Beaufort Republican. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1871-1873, 1872-09-26

child before his Creator. "Tom," said
Emily in a low voice. He arose just in
time TO see the last pulsation of his moth
er's heart. She had gone forever.
Weakened by grief he turned toward
Emily, and gazed upon her imploringly.
"Be calm, dear friend" she said, tear
fully.
20 Emily, you are all I have left /! o
Emily, if I dared to love you" He
paused, and his body shook like leaf.
Again he spoke: " Emily, next to her l
love you. May 2"
"Yes, Tom," and thus they were
betrothed in the presence of death.
Five years had passed since the night
when Emily gave Tom her promise at the
bedside of his dead mother. Very long
and weary had been those years; many
headaches, some doubts and many had
come and gone only to come and 60 again.
Emily was now twenty three years old
and looked upon by the villagers as an
old mail, not that she was less attractive,
but because she had refused so many
lovers. some distinguished and some rich.
"My child, my dear Emily" said her
father one evening when they were sitting
on the piazza, in the very same place
where she had first seen her only accepted
lover. 81 think you have done your
duty in waiting. Your life is your own,
and from the fact that you have not heard
from Tom for two years, it is likely that
you " ill never hear from him again."
"Don't father! O, please DON'T" said
Emily, shuddering.
"My precious daughter. would not
pain you for the world. 1t is only my
love for you that causes me to spesk thus.
You proved to me that Tom was good, else
I should not have sanctioned the engage
ment. He went away to make his fortune,
taking with him his little sister. 1t is
sad to think of anything having happened
to him, but time and silence indicate
something"
"He will come back, father" she
replied, far-off dreamy look in her
ewes Tom will come back"
The old gentleman shook his head, and,
rising went into the house. He felt that
his daughter was throwing her life away,
and such noble life as hers 1t made
him unspeakably sad.
Still time went on, and six months
passed, but Emily only grew stronger in
her belief that Tom would come back.
I" 1t is a monomania with her." the villa
gers said, and with grief, for It was dread.
full to see the fairest flower thus wither.
But one morning Emily came down stairs
singing, and looking like her former self !;
and her parents wondered, for of late she
had been pensive and listless. The day
drew to close, and, just at twilight, q
carriage dashed up to the door, and
Immediately there alighted tall. noble
looking man, who presently assisted q
very beautiful young girl to alight.
Together they came up the steps and into
the house. Emily, standing in the parlor,
pressed her hands to her heart, and grew
faint with anticipation. Presently the
door opened, and the gentleman entered.
emily my own my loveH'
"Tom | o thank Heaven!"
"At last, nay darling" he repeated,
kissing her pale face and smoothing her
hair. "At last o how I have prayed
for this hour. I've been far away, Emily,
in foreign lands, but the star of hope has
always shone bright. knew you'd be
true, Emily, for God gave you to me when
he took my mother" ..
land l knew you'd come back, dearest" "
Six weeks later Emily became Mrs
Warren, and happier home than theirs
does not exist. Little Alice lives with
them yet, but ere long she too will have a
home of her own.