The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1874-12-09

e DO rs though DESTROYS to join the
hi dren ia singing the glad anthem.
Upc0nsciously her mind sirsyed
back, she was : child ssain
her little brother was trying to
awaken her, that she might 60 with
him 10 see what the kind "krisskin
had placed in their stockings
aMarioni Marioni it's time to be.
coing.n 1t was her father calling
and shaking her by the shoulder.
Hastily arising she accompanied
Mrs. Kenton, the friend who YVES to
assist her, TO the sick room. As they
passed through tic hall Mrs. Kenton
gave Marion what little history Of
The Invalid she had been able to
gather.
"He is from one Ct the northern
States, aad was a soldier in The
northern army. At the battle Of the
Wilderness be was shot through tho
body and left for dead by his friends.
Some confederate soldiers passing
a few hours a~fterward discovered eyi-
deace Of life. carried him to the rear,
and cared for him kindly. lie was
sent to the hospital here. When that
was closed be was removed to this
hotel. where be has been ever since 2
Mrs Kentou finished Der narrative
as thew entered the sick room. The
nurse smiled q weary, sleepy smile
as they entered, and glided quietly
from the room.
Marion seated herself by the open
window. a procedure thai was al
lowable in this warm climate, and
gazed cut into the night. The moon
beams she'd a Good CT glory over the
civ. the spire Of the cathedral giis-
tened like Furnished silver, as a clock
in a distant church tower struck Il,
a chime OF bells rang out
= GLORY be to God On high,
on earth be peace, goodwill to men
= The voices Of the bells died away,
. merry Christmas carol aecompa-
MED bv the strokes Of oars came hoat-
ing over the water from a boat filed
with merry revelers.
A faint groan from the sufferer at
tracted the girls attention. She APP
proacbed the bedside and leaned over
the fevered man as be turned, in a
spasm Of pain, the girl caught sight
Of bis face. Starting back, pale and
terrified. she must have fallen to the
ground had not Mrs. Kenton sup
ported her. 1t was but for a moment,
however. Then summoning all her
courage as though to meet a trying
ordeal, she again approached the bed.
As the sick man caught sight OF her
face be sat upright, crying Marion J
Marion - then sank back on the pill
low without q motion. For a short
time they thought the shock bad
been morethan be was able TO stand in
his weakened condition, but bis eyes
opened slowly and his lips moved.
Placing her ear close TO his lips she
caught. kiss me Marion" Taking
the pale face between her hands she
kissed it lovingly. The sick man
stretched forth his hand; Marion
took it in both Of hers, when he sank
asleep with a happy eontented smile
on his lips, such a smile as n sees
on the face of q tired child that has
fallen to sleep in its mothers arms.
1t is scarcely necessary to add that
under Marion's ovingtreatment, Nal
colin added bis, tothe already long list
of testimonials, that go to prove that
love is the best Of tones. They
are married and living happily in
their northern home, and their
ears are greeted by the prattle Of a
little Marion, whom her father de-
clares is the exact image Of her
mother.