Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1873-05-17

and slowly the balance trsmbled,
the scale inclined, and life had won.
"pll tell you what It is" said the
doctor, "your wife has saved your
life"
Evert turned his head on the pill
low, and looked for Emily; but she
had slipped away into the next
room, where she sat down, feeling,
for the first time, with a strange
shock, that she was actually mar
ried. What should she do? What
could she say? How could she tell
after all, that she had only come to
him as she would have gone to Pat
Murphy, if he had sent for her and
consented to that marriage rite as
she had let her silver candlesticks to
hold Father Flanagan's blessed can
dies when Judith Murphy diedI
The doctor went down stairs; and
presently Mrs. AIiiburn and Hatty
came to her, and overwhelmed her
with embraces and gratitude, and a
point applique set, and fragmentary
talk about her "things, and prepo-
sails to send for her mother, all min
gled together. Emily resolutely
put away thought for the time, but
she could not help feeling, In an odd
surprised way, that she was not un-
happy, and despised herself for hav-
ing sort of ashamed, furtive inter
est in those "things," which Mrs.
Milburn and Hatty were longing to
provide"
A week after that day, Evert was
allowed to sit up in his easy chair,
whiteand wan enough, but with a
look returning health and life.
Emily was sitting almost with her
back to him, looking out into the
tossing leafess branches of the great
elm
last.
'TYes," she answered quietly, but
she did not turn her head.
emily, did not mean to get
we'll"
No answer from Mrs. MiIburn.
81 know how much you must feel
what has happened. Believe me, /
will take no advantage of your
goodness; will set you free as soon
as can. My only wish is to spare
you trouble; 1 will take all blame on
myself. L know you are longing to
be away; and why should L delay
what must come at last? / dare say
Dick and Mrs. Macy, the nurse, can
do all need now"
"Oh, if you prefer Mrs. Macy's
attendance, | am sure it is nothing
to me-" said Emily, in remarkably
cross manner.
You are angry with me, but
there need be no difficulty, dear.
You came away from home so hur-
riedly that it would be perfectly
natural for you to return to your
mother now"
But here, to Evert's dismay, Emil
ly hid her face, and began to- cry in
quite a passionate and distressful
| fashion. Evert rose with difficulty,
and went to her, it was not more
than three steps.
"Do you want to kill yourself2"
she said through her sobs, and she
took hold of him and made him sit
down, and then turned away, and
laid her head on the window seat.
"Wbat can | dor" he said, dis
tressed.
''IFs too bad! oh, it's too badp
she ssids in the most unreasonable
way.
/ Il know 1t, Emily. 4ou are as
free as though no word had ever
passed between us. Do you want
to go to to-day?" / will make it
easy for you with mother and Hat
ty." he said, with pang.
She went on crying, and then in a
minute she said in a most incoher-
ent fashion.
FI-I didn't think 1 was SO very
aisagreeable." The words dropped
out one by one between her sobs.
"But, of course, if you don't want
/ me"
'sEmilyI What do you mean?
Will you stay? viii you really try
to care for me?" he asked, with a
sudden light in his eyes
81 don't know. Ibid think-as
matters are, we might try TO make
the best of it" she said in the faint
est whisper, while the color ran to
her fingers ends.
"You Will?"
81 will if you WILL" said Mrs.
Milburn, with a sweet, shy smile.
And she kept her word.