The Orangeburg news. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1867-1875, 1872-08-31

the most exacting author. That-is why
I love Ito read TO- Her. She solutely
throws off the little plain face, aud
grows really beautiful at such times,
answered Ralph, while his mother gazed,
really amazed at his words and manner.
At length, after moments pause, she
said:
Gone who did not understand you
Ralph, would BE III doubt which of the
two you were in love with. Let me ad-
wise you my son to be careful. Ailcen
might be foolish enough to misinterpret
your feelings and actions, aud Ada
might withdraw her favor"
Ralph was about to answer, when a
sigh, rustic of dress caught his ear /,
aud st ,rting up, he said /:
"Do not worry mother, I'll do what is
right"
He walked out ofthc conservatory
and looked around, but nc one was
visible fIis mother had started train
of thought that had been touched before
and he wandered off from the house,
and threw himself down on a shady
mound to commune with his own heart.
Yes, he must know himself. Did he
love Ada? And Ailecn-wh,t of her
Never for moment had he thought Of
her, except as she was, his friend, his
confident she would not misun ierstaLd
his kindness His mothers counsel was
needless. Ada loved him, he felt sure !;
and although he hid never told her so,
he had certainly given her reason to be-
lieve he loved her. Yes, he must do
what was right-what Ada, his mother,
and the world expected. Absorbed in
thought. he continued.
With this determination he sought
Ada, told bis love, aud won her PROMISE
to be his He believed himself happy,
but one thing marring his pleasure
Coul.l she love as another might /?
What if poverty, or danger of any Kind
threatened, would she brave al for linn T"
Ah |. the trial came soon enough A
dreaded disease cams upon him Ser
wants fed; irienl. came not and when
he called for Ad, to come and cool his
ievered brow, the doctor tried to suothe
him, and hi'lc the shamctrl truth She
too had fel-umong the first.
oh, how he suffered No gentle
hand to soothc, no loving voice to
whisper words Of c. mHurt Dying
alone and then his heart knew but Que
wish of errth--to see Aileen Yet h e
breathod it not. She must not come
near to him to breathe the fatal air
Lying thinking Of her he felt soft little
hand pressed gently on bis brow She
was with him, kncelios By his side.
".Ailecn! Ailcen! darling, away :.
away" he cried ID, you know It's
death here :"
"No, Ralph lis life to be with you, =
she answered, pressing her lips to his
and nha!ins his death bearing f-o.,h.
She stayed by him, clung to him.
Death was robbed Of bis tcrro-s then
The last sound that fell OH his car was
an agonizing cry from Aiaon, as they
strove to draw her from him.
And Ralph Livingston sprang up
not from death, but his dream and
stood gazing bcwildcrcd at the scene be.
fore him. Ada aud Aileen both stood
by the first pale and trembling the
other pale too, but With look of de-
termination and courage On the
ground few PAGES fro:9 her feet, lay
liiShttul, vcuomous snake, stunned BY
tive force with when she had thrown it
down
In moment, Ralph, as il by Instinct,
knew all And Ada in the same sweet
S''o'iOplSso lbdulCl, Julti lidL lutS Diu
come to hunt for him, by his mothers
desire, aud found him sleeping And
she had stopped down to awaken him,
when she had discovered the dreadful
snake stealing round his neck She ran
away SO frightened. And Aileen went
up, al hou2h.she told her it would surely
bite her-and caught it close up BY the
head, drew it off and dashed it to the
ground.
Ralph's dream flashed back to his
mind SO wildly then and he felt to-
ward Aileen as he had never before, aud
was much relieved to be sure that he
was not bound to the cold, bea autiful
girl beside him, and believed if she
should ever be his, it would be as in the
dream. If danger thu eatened, she would
hy While \ Alleen-dear pnhle lovino