Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1873-08-12

be slaves
And the slaves TO Old Mikes bottle
drank il gleeiulIy, for Will Tilden "treat.
ed"
But Just as it was swallowed. there
came n sound of screams and cries with
out. and such screams that the glasses
stopped on their way to the ready mouths
and white. hushed faces were turned to
the door in horror.
The door was thrown open to admit n
woman. bonnetless and shawless. her
eyes starting from her head with terror.
Come. all oi you." she screamen.-
Come quick. for he love OF God. The
gas house wall is down and there's some
one under it-a woman. Come, quick,
oh, cone quick :" and with cries and
groans the men followed her out
But Will was first. viii Tilden. deathly
pale. Ills heat beating faster than ever
beat the iron heart ol The grim factory at
its fastest With half dozen strides and
leaps ne crossed the common. and was
kneeling by heap of curmbled stone and
soil, from which protrudcd white hand
and the fringe OF Il scarlet shawl. And
then the tears running down his cheeks,
viii set TO work lifting the stones from
the cruel heap and casting them aside with
Il sort of madman'S fury.
lie had help soon, and at last they had
cleared n space, and he stopped and lifted
Bertha Ullman in his white. faced,
with blood upon her bosom and her brow,
aud closed eyes. aud hands that dropped
like dead ones, as he raised her
"Go. some oI YOU" he said, "and tell
her father-l'll bring hcr-No, don't touch
her-You'd hunt herr won't"
And now. rs she lay senscesS against
his breast, it was the girl with whom he
had fallen hopeleSsly in love. not the wo'
man who bad. aS he lancied. held him
beneath her, and so ventured to addless
him rs she would menial
His darling, he called her. under his
breath, his 'beaulilul. murdered darling"
and the lea-s rained down upon her face
as he bore her amidst the gaping crowds
70 her fathers house, and through the
carved and arched door. 10 the couch
they had prepared for her. Then he sat
without, awaiting the surgeons .fH.
In an hour. some one touched him on
the shoulder Old George UIman. with
a face Of blank despair
"Will she live ?" said VIII
The old man shook his head.
"Shc wants to see you before she dies. y
he said, "to thank YOU for doing so much
Tor her"
And viii followed him. Then quite
alone, Tor she had asked it, he stood by
the bedside looking Al her She tried to
smile.
Come close" she said. II find it hard
to speak. You were angry at me o.day.
You thought | assumed too much. vii
liam Tilden. am dying nOw, and need
not be ashamed. IL was because | liked
you so very we'll always have--lhat |
wanted To save you. How could insult
you when Thought so well of you ?'
And there was meaning in her eyes that
made Will sink beside her
"IIavo you ever guessed that | loved
you better than my own lie ?" he sobbcd.
"I dared 10 DO II, Miss UlIman--and |
thought YOU despised me Oh. good
Heavens hail turned back, perhaps you
would have been gone before the wall
fell. have murdered you-I, who adore
you. i"
Turn back now" said Bertha UIIman,
laintly. promise me, Will"
And he said: "Belore Godm
Then she whispered: "You may Kiss
me goodbye. Will
And Wills lips touched hers-and he
staggered from the room with low cry,
and fell fainting on the marble (loor o! the
broad hall.
That night all within the splendid
dwelling watched for the coming of the
death angel. But he came not. His
wings shadowed the house awhile and
then were lifted.
Bertha Ullman lived. For a long. long
while she must lay upon her couch, they
said-perhaps lorever-but at least she
lived, and the thought gave Will Tild0n
courage. Old Mike knew him no more.
His lace wore look it had never worn
before those words were spoken beside
Bertha Ullman's couch. lie was bIave,
courageous, ambitious-that Unborn gilt
of design revealed itself to others. Will
arose in his employers esteem, still ut
every step he thought OF Bertha Ullman,
to whom, lying on her couch, he brought
offerings of fragrant flowers, at times, and
took away smile that kept him in good
heart for many days.
AT last, from one step to another. the
time came when he was made a Junior
partner. 1t was proud day for Will !;
but the pride and JOY had deeper root
than any advance in position could have
given him alone, for on that day for the
first time Bertha Ullman rose from her
couch and mingled with the outer world
again.
Some of her beauty was gone, and she
would never be so rosy OF so strong