The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1872-01-09
EDITH.S REWARD.
edith do you love me?"

And any one glancing in the soul lit
eyes, beamfng with the faith and con-
stancy Of youth, would have known she
had spoken t:uthfullv.
"Thank you, darling, for those sweet
words" he exclaimed, clasping her to
his heart, kissing the pure white brow.
"When shall I call you mine, dearest !?
My wife! My bride to ber'
And with each endearing epithct, he
carsssed again and again his chosen Low
ed one.
at may not be for years, L)uis," she
murmured.
"But if possess your love, Edith,
why wait years to claim your hand ?"
81 am papa's only child the rest, with
their mother, are sleeping low in the
church yard; and dearly as l love you,
Louis, can not desert him in his old
age, and leave him to the care of stran-
gers"
II do not ask you to desert him, dar
ling In the great west where 1 am 60
ing there will be room for all. He shall
go with US and share our home-hum
BILE as it may be at first-but my strong
hands will soon win better one for
you, dear"
And he glanced down at the fair face
resting so confdlngly on his breast.
mo, no! it cannot be!' she broke in
pathetically.
"He lives only in the memory of the
departed ones, that he hopes to meet on
the other shore. His home is sacred as
the place where they lived and loved
while on earth; even the trees and flow
er. have voices speaking to him of the
past. My duty lies here with papa; your
path reaches out into the great wide
world where you will win success; but
wherever you go, remember my love
goes with you"
"How can 1 part with you,s Edith,
knowing that you love me9 1t is so
hard to give you up, he said, despair
ingly.
"Does that knowledge render the part.
ing more difficult ?"
No! = thousand times not" he ex-
claimed earnestly. "Your love will be
as ray Of light in Egyptian darknes.
the one bright hope which despair can
not crush; an oasis in the barren desert
of life; the prize for which l shall toll
and wait, for wears, if necessary"
"And at the enc of the waiting you
will find me true, Louis willing to share
with you lifs's sorrow"
"True unto DEATH" he murmured.
And that Was their betrothal under the
warm June sky.
"Good by darling. | must be going
and may not see you again. Keep a
brave heart, for you'll hear from me as
soon as l reach place where there will
be a prospect of success. One kiss,
Edith, my love"
And for one little moment their lips
met in loving caress.
That was their parting, as Edith hero
ically rassed the cup by that might have
contained love, and joy, and welded
bliss; to walk alone in the path where
duty led. Only the stars they thought
witnessed their betrothal and parting
But all unknown to them a-pair of
flashing eyes cleaned through the leafy
covert which had served as screen for
the woman crouching behind, and on
their departure the listener muttered
low:
Course the fair-faced Eiith, for she
stands between me and the one / love !;
but though they are betrothed. never
shall they be wed if the cunning of
Maude Wilder can prevent" And with
muttered imprecation the crouching
woman crept through the shadows and
disappeared. Spanish blood leaped
through the veins of Madge Wilder
for her mother had come from that far
off coast-and the daughters nature
partook of the peculiarities Of the
mothers race; for she was as fiery and
impetuous in love, as she was deadly in
hatred.
Edith Engle's life passed on much in
the same old way; her duties were not
neslC ctGd; and her fathers tottering
footsteps were CAREFUL watched, and
every wish gratilied.
But as weeks passed. and no word
came from Louis, her cheeks paled, and
wistful, yearning look came in the
eyes that before had shone so brightly.
At last the weary months dragged on,
until a year had come and gone; and
still no word for the waiting heart whose
faith wavered not, but trusted on in
silence.
Then the father quietly crossed to the
other shore, and Edith's scantily filled
purse admonished her that something
beside prieving for the dead, or sorrow.
ing for the absent, must be done.
So she went to the city; and with ma
ny another mourning heart took up the
dolorous song of the shirt; to stitch,
stitch for bread, to sustain the weary
life.
X x X
Five years have flown, and Louis VIII
liams, grown stronger and more manly,
is complacently glancing over his bank
deposits.
The town in which he had located
built upon the bluffs which overlook the
Father of Waters" has now become
a thriving city, noted for its commerce,
and he one of its rising men,
With an eye to business he had dealt
largely in real estate, that doubled and
quadrupled in value in half a decade
"My fortune is won," he thought !;
"but who will share it? For in all these
weary years no word has come from
Edith; no answer to the many letters /
have written. will search for my lost
love and have this mystery solved
This decision once formed, he was
soon en- route for his boyhood's home.
A letter for you, Miss" ssid tho tidy
servant-girl belonging to the quiet es
tabishment where Edith was boarding.
as she handed the missive to its owner,
She glanced up eagerly from the sew
ing ON which she was engaged, hoping
to hear from the absent one, for not yet
had her faith grown weak.
But the bright lock faded instantly as
y I VI