Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1874-09-24

and the rest of the Troy neighbors, we did
make good job of it, spite of frost-bite and
beating snow but it was no sport, colonel,
can tell you that
Mrs. Stewart, who had left the room
during this speech, now came gliding back
to her aughter's side.
Are you well enough, Metella, dear. to
speak with Caryl for moment?' she sad.
smiling through her tears. He is very ur-
gent to say word to you. He says 1t is
for the last time
And almost before Metella had leisure
to realize the meaning of these words.
Caryl Winthrop, deathly pale. but with
sweet sad smile upon his face such as an
gels might wear, stood beside her couch.
She started up, and then, with a guilty
blush. put her hands before her eyes.
% Caryl, do not blame met she said.
Indeed, indeed, will be true wife to
you
Not to me dear Miss Stewart. answered
he softly. 1T is as brother, darling, not
as lover, that you have regarded me all
along, and now l release you fully and
freely from plight, the keeping of which
would be misery to you. | am not selfish
enough to hold you to your promise dear
girl. Let your hand go, along with your
heart, to your preserver, to Alberto Par
NELL He was very white and haggard as
he spoke, but he spoke, but he never once
faltered in his address and before Metella
could frame her reply, Mrs. Stewart had
walked to the door, and returned. accom-
panied by Alberto.
This young gentleman she said half
reproachfully, was just about to slip
away from Us and our Acknowledgements
of his courage and his kindness. He could
not trust himself forsooth, to meet again,
Metella. Even now, l see by his puzzled
look that he hardly can guess the solution
of the enigma
This will explain all = said Caryl, as, to
Alberc's amazement, he took the Young
mans muscular hand and placed it in that
of Metella.
your choice. After the innocent confession
that, when death seemed to have US in his
icy clutch, you made to me, should com
NIT sin did | come between you two-be-
tween you and the man who, when on his
road to New York and Europe, turned
back at the bare rumor of the fearful snow
| storm, and risked life and heart to save the
| girl he loved
Metella could not speak. Clingng to
Albcrlc as a graceful vine to some tower
Ing OAK OF the forest, she hid her face upon
his shoulder, and sobbed aloud In the
timid, trustful rapture of that moment she
scarcely realized that every word which
Caryl had spoken had been as a stab to the
bosom ofthe speaker; that his generous
seli-sacrihce cost him very dearly, when a
Sudden out-cry Of voices snatched both OF
the lovers from their dream of new found
happiness. Poor Caryl Winthrop had sunk
helpless on the floor, and was being lifted
by Colonel Stewart and the old hunter.
who placed him on the sofa where Miss
Stewart had so lately reclined.
He has fanted,' said kind. motherly
Mrs. Stewart, as she laid his head upon
the pillow.
More than that, | guess. He's going
home, if ever | saw death in facet NUT
tered the rough backwoodsman. Caryl
who had partially reeained his senses had
no illusions on the subject
DO not weep for me, darling he said
as Metellas tears bedew ed his face, and
the girl bent over him in tender sorrow.
The stroke has fallen; bnt tits in mercy
He pressed his feeble hand to his heart.
and the conviction flashed on all present,
that the insdious malady, from which he
had believed himself to be cured, aggrava-
ted by hardship and the cruel emotions of
the last hour, was reclaimng its prey
Kiss me once, sister, he said softly; and
Metella pressed her lips upon his brow. on
which the damps of death were gathering
The young people were knceling beside
him. All surrounded him. He looked up,
smiling, and his lips moved, but no sound
came, and then spasm of pain cor; =
ed his features, and the heavy head iell
back. He was dead.
1t is scarcely needful to say that some
SIX months later than the date of these
events, Alberto Parnell and Metela Stew
art were married. Their experience of
welded life has been happy and pros
porous one; but whether the wind walls
shrily around the gables, and the white
flakes come driving in heavy showers from
the desert country beyond the frontier to
the northwest. the sound and the sight
| combine to evoke the recollection of Caryls
which was the last act of his blameless
lite.