Wilmington daily commercial., 1873-10-04
FAST AND FIRM.
A CHARMING ROMANCE.

daeds that cost nothing to the doer, most richly
rewarded What had done ? What sacrifice
had made? And how they thanked and blessed
ma He with his ldifficultty-spoken faint words;
sbe with her blessed eyes confirming his prais-
es.
few words explained the case.
He had rallied after sending the first tele-
cram and had thought it needless that Ruth
should come he had not calculated on the pos
.ibility of her starting az Immediately as she
had done and the second message which bid
her not come had not reached her.
few days after-two days since now-he had
brolxeu a blood vessel, and had been pronounced
beyond hope.
az only had known OF all this sooner !" l
thouuht, as looked at the miserable room, and
Thought of my idle hundreds and thousands.
When. by and by, Ruth was for brief time
nbeent-a woman living in the rooms below, who
had been very kind to Harold had taken her
away to give her some re'reshments-l STAN
eringly expressed something OF my regret, he
answered.
1T is better as it IL for myself am well
content. / believe in another working world,
where there will be better light, truer sight,
more b, auty to perceive, and purer senses to
receive it."
ia your sweet sister free.?" asked "free
from any ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 2" spoke
low and hastily aud felt in all my being how
much hung upon his answer
"My little Ruth i-oh yes as far as know
and she has never had any secrets from me"
II luye her, responded. ''lf she can love
me, will do what man can to make woman
happy as wife"
lie did not Immediately answer he lay with
closed eyes but felt the tightening pressure
of his hand.
Il may tell her, by and by that had your
good wishes 2"
'.You may tell her," the radiant eyes unclos-
ing OH me, "that in my last hours drank full
cup Of happiness; believing that my darling, my
little Ruth, my eve lamb, my pet sister, would
be happy among happy women as your wife.
You have lost your generous-h hearted enthu-
siasm for a very unworthy fellow" answered.
Nothing have heard of my old friend, my
protector my beLefaetor, has tended to lessen
those feelings" he said.
''one word Of yours in your sisters ears Will
make me"
She came in at that moment, was going to
leave them together, but he begged me not to
go and while he spoke mertal faintness sur
pTised him.
II passed, however. He asked to be lifted up;
the recumbeut position painful to him he
laywith his head on Ruth's shoulders, bright hair
mingling with bright hair.
The doclor came and went aud the women
who had nursed him; they both foreboded that
the laEt hour was near
II was an afternoon not to be forgotten. He
said he did not suffer much now and again he
talked aud when he talked wisdom not of this
world was in his words.
Ruth did not shed tear she seemed absorb
ed in him beyond consciousness Of self or sor-
row; size moislened his lips or wiped his brow
continually and her eyes seemed to cling to his.
The sunset entering the room touched those
two. She was watching him intently his eyes
half-closed half opened, seemed to look at her
dreamily, like the eyes of one who dozes on to
sleep.
Tie hight faded the dusk gathered we did not
stir believing that lie slept.
by aud by, through the gloom, the near hush
and the distant noise Of the great city Ruths
voice, low ami awe-stTuck, reached me, asking
for light. l had fallen into profound thought
life, 1--we, death and immortality, failure, sue
cess, the worlds vanity.--l do not know what l
did not think OF as sat motiUnless in that dusky
room.
procured lamp. set it down on the table,
where this light iel ON those faces. found that
Ruth has sunk lower and lower as the head on
her shoulder grew heavier. A glance told me the
truth, he was dead.
she saw it. she knew it, She sank down low
err vet, till his bright head was on the pillow,
hers beside it. She moaned softly, lying thus
cheek to cneek, heard few words.
Brother. take me, take me with you, have
none but you,"
Then she lay quite still, half on the couch,
half on the floor face to face with the dead
What did do
| stood aud looked at them,
Al stood and looked at them, went thr ugh
one of those experiences that 1t ia of no use to
try and record that are written in the life OF
HE upon the heart OF heart, for ever.
By-and-by found that she wac lying IN dead
faint.
dsentangled them them and laid her on the
floor on as good couch as could make OF my
wrapper and OF the cushions Of an old chair.
had told her the truth when told her that
was a sort of doctor. That had been the pro-
fession had not loved well enough to follow
after large fortune left me made the pursuit.
I snul1 her
well as another. / did what could for her, ant
saw her revive My enlreatles prevailed on her
after time, to leave the room for few hours
going with the woman of the rooms below bu
before the night had half passed, she was bacl
do not bs angry with me. want to sit AMI
look at him. | won't cry. Soon shall lose hIu
for ever"
to 20 away somewhere to get some rest. pre-
tended to Weld but found myself too anxious Il
go beyond the ante-room she was not Ill a stat
to be left alone. -
The dawn brought the horrible and harrowin
business - of putting away, out OF sight, out o
reach the mortality that has been 30 dear, tina
we have clutched 70 close, and never could kee
too neRr-to my mind.
| talked to her as little as could and as gen
tly Gently! il words could have floated on tn
IN like elder down, touched her with goss
a er.ight touches they would still have seen
"a to me too rough to be cast at her then
SILL WIS lpICcu 10 Try anu dnuoitah hVi
You know what ia best you Will 10 what /
most right :" she answered me gently; but don
ask me to leave the house while he Is in II
Think of the long years that" There she pau
ed. burst into violent weeping-she had nc
cried before-"Oh, feel as II my heart wa
breakingl' she said, pressing her hands over /
| clasped her to me; comforted her as we
as knew how of how we'll things must be wit
her beloved brother spoke, too OF the pat
where We would lay him to rest OF the count
quiet among the roses, the violets, the cypress
es. :.
She lay quiet in my arms, and y.and-by IL
led mn her lace to lisen. 10 sec that sweet st
face resting against my breast, to look dow
upon it. and meet its trustful eyes, hlled II
with over-mastering emotions
IF you can love me" said then, you me-
never feel alone or unsheltered, never mo
while l live. This is no unfit place or time
tell you this for he know l loved you. and W
glad in knowing it but do not ask or expe
or desire any answer, not now"
| hardly know that she then took in the sen
of my words; sorrow and exhaustion had dram
her life. No tinge of color came to her cheei
she Just listened.
"How good you are how good you are !" 2
said "Abat could have done but for you Z
| arranged everything for the best az far al
knew tempted her from the room 10 go vi
me to the Protestant graveyard beyond the wal
to choose where he should lie. She seldt
spoke; she said afterwards it was all ike
1raatn FrOm which abe eXDeCted at any nome