The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1872-12-07
1: "Mr. Wilson,

room, the maiden said Mr.. Wilson,
will you do me favor?" He acquiesc-
ed, wonderingly, and Emily, placing
ten dollar note IL his hand, added
Run down to the store and buy what
your mother needs-be sure not to for
get fruits and jellies.
6" God bless your bright face, > h6
murmured, in choked voice, and i'm
imprcssively pressed her hand.
O ] will stay here until you return,
she said, as he took his hat and hur
ried away. When the young man re-
| turned, 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 in amazement.
g 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 as if she was something
more than human. " Don't praise me,
but take out your bundles, and I'll
have supper presently. OF course you
got some steak.
eyes, though ] was afraid l was do
ing wrong
Emily reproved him for that sem
tence, and then went on with her pre-
partitions. In short time a repast,
which to Tom and Alice seemed ban
quet, was placed on the table, and then
Emily departed, saying she would come
on the morrow, and wash the dishes
Toms gaze -ollowed her until she was
invisible, when he returned to the
house, dropped on his knees beside his
mothers bed, and thanked God for the
friend whichhad been sent to them when
starvation seem inevitable.
The next day, and every day for
a week, Emily Wharton brought
the sunlight of her presence to that
wretched abode; and cheering the in
valid and her children not forgetting
to enlist the services of the village
physician III the same cause. But he
could do little for the sufferer; she
could only be made easy during her
brief stay on eaTth-she could not re-
cover, And at length the time came
when his words were to be verified, and
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 clinging to him in fear. And
still the terrible minutes dragged on,
and at length Emily came and stood by
his side; and to make him stronger she
took one Of his hands III her own. To
gether the three looked down upon the
blanched face of the invalid, and saw
the chest move with Iabored effort, and
the lips as if praying for air. Great
sobs shook the sons breast, and tears
rolled down his cheeks, and at inter.
walls the words came forth it convul-
sive whispers: ooh, God! God must
I lose my mother?" She heard him
once, and tried to smile, but she had
not the strength, and instead she work
ed her hand along the counterpart I'M
til it touched his. That destroyed the
last particle of his self-control, and
sinking upon his knees, he wept as on
~ man can weep when anguish makes
him child before his Creator.
"Tom,o SAID Emily, in a low voice.
He arose Just i'll time to see the last
pulsation of his mothers heart. She
had gone forever. Weakened by grief
he turned toward Emily, and gazed
upon her imploringly.
DO GUILD, dedI ltltIh, she Sdlu;
tearfuiIy.
ooh, Emily, You are all that I have
left Oh, Emily, if I dared to love
you-' He paused, aud his body
shook like a leaf Again he spoke !:
Emily, next to her [ loved you. May
tI9 y
Yes Tom, and thus they were be.
trothed II 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 heartaches, some doubts, and
many fears had come and gone, only to
come and so again. Emily was now
twenty-three years old, and looked up
on by the villagers as an old maid, 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 6 I 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 not likely that you will ever hear
from him again"
" Don't father! Oh, please, don't, y
said Emily, shuddering
MY precious daughter, would not
pain you for the world. 1t 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 went away to
make his fortune, taking with him his
little sister. 1t is sad to think of any
thing hvaing happened to him, but
time and silence indicate something. !"
He will come back, father" she re-
piled, a far off dreamy look in her eyes.
"Tom viii 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 an able 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. at is a. mononania with her."
the villagers said, and with grief, for it
was dreadful 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
pensiye and listless. The day drew to
a close, and just at twilight carriage
dashed to the door, and immediately
there alighted tall, noble-looking
man who ,,racn-,tIy occictoJ xo,.,,