The Placer herald., 1872-12-21
1S.

Emily relroNcd him tor that siule..ce, and
tlcn went on with her preparat ons. IN
short time II rel as, which % Tom and Alice
seemed a banquet, was placed on the table,
and then Emily departed, saying she would
come on the morrow and wash the dishes.
Tom, gaze followed her until she was invisi-
Die, when le returned 10 the house. dropped
upon his knees beside his mothers bed and
banked God for the friend which had been
sent TO them when starvation seemed incvita-
be.
The next day, and every day for week,
Emily VIII .rion brought the sunshine of her
presence to that wreched abode, and cheered
and colufored the invalid and her Children;
not forgetting 10 enlist the services Of the VII
L,ge physician in the same cause. But lie
c Ii d DO little f the sutfc;e she could ,n'y
be made easy during her brief stay on earth
she could not recover And at length the
me came " hen bis words were to be ver-
fed; and Tom Wilson, standing at The side
of lbe title couch, knew that Lis mother
would not ike an hour. Oh. if Emily would
only come. lie could not bear this rifle
blow alone, with little Alice clinging TO him in
fear Add still the terrible minutes dragged
on, and ut length Emily came and stood by
his side, and to make him sIonger she took
ono OF his hands in er own.
Together The three looked down upon the
blancied face and wasted form OF the invalid,
and saw the chest move with labored effort,
md HE lips, "a if praying for air; Great sobs
shook the sons breast and tears rolled down
his checks, and at intervals the words came
forth in con' ulsive whispers: "Oh, God!
God mi 81 lose my molller?' She heard
him once and tried TO smile, but she had not
the strength, and instead she worked her
hand ong he coun;erpne until it touched
hs. That destroyed tic last particle Of his
seI.-coltro!, and sinking upon his knees he
| wcp as only a man can weep when anguish
makes him child before his creator.
Tom, said Emily in IA low voice. lie
arose just III time to see he last pnlsaton of
his mothers Lcmt Sic bad gone forever.
Weakened hy grief, lie turned toward Emily,
and gazcd upon her imporingly.
. BE calm, dear friend, she said tear
fully.
" Oh, Emily, YOU arc all that have left!
Oh, Emily, il | dared to love you-" lie
paused and his body shook like leaf. Again
he spoke " Emily, next to her loved you.
May I?'
= es, Tom" And thus they were be-
"0'h'd I" the presence Of de -tb;
Five years had passed since the night
when EunIy gave Tom hcr promise, at the
bedside Of his dead mother. Very long and
weary bad been those ycar>; my Lcas.-
aches, some doubts aud many fears had come
an,! o asal. Emly was Row tweniy-t!r G
yeas o.d, and was looked upon Ly The Villa
gers as an old maid, not that sic was less at
trlct,Ye but because she had refused so many
lovers, sou.e distinguished and some rich.
My child, my dear I'm ~" said her
father, ole evening, when they wee sitting
on the pi zzi, in The very same place here
she had seen her only accepted lover, "
think you have done Your duty III waiting.
Your life is Your own, and from the fact hat
yon have not heard from Tom for two Years
it is not likely that you viii ever hear from
him again
Don't, father. Oh, please; don't" said
Emily shuddeiing.
My precious daughter would not pain
you for The world. 1t is only my love for you
that caused me TO speak thus You pio, cd
to me that Tom WAS good, else | would 100,
have sanctioned the engagement lie wen.
away to make his fortune, taking with him
his htie sister. 1t is sad to thnk Of any
ling having happened to him, but time and
silence indicate something"
" He will come back, father" she replied
a far off, dreamy look in her eyes. Tom
w:ll come back.
" 1t is a monomania with her" the villa
gers said, and with grief, for it was dreadful
to see The fairest flower thus wither Bot
one morning Emily came down stairs singing
and looking like her former self, and her pa
rents wondered, for Of late she had been pen
sive and list!ess. The doy drew to a close,
and just at twilight Garage dashed up to
The door, and Immediately there alighted a
tall, nob!elooking man, who presently as
st It'd Il very beautiful young girl TO agLt.
Together they came up the steps and into
the house. Emily, standing i'll the parlor,
pressed her hands to her heart, and grew
faint with anticipation, Presently the doors
opened and the gentleman entered.
At last, my darling" he said kissing her
pale face and smooth NJ her hair. At Last!
Oh, how have prayed for this hour, I've
the star at home has always shone lright, l
knew you'd be true Emily, for God gave you
to me ,h he took my mo her.
- And knew you'd come back, dearest"
Six weeks la;er Emiy became Mrs. WIZ
son, and happier home than theirs does
not exist Little Alice lives vi h them yet,
but ere long she, too, will have LONE Of
her own.
\ MERRY laugh doelh good like a medi-