The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-06-15

ID" We entered the house by different
ways, and in few minutes her brother
came to call me. The service was COM
menced, My eyes were fixed on Gret-
to, who was growing paler and paler at
every moment. Suddenly the tower
clock struck seven she raised her eyes
to mine. / caught her in my arms, but
she never breathed again. And that is
the reason" said Cousin Max, quietly,
"why 1 shall never marry" -
The silence was oppressive. Pres
emily Claire and Alfred left the room,
and soon we heard the piano. Max
looked around with q smile. "Claire
Is calling us-where is Birdie?" l
pointed to the window. He crossed
over to her, and, laying his hand on her
hair, said coaxingly, "Come, song
bird, they want u.s." But Birdie drew
back from his caressing hand with o
quiet dignity that sat strangely on her,
and, excusing herself, ran up to her
own room.
Max reioined US with q sorely puz-
zled face, but though lie watched the
door all the evening, Birdie did not re.
appear. Ialways went to her room at
night, and while Claire, Alfred and
Robert were sitting chatting in the hall,
Iwent up stairs. Hearing no sound
from BRIDES room, ! opened the door
softly and went in. She was kneeling
by the open window, gazing out upon
the winding river Just visible through
the trees. and the cleaning Of the white
stones in the little church-yard on its
banks. I called her, but she made no
answer. Sitting down beside her, l
lifted her on my lap. Her hands were
cold and she was shaking from head to
foot. fg :
"My poor little pet, what is it?' ]
asked anxiously. Never shall i forget
the piteous eyes she turned to me.
"Gracie- Gracie, he only liked me
because resembled her?
o, my darlingl q mothers eyes
might have seen the truth and saved
you, but I loft you to drift into this BIT
ter love without ono word Of warning.
The next day Birdie never left my
side, refusing, greatly to the aston
ishment Of Max, all his invitations To
walk or read with him. To do him jus.
tice, l do not think he guessed the mis-.
chief he had done. Birdie had seemed
such child, We never thought OF the
strength and depth Of her character.
Her sunny, happy nature had been
enough for us, and We looked no
further.
Robert and Max went away for few
days together, and when they returned
Max seemed feyerish and excitable. BY
night he was much worse, and the doc
tor very soon pronounced his disease
typhus fever. When Birdie heard that
he was in danger, she insisted upon
seeing him, and after that he would not
let her out OF his sight. He would call
her /" Gretta," his "darling,' his
"wife," and beg her never to leave him
again; and Birdie would sit with her
hand in his, soothing him, humoring
his fancies, aud growing paler and
paler ut every word he uttered. In the
morning, about two or three o'clock, he
would become more quiet, and then,
leaving tho nurse with him, she would
come 10 me. II was only at such times
she rested at all, and often she would
not sleep, but would lie watching the
color creeping into the. eastern sky, with
o quiet look Of expectation on her face,
which filled me with an indefnable
sense Of dread. In vain we begged her
to give up her care Of Max in that she
was determined nothing could shake
her resolution. HiWhile he wants me I
shall stay, she wouldisay decidedly.
Tho time for Claire's marriage ap-
pfoached. We had decided TO put 1t
of another month; but greatly TO our
astonishment, Birdie argued against
this. When the doctor came she saw
him alone, and he, too, advised us to
have the wedding. Max might be i'll a
long time, ho said, and it was better to
have as small q family in tho house as
possible. So, o week later, Claire was
married. Birdie was there, pale and
still, but with a smile on her face, and
with loving words and kisses for our
poor beauty, whose wedding had proved
SO sod, after all. Alfred and Claire
were to leave Immediately; so our
good.byes were hurried.
81 am coming back in week, !"
Claire said TO Birdie, "and then / am
going TO take you away with mo"
Birdie did not speak for o minute,
aud when she did, she only said softly,
Good.by, pretty olaire-good.by."
Tint night Birdie told me the truth.
She was taking the fever, and the doc.
tor lad said there was no chance Of her
living through il. He had told her, o
week ago, that, by nursing Max, she
might save his life, but she would cer-
tainly lose her own; and our Birdie
had answered, "I will save him II !
can"
az am SO glad Claire is married I
was afraid she would have TO. wait"
Birdie said 10 me, o SO quietly.
I begged the doctor to forbid her
Watching Max, but he shook his head :
at would do no good she wouldn't
live any longer for it" So, for q little
while longer, I sat waiting every night
for my darling, outside the door OF her
murderer, as l called him in my wretch
cd heart. One morning she was later
than usual. The, doctor had been with
Max all night he left about three, tell
ing me, as he passed mo on the stairs,