Eaton weekly Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1866-1875, 1872-10-03

ting to enlist the services of the village
physician in the same cause. But he
could do little for the sufferer; she
could only be made easy during her
brief stay on earth-she could not re-
cover. And at length the time came
when his words. were to be verified,
and Tom Warren, standing at the side
of the little couch, knew that his
mother would not live an hour. o if
Emily would only comel He could not
bear this terrible blow alone, with little
Alice clinging to him in fear. And still
the terrible minutes dragged on, and
l at length Emily came and stood by his
side; and to make him -stonger she
took one of his hands in her own. To-
gether the three looked down upon the
blanched face and wasted form of the
invalid, and saw the chest move with
labored effort, and the lips part as if
praying for air. Great sobs shook the
sons breast, and tears rolled down his
cheeks, and at intervals the words
came forth in convulsive whispers: 80
God God must l lose my mother 2"
She heard him once and tried to smile,
but she had not the strength, and in
stead she worked her hand along the
counterpane until it touched his. That
destroyed the last particle of his self
control, and, sinking upon his knees,
anguish makes him a child before his
Creator. I" Tom," said Emily in low
voice. He arose just in 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. .s:5'-
"Be calm, dear friend, "she said, tear
fully. .l.-.,;,..,. r ~;
so Emily, you are all have leftI Q
Emily, if dared to love You" He
paused, and his body shook like leaf.
Again he spoke: :" Emily, pext to her
Z loved YOU May !? ''@AS " Z ~ :"
'f Yes. Tom,'' and thus they were be-
trothed in the presence of death.
au 30 *F-.--* ~ -
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 60 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
had refused SO many lovers, some dis
tinguished and some rich.
3 "My child, my dear Emily" said her
father, one evening when they were sit
ting 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 fronnsths fast that you
have not heard from Tom for two years,
it is not likely that you will ever hear
from him again.
"Don't, fatherl o, please DON'T"
said Emily, shuddering.r
8" My precious daughter, L 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 1 should not have sanctioned
the engagement. He went away to
make his fortune, taking with him his
little sister. Its sad to think of any
thing having happened to him, but
time and silence indicate something"
"He will come hack, father,n she res
piled, far-of, dreamy look in her eyes.
1' Tom will come back.paEE .Szss &c
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. cit is a monomania 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 pom
sive and listless. The day drew to a
close, and, just at twilight, carriage
dashed up to the door, and immediate
ly there alighted tall, noble-looking
man, who presently assisted 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. Present
1y the door opened and the gentleman
entered. ---1 -
Emily my own! my Lowell"
"Toml o, thank heaven?"
"At last, my darling" he repeated,
kissing her pale face and smoothing heI
hair. /" At lastl o, how Ishave prayed
for this hour. I've been far away, En-.
lily, 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"
"And 1 knew you'd come back, dear.
est.''
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 .e--Nezo Rerl
Tribune. 49, s.ss.z>,.-,. 7.-z=-