Richland beacon., 1873-04-19

will be Millburn instead Q Nay, why
should I refuse?' And then it crossed
her mind that a widows cap would be
very becomingtO 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 rs 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 ike cases, he
took. a turn for the better; and slowly
the balance trembled, the scale inclined,
and life had won.
I'll tell YOU what il is said the doc
tor. "your wife has saved your life.''
g 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, tor 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 cOmeso him As
she would have gone to Pat Murphy. if
he had sent tor 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 en-
braces and gratitude, and poI't applique
set, and fragrnentary talk about her
" things" and proposals to SeEd 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 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 situp i'm his easy chair, white and
wan enough. but with a look of returning
health ana life. Emily was sitting almost
with her back to him. locking out into
the tossing leatiess branches of the great
elm. = z
p Emily" said-Mr. Minburna at last.
"Yes," she answered quietly, but she
did not turn her head. .
Emily did not mean % get WELL"
Noanswer from Mrs. Millburn.
a. know how much yen must feel what
has happened. Believe mel willfake no
advantage of your goodness will set
you free as soon as cnn. My only wish
is oGspare you trouble; will take all
blame on myself. know you are long
ing to be away and why should / delay
what must come at Lasts | dare say Dick
and Mrs. Macy, the nurse, can do all |
need now"
oh. n you prefer Mrs. Macy's attend
ance. am sure it is nothing to me-" said
Emily. in remarkably cross manner.
lOu are angry with me, but there
need be no difficulty, dear. You came
away from home 40 hWriedly that it would
be perfectly natural Tor you to return to
your mother now"
= Bu: here. to Evert's diSmay. Emily hid
her face, and began to cry in quite a pas
sionatc and diStressful fashion. Evcrt
rose with difficulty, and went to her, it
was not more than three steps.
do you want to kill yOurself:" 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. '.tf'"
"What can do 2" he said, distressed.
ats too bad. Oh. it's too bad" she
said in the most unreasonable way.
II know it, Emily. You are as free as
though no word had ever passed between
us. Do you want to go to-day! l will
make il easy for you with mother and
Hatty," he said, with pang.
She went on crying, and then in min
ute she said, in most incOherent fashion,
IL didn't think / was SO rery disa-
greeable." The words dropped out one
by one between her sObs. "But. OF
course, if you don't want me"
Emily! What do you mean: lPi{l you
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 mat
tcrs are, we might try to make the best OF
it," she said in the faintest whisper, while
the color ran TO her fingers ends.
"YOu will 20
III will if you WILL" said Mrs. Millburn,
with a sweet, shy smile.
And she kept her wOrd.-Frons the d.
dine for Amfl