The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1872-1881, 1872-12-13

81 will stay here until you return,
she said, as he took his hat and hurried
away. When the young man returned
he found the kettle singing over the fire
and the table set, while little Alice, who
had been awakened by the cheerful sound
sat up in her chair gazing at Emily ia
amazement "You are too good, miss
did not believe that there was one left
in the world as good as you are" said
Tom, regarding her ms il she was some
thing more than human. Don't praise
me but take out your buudles and I'll
have supper presently. OF course you
got some steak p
"Ycs, though was afraid was doing
wrong"
Emily reproved him for that sentence,
and then went on with her preparations.
In short time a repast, which to Tom
and Alice deemed banquet, was placed
on the table, and then Emily departed,
saying she would come on the morrow and
wash the dishes Toms gaze followed
her until she was invisible, when he re-
turned to the house, dropped on his knees
beside his mothers bed, and thanked God
for the friend which had been sent too
them when starvation seemed inevitable.
The next day, and every day for a
week, Emily Wharton brought the sun
light Of her presence to that wretched
abode, and checred and comforted the in
valid and her children, not forgetting to
enlist the services of the village physician
in the same cause. But he could do lit
tie for the sufferer; she could only be
made easy during her brief stay on earth,
she could not recover. And at length
the time came when his words were TO be
verified, aud Tom Wilson, standing at
the side of the little couch, knew that his
mother would not live an hour. Oh! if
Emily would only come! He could not
bear this terrible blow alone, with little
Alice elinging to him in fear. And still
the terrible minutes dragged on, and at
length Emily came and stood by his side,
aud to make him stronger she took one
of his hands in her own. Together the
three looked down upon the blanched face
and wasted form of the invalid. and saw
the chest move with labored effort, and
saw the lips, Us If praying for air. Great
sohs shook the sons breast and tears
rolled down his checks, and at intervals
the words came forth in convulsive
whispers: oh, God God must l
lose my mother?' She heard him once
AMI tried to smile, but she had not the
strength, and instead she worked her hand
along the counterpane until il touched
his That destroyed the last particle of
his selfcontrol, and sinking on his knees
he wept as only man can weep when
anguish makes him a child before his
| CrrJ tor.
'Tom." said Emily, in low voice.
He arose just in time to see the last pull
saton of his mothers heart. She had
goac forever. Weakened by Sries, be
turned toward Emily, and gazed upon
her imploringly.
"Be calm, dear friend" she said, tear
fully.
"Oh, Emily, you are all that | have
left! Oh, Emily, if dared to love
you -" He paused, and his body
shook like leaf a gain he spoke ;
Emily, next to her loved you. May
IIy"
"Yes, Tom," and thus thev were be-
trothed in the presence Of death.
Five years hal 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 hear;aches, some doubts and many
fears had come and gone, only to come
and 90 again. Emily was now twenty
three years old, and looked upon by the
villagers as an old maid, not that she was
less attractive, but because she refused
SO many lovers some distinguished and
some rich.
"My child, my dear Emily" said her
father, one evening, when they were sit
ting on the piazza, in the very meplaee
where she had seen her only accepted
lover, IL think you have done your duty
in waiting. Your life is your own, and
from the fact that you have moi 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, shuddering
"My precious daughter, ! would not
pain you for the world. II is only my
love for you that causes me to speak
thus. You proved to me that Tom was
good, else would not have sanctioned
the engagement. He wentaway 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 viii come back, father" she re
Piled, a far-oil, dreamy look in her eyes
tom will come back
Its monomania with her. the vii
layers said. and ith grief, for it wa'
dreadful to see the fairest flower thu
wither. But one morning Emily came
down stairs singing and looking like hel
former self and her parents wondered