The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1871-03-31

more,-he would not ask. She repeat
ed the last words: "And tomorrow ]
must give him my answer" Still he
did not speak.
She looked up ut him. In the dim
light she could see his rigid, agonized
face, white lips, and cleaning eyes.
| She stole her arms about his neck, and
drew his fol ehead down to her lips.
"Speak to me Mark; say that you do
not blame me-
He knew then that she had decided
and what the decision was.
"And you will leave me, May, and
marry that old man?r
Heaven pity me, Mark, for / must.
I Will 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"
81 will remember May. God bless
us both, for shall never forget you.
They shall bury me with this upon my
heart.u And he drew tress of soft
brown hair from his bosom.
For moment mOre-One little preci-
GUS moment-he held her against his
heart, and then kissed her put her gent
ly from him, and was gone.
For a moment she stood under the
trees, with clasped hands and face up
raised to the quiet sky, and then she
turned and walked silently toward the
house A light from the library Win
dow streamed down on her, as she
looked up, she saw the shadow of a
bowed figure fall across the curtain.
sFather, you are saved" she MUIR
INJURED.
A hand was laid suddenly on her
arm, and she started with a low cry.
"Good evening, Miss May" said Col.
Leighton. ~ have been seeking you."
She bowed, and Stood silently before
him, with calm downcast face.
II have been talking with your faith
err" he continued, carelessly pulling
rose from a bush near them. "He tells
me that you have to think of my pro-
posal, and let us know what your de-
cision 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 tomorrow"
He glanced at the young face, so sad
in its calm dignity, and looked down
at his fingers again, which were busted
in tearing to pieces the blossom he held
and allowing the crimson petrals to fall
at his feet, as if they were fragment of
the heart he was breaking. In the
long silence that followed she glanced
up at him once with the thought of
fling:ng herself upon his mercy 10y CIV
ing her confidence; but the stern eX-
preston of his face repelled her.
"Miss May" he said suddenly, "you
are averse to this marriage"
His tone aided in rendering his words
an assertion. She was startled, but re-
piled quietly, "Do you think so?'
81 must be blind if I could think
otherwise" he continued with sudden
energy. "May Warren, you know
that you hate me-that you would rath-
er die than be my wife, were it not for
your fathers sake"
ing, the monosyllable. eyes," slipped
from her lips.
"And in doing this do you realize how
you would wrong us both?"
She was silent.
III SIalI never De. Will never
make you my wife, knowing that you
do not love me-that your heart is not
in my keeping. will not tell you of
my hopes, how L have dreamed that
my last days would be my happiest
ones-it would not interest you. Now
1 have only to say that you are as free
as if had never seen you sweet face"
He paused for a reply, but she made
none. Bewildered by her position, she
did not know what to say.
81 know that l have myself to re-
proach," he went on. "My motive in
offering your father my assistance was
purely selfish one. The conse9 uences
are only what l deserve. 1 had no
thought of the long years during which
he had been my true and faithful friend,
but cruelty took advantages of his po-
sition to gain my own ends. Yes, / am
properly punished.
There was bitterness in his tone
in his attitude, that great
ly changed his accustomed, dignified
composure of the manner. Half un-
conscious of what she did only sensi-
BILE of the pity she felt for him, the