Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1873-07-12

per. Ou VIII not leave me TO my
self again say you will not :"
lie had bent toward her as he
uttered these last words, but with
out touching so much as her dress,
and Marion could feel his eyes fixed
with q burning gaze upon her face
as he continued in a voice of elo-
quent pleading:
"Stay with me, and keep my skies
blue and the world fair and good
always. Let me restore the pearls
to the locket, and viii you wear il
and my love, thus ending this long
train OF blight and ruin2 Oh, Ma
riOnl 1t will be beauty for ashes
roses at last TO the desert" His hot
breath swept her hair, and with q
passionate "ComeY he opened his
arms and pressed her close to his
heart.
This was MariOn's betrOthal, and
the loeket was no longer empty
Nothing was said about its mate,
until, one day Marion said to Rus
sell:
81 forgot to tell you my cousin
Reggie, an adopted son of Uncle Har-
ODDS, has the other locket. He re-
turns from Germany next week, and
l want you to like each other very
much"
Reggie came. The four years of
hard, patient study had cultured
and expanded his nature, and he
came back to fulfill abundantly the
promise OF his youth. lie had not
written to Marion, except an occa-
sional note sent in letters to his
uncle. Now they came again 10 the
hills and the big old farmhouse,
where, as children, they had played.
Marion was fond of Reggie, and loved
him even better than "dear old
Ered"-even next to the face in her
locket. They took an old-fashioned
row on the river and came back arm
in arm up the walk, the two fair
heads gladdening the garden again.
1t was almost dark, as Marion
took her old favorite seat in the low,
easy chair by the library window
the same window where she had sat
wondering over the lockets-
"Regie, do you remember the day
before you went, and how L won
dered over those lockets, and our
compact You know you said some
one knew the story, and Eve found
it out. 1t is sadder than we could
have understood then, had we
known"
"No wonder the rubies burned so.
Tell me about it, Marion"
Reggie drew his chair close in front
of MaIion, as she proceeded to tell
him the story of Alphonse. Then
taking her lOeket from her bosom,
she showed him the replaced pearls,
and opened it to Russell's portrait.
It was strong, beautiful face. Not
a trace Of distrust remained. There
had been perfect healing. Reggie
took the likeness, looked steadily at
tine faceMhich met his, with q very
manly, friendly look.
'NoW, Reggie, yours" Marion said
at last.
He dill not answer, but took her
hand ald held it fast an instant
Then he detached the locket from
his necE, opened it, gave it to Mari
on and passed by her out to the
piazza. Marion bent to examine the
portrait 1t was her oWnl
A sound like a sob came through
! the open window. She passed out
into the porch where Reggie stood,
his arms folded tight over his broad
breast, with the light of the full
moon shining in his face. AS she
neared he turned sweetly, even sum
nily, toward her, kissed her brow
with lips as innocent of passion as
a child's, and went by her up to his
room.
Marion married her lover, and
could the dead soldier arise from the
field Of Gettysburg and enter their
home, he would believe indeed that
Jimmie had found all his lost peace
and happiness. Marion is very hap
py, but the saddest face she will
ever see, was her own face smiling
up at her from Regie's locket.