Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1872-06-01

every thing that he SAID. | was us.
r tonished to see in him an old servant
of the barley family, aud more 50 to
, learn his errand.
The family were in great trouble,
he said, Mr., barley was dying, and
had sent for me in great haste.
l Irealized all and nodded assent
from time to time, although l did
not speak, was little child, a
babe, who looks at the speaker with
round eyes, and mods its head me-
chanically. ...
Still, as | made ready to accompa-
ny him, my thoughts were perfectly
coherent and logical, with this cx-
ception: it was poculiar and para
doxical combination Of the real and
the impossible.
ley and my old relations with her.
1t seemed that many years had pass
ed since | met her, so completely had
she passed out of my life; for | swear
to you that l had never bestowed two
hours thought upon that girl since
my eyes last rested on her face.
Through all this, how time flew by.
This was the only phase of my illu-
sion left, Ihad been babe, and |
was growing up SO fast. | entered
the carriage. l was seven years old
I was four teen--I was twenty-one
The distance to the D0rley man
sion was not moro than two miles,
and the horses did not lag, but rs we
drove under the iron arch that spans
the entrance to the grounds how
familiar it all was to mel had pass
ed seven times seven years
The carriage stopped; another ser
want, who had evidently been await
ing its arrival, received me, and with
mysterious signs and whispers led
the way whittier | was to follow |
numbered ten times seven years,
mans allotted period here on earth
rs | slowly and with difficulty ascen-
ded the stairs after him. | followed
him through long hall, and tottered
into a room in which dimmed lights
and hushed sounds we'll suited my
aged eyes and senses In this room,
rroonded by his family, the physt~
clan, and clergyman, lay a dying
man, Mr.. barley.
The slight disturbance caused by
my entrance seemed to attract his
attention, for he asked in faiut
voice: "Has he come? Bring him
quickly"
Wondering much why my pres
ence was desired in this solemn cham
Der, | advanced to the bedside as
well as my aged limbs would bear
me.
The dying man grasped my hand
in bis, clammy with the sweat OF
death, and bcckoning me to bend my
head, he whispered "Hatty, Hatty
loves you, She has loved you all the
time. When you aske her to be-
come your wife, she was rich: now,
she is poor; bu. you-you ere rich
you are honorable-you will not love |
her the less for that have lost
everything; am poor; | am dying, |
[ leave my child to you. Take her
-happy--death-'
With labored breath these disioint-
ed sentences were breathed in my |
ear.
How slowly betalkoJ. How years
on years flew by before he had fin
ished,
hraeo a--rr-. was a movement of |
some 49, nr'cc-ipg the room; a white
robod nguco advanced ana stood at
my side. Her face was pale, her
eyes swollen with weeping, but l re-
cognizod Hatty barley. She chung
to my arm, murmuing, "Phillip, |
dear Phillip, forgive me. l had no
idea that you would take my coquet-
tish refusal as final that night at the
springs"
81 know to what she alludes,"
thought; "ths, was ages ago She
proceeded
"When YOU left us all so suddenly,
l though, | had driven you to des-
pair. Can you forgive me?'
Her father beckoned TO the clergy
man. 'Bc IN hasIe, he whispered,
my strength fails lie took the
hand of his daughter, placed it in
mine, and held them fast with his
clammy fingers.
The man turned toward lis and
commenced speaking. "Wilt thou
have this woman to be thy welded
wlfe?" he aaid.
"This, thsn,"[ thought, 'is the
purp0yt OF his singular scene." |
was ready to laugh at tho inexplica-
bio capriccs of women. Here was a
woman, the loveliest that ever saw,
save one Poor Francesca, ! lost
her long ago that | cannot remem-
Der how or when she died) who |
refused my hand when l was young
and handsome, but who now sends
for me in this strange manner and
time to claim the last remnant Of my
poor life. "But," l said to myself, |
"since this is her caprice, why not
humor her? Why not humor this
dying gman, who has set his heart up
on seeing us united. | am an old,
old man; what matters it?' and | |
answered to the formula, 81 will
| heard, distinctly, the words: 81
pronounce you man and wife,
"Thank God" the dying man eS-
claimed, and his fingers released
their hold of our hands.
Iheard u fresh burst of weeping,
and | knew that the soul of the hus.
band and father had fed While |
they bent 'ovor his ifelcss body l
staggered from the room, and FROM