The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1873-04-17

will be Millburn instead of May, why
should | refuse ?'' And then it crossed
her mind that a Widows cap would be
very becoming to her, and she hated her.
self because this silly notion had come to
her unbidden, and twisted up her hair
tight and plain, and went to meet the
clergyman in her old black mohair, which
had become considerably spotted down
the front in the course of her nursing.
The rite was made as short as possible,
and then Mrs. Millburn sent every one
away, and for two days the bride stood
over the bridegroom, and fought against
death till she was ready to faint.
The doctor gave up the patient en-
tirely, and ceased to do anything and,
as sometimes happens in like cases, he
took turn for the better and slowly
the balance trembled, the scale inclined,
and life had won.
''I'll tell you what it is," said the doc
tor, "your wife has saved your life."
Evert turned his head on the pillow,
and looked for Emily; but she had
slipped away into the next room, where
she sat down, feeling, for the first time,
with strange shock, that she was actual
ly married. What should she do? What
could she say? How could she tell Evert,
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 lent her silver
candlesticks to hold Father Flanagan's
blessed candles when Judy Murphy died
The doctor went down stairs and
presently Mrs. Millburn and Hatty came
to her, and overwhelmed her with em-
braces and gratitude, and a point applique
set, and fragmentary talk about her
"things," and proposals to send for her
mother, all mingled together. Emily
resolutely put away thought for the time,
but she could not help feeling, in an odd
surprised way, that she was not unhappy,
and despised herself for having a sort of
ashamed, furtive interest in those "things"
which Mrs. Millburn and Hatty were
longing to provide.
A week after that day, Evert was al.
lowed to sit up in his easy chair, white and
wan enough, but with look of returning
health and life. Emily was sitting almost
with her back to him, locking out into
the tossing leafless branches of the great
elm.
emily" said Mr.. Millburn at last.
eyes" she answered quietly, but she
did not turn her head.
Emily, did not mean to get WELL"
No answer from Mrs. Millburn.
81 know how much you must feel what
has happened. Believe me, l will take no
advantage of your goodness; L will SET
you free as soon as l can. My only wish
is to spare you trouble; l will take all
blame on myself. | know you are long.
ing 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 attend
ance, am sure it is nothing to me-" sale
Emily. in remarkably cross manner.
"You are angry with me, but there
need be no difficulty, dear. You cam'
away from home so hurriedly that it woult
be perfectly natural for you to return tt
your mother now."
But here, to Evert's dismay, Emily hit
her face, and began to cry in quite a pas
sionate and distressful fashion. Ever
rose with difficulty, and went to her, ii
was not more than three steps.
''DO YOU want to kill yourselfT" sh
said through her sobs, and she took hol,
of him and made him sit down, and thel
turned away, and laid her head on tn
window seat.
"It's too bad! Oh, it's too bad !" sh
said in the most unreasonable way.
Il know it, Emily. You are as free
though no word had ever passed betwee
us. DO you WailI W go to-uay WI
make il easy for you with mother an
HatUy," he said, with pang.
She went on crying, and then in mir
ute she said, in most incoherent fashion
, "I-I didn't think was so very disf
J greeable." The words dropped out on
} by one between her sobs. "But,
course. if you don't want me"
, emily What do you mean? WiUyo
stay? VIII you really try to care for me ?
/. he asked, with a sudden light in his eyes
81 don't know. did think-as maj
tcrs are, we might try to make the best {
it." she said in the faintest whisper, Will
the color ran to her fingers ends.
'You will ?"
81 will if you WILL" said Mrs. Millburl
with sweet, shy smile.
, And she kept her word.-From the A
dine for ApriI.