The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1873-09-03
A LEGEND OF MAMMOTH CAVE.
BY MARY KYLE DALLAS.

"Come closer, Stewart"
The man went closer to the bed
on which the woman who spoke
lay, propped by pillows.
! 81 am listening, Maria" he said ;
IL am listening my DEAR
cam I your dear?" she gasped.
"Really, truly, you loved me, Stew
art?" .r.
"Haven't I behaved as if I did ?"
said he softly. "Have I ever given
you any reason to think I did ntt?"
''No," she said, "no; but I was
rich and you poor, and I was old
and you young, and so | can't help
thinking"
"Don't think that way any more.
Try to be calm, my DEAR" said the
man. ft....
"Calm p said she. "I am going
to leave you. I am going to die.
Don't you know that, Stewart ?"
"No," said he. "While there is
life there is hope"
'"Im DYING she said; "but
we'll meet in heaven. You'll be
mine there, and I shall be young
and beautiful again. Stewart, pro-
mise me that you'll come to me as
I leave you, no other woman's hus-
band"
"Don't think of auch a thing,
Maria," said he; sits horrible"
"But swear" said she. ..Here
is the Bible; swear. Lawyer Grey
is in the other room yet. He has
made my will in your favor, but
you know, Stewart, I could call
him back in a moment. No other
woman shall have my money to
spend. If you think Of marrying,
I'M make my will over.''
''How could I think of marrying
with my wife dying?" said the bus
band. '"1'm not a brute" ' +
"Then swear" said she; "here,
put your hand ons the Bible-say
this after me: - .. ...t
II swear before heaven never to
marry again while I remain upon
earth" .. ........ .... ~ ....
The man she spoke to was young
and ardent. He had married a
woman fifteen years bis senior for
the sake of her fortune, but they
had been happy together-she had
been even personally agreeable to
him. Now, she was dying, and he
had nothing but grief in his heart.
HE believed he should never wish
to have another wife, and be de-
sired to make the anxious woman
| "Maria," he said, "surely I will
do it, if you think it will comfort
you," and he laid his hand upon
the holy book.
81 swear never to marry again
while I remain upon earth,' he
said. ...... ........-r
Then his wife put her arms
about his neck and kissed him.
"In heaven, dearest" she whis-
pered. '"
These we're her last words.
After she was dead, the widower
lived alone in his handsome house
for some time, and grieved sincere
ly for the poor lady whose gener-
osity had only been equalled by
her love for him. It was not until
year had passed that he began to
spend his large fortune as though
be were its exclusive master.
Then, however, he decided upon
a trip to Europe, and, upon his
resolution, spent many months
abroad. Rich, a widower, and
very handsome, he was not allowed
to remain without friends during
his travels. People soon discovered
that he was very agreeable person
and ladies lavished their smiles
upon him. None of them, how
ever, tempted him to wish his vow
unuttered. He was not to be won
by any of the arts which belledom
80 we'll understands. If he ever
loved, it would be because love
came unsought. Long before he
had coolly decided that he could
be happy with all agreeable women
with whom he had no thought OF
falling in love, and he did not be-
: long to the susceptible order OF
/. mankind.
He had taken an oath never to
J marry while he remained on earth,
and he had no intention of perjur-
!, ing himself. So he Hirted coldly
, enough with the pretty women.
, and each time dropped the amuse'
, ment quite unscathed himself.
), He returned to America as ne
/ had left it, and, with the fever fol
: travel still strong upon him, deter.
, mined to make a tour Of the United
States. .......
Where he went, and what he
f saw, we leave the guide-books te
2 tell our readers. Enough that, after
. many days, our hero found bimsel
3 in Kentucky; and in the quiet O.
8 a Kentucky parsonage, whittier
: chance had LED him, met, for tht
l., first time in his life, a girl agains