The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1874-06-11

LnlS WOulQ nOt nave Oeeh.
"sOh, Willie," 1 cried.
"Yes, mother" he said, sterniy,
You have made me a criminal. 1
want to tell you that l have secretly
married Kate Hastings. God kn ows
what will become of her."
"Kate was pretty little creature,
only sixteen years old, innocent as
the violets that grew around her
home. My bleeding heart gave a
quick, painful throb, as he continu-
ed.
"sThe world will not believe we
are married. She will be scorned by
all. Hark they are coming. Moth
er am too young, too wicked to
die, but I must Farewell J"
81 saw his purpose now, for his
hand clutched a revolver; and
springing to my feet, I threw nay arms
about him to shield him from him
self, but he shook me off. The
next moment the loud report of his
pistol sounded through the house.
One glance showed me his lifeless
form, stretched on the floor. Then
existence was blank to me.
"When / woke to consciousness,
the morning sun was shining, and
the house was filled with people.
But even justice was satisfied, and l
was soon left alone with the dead.
All day, fearless and motionless, l
sat beside the maneled corpse.
Some people, kinder than the rest,
come in to make preparations for the
funeral, and passed silently out /; but
| did not heed them.
"Kate Hastings came just after
dark. She was dressed in deep
mourning, and her face was so ghast.
ly that it startled me.
"'You, too, have come to reproach
me-" said"
"sNo, mother. You suffer enough
without my reproaches. have
come to watch with the dead"
"'I wish to watch alene," I said.
"sIt is who will watch alone,"
she returned. "It is my right. I
am his wife"
"How calm she was There was
not even tremor In her voice to tell
how she suffered"
"'Yes, it is your right, my poor
child % L said. "It gives me anoth.
er pang to give him up, even to you,
my daughter still ! do it."
"She looked up quickly.
"'He has told YOU"
"Yes."
"'Yet you speak kindly to me,
and do not condemn us J"
GA sad, but beautiful smile for a
moment lighted her features. She
raised one of my hands, and kissed
it reverently.
"sThank you p she said. "Some
time you will be glad for having
shown this kindness to one so much
in need oft. Now, mother, leave
me-"
81 left the apartment but did not
retire. All night I sat on the floor,
outside the door, hoping Kate would
bid me enter but no such a sum.
mons came. Daylight returned, and
the busy world again moved still ]
heard no movement in the chamber
of death. At last, my anxiety be-
came so great, that 1 opened the
door, and glanced in. The CIR
knelt beside the corpse, apparently
asleep. Softly I stole forward and
raised the dropping head. But nc
sad eye met my gaze only the
white face, the starting orbs of 6
corpse. Kate had died by her owr
hands, as a bottle which she clutch
ed proved.
"The next day, they buried the
pair, my erring son and his child
wife, in one grave and as the clods
fell on the coffin, the brightness o.
my life went out forever"
Mrs. Brown could say no more
for sobs choked her Inference. Hel
listener, too, was deeply affected, al
her pale face and fearful eyes show
ed.
Leaving the bereaved mother fol
moment, Mrs Gray stole softly Il
the door and called:
"Willie ?"
The child heard her, and cam'
quickly to her side.
"What is it, mamma" ?"
at is lonesome without you, dar
ling" she said, drawing him to her.
A smile lit up his face.
"Then do you love me, mamma p
Glove you? Oh, Willie !"
! Her arms were about him now
and she was sobbing on his shoul
der.
'Did somebody tell you abou
them bad boys ?"he asked wonder
ingly. "They have got a bottle o
whisky, mamma.
"Thank God you are saved, m,
darling !" she cried hysterically.
She drew him closer to her, sh,
showered kisses on his wonderins
face. But never, until he was man
with son of his own, did she tel
him the history of that other Willie
whose childhood and his own haG
been SO much alike, and how by tht
knowledge of that other Wlllie's Ca
reer, he had been saved by her, per
haps, from a like fate.-Peterson'
Magazine.