair, by table
covered with papers, while his pretty
daughter May sat beside him on an Of
toman. She repeated ner words:
sIn me, fathey?n
Eyes, be replied, starting from q
momertis abstraction. "Do you re-
member Col. Leighton, my dear?r
"Col. Leighton? An old man with
. heavy beard, partly gray, and pleas
ant blue eyes. He dined with US a few
weeks ago. Yes, remember him faith
err
"Not so very old, May,zno so old
as l an, and one of the Finest men
living. He is wealthy; very wealthy,
| tOO.u
| He met his daughters questioning
gaze fully now, as il he had expected
her to read something's in his face. She
kept, her dark eyes liked searchingly
upon his countenanc9;, the ebb and flow
of the soft.color upon her checks be-
traying the quick pulsation Of her
| heart.
"What do you mean; father?r she
asked at length.
II saw him last night. He offered
to help me-save me, if--n
'1f what, father?''
"IfI would give you to him.
The words came hurriedly from Mr..
Warren's lips, as if he feared that il he
deliberated, he should not be able to
utter them at all. AS they fell on his
daughters ear she started to her feet,
pushing her hair back from her pale
| face, in bewildeFed sort of way, as
If she were half-stunned.
''Marry me, father? Col. Leightoh~
she cried in low voice.
Mr.. Warren took her hand, and drew
her down to her seat again.
"May, Col. Leighton will be a good
husband to you. have known him
| from boyhood, and understand per-
fectly well his character and principles.
He loves you-will be kind to you, and
strive in every way to make you hap.
lpy. And more-and more, May, Re
will save me from beggary."
He paused, but his child, with heI
face bowed upon her hands, made nc
reply, nor stirred. Tie mute distress
; that her attitude betokencd was moi
unnoticed by him.
II do not force you to this, May, re-
| member, the matter is left to your OWL
: choice. But you know what my wisf
is What tae alternative will be If you
do not accept the offern
She knew only too well. Fully sht
I realized now how absolutely necessary
! the luxuries to which her father haC
! become accustomed were to him. Alb
solute loss of possession did not seen
!, them0st dreadful thing in the world t
her, but she knew what a wreck i
would make of him. In her youth ant
strength the future would still be brigh
5 and full of hope to her; but how coulC
he, with his frame and burden of sixty
c years commence life anew? The hope
5 full thought that she could work for hin
/; and supply him with his accustomed
) comforts afforded her but moments
!. comfort. To him with his stubborn
= aristocratic ideas, this would be the
! most severe trial of all-his delicately
!, reared and petted child labOring for hi:
: support. He would neverbe rec0nciled
TO 1t. That was no alternative she saw
at glance. Then with desperate
effort to think calmly, she recalled the
! form of Col. Leighton. She remem-
: bered his bowed head and silvered
I beard, his dark deeply furrowed face,
/; and fifty years. She could get no
, further. A younger face, with merry
/: azure eyes, and tossing, sunny hair,
. sprang up in strong contrast. Stretch
|, | ing out her hands to her father, as II
for pity, she cried out. 81 cannot! oh,
, father, | cannOtw
. The old man sank back with 3
! grOan.n
sLost- then | am lost!' he cried
shuddering. There weren reproaches,
only those bitter words and that des-
pairing attitude. White and fearless
,She sat al his feet, the agony of her
Heart was written on her face. The
VIVID, desperate thought that her sacri-
fic was possible, occurred to her.
avather, dear fatherl"
IA, raised his head, whitened with
the hosts Of sixty winters, and looked
at helwith gleam of hope in his sum
ken eges. She crept into his arms as
{ she ha0 lone when child, and laid
J her soh cheek against his wrinkled
brow.
"You k.7ow that | leve you, father,u
she said. lean never remember you
but as kind, tender and forbearing
with me. Y0ur heart has been my
home oil my life. I will work, beg,
| suffer for youA i viii die for you-oh,
how willing, Il, iced be. But thas-Aoh,
father, y0u do not know what II IS that
you aslkh
He did not speyk, but a moan broke
uncontroIIably ffcm his lips, as he
rested upon her shoulder, The strug-
Hgle In her heart sent dark shadOwy
4 waves across her faces Could She
could she? \
aFather,' sho whispered hurfiedly,
t'Iet me 60, now. will zee you again
| answer you to.nlorrowp And ahe
lelt him. ~
He could not see her fNe in the
gathering darkness, only akAtmpse Of
something white, but be felt tbs Quiv-
eFIng IF her lips Is she bent % Ahs him
aud reached out his arms to ,SNbFace
her, but she was gone. NJ
Heaven pity meln The wordscane
like wal from her lips. She was