Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1875-06-03

never knew. But, with his burning,
black eyes still fixed on the face Of
Alice Marlay, this is what he said:
1.-THE hyena will open graves to obtain
foodw
The strong-willed mistress of the man.
sion shuddered SECT him into the
house as quickly as you can, Brown"
she said, in scarcely audible voice.
A low couch was brought and the man
was lifted upon it, The mistress super.
intended the removal
Be careful there!" she said, in her
sharp tones. "Are you lifting pigs"
She lifted his head herself
The man was carried in to the genial
warmth of the coal fire, made as comfort
able as might be, and u physician sum-
moned Immediately. Then the sharp
tongued mistress of the great house dis
appeared. She went to her own room
and locked herself in. What she thought
about during an hour there no mortal
knows, but when 1she reappeared she
was very pale, and her delicate, proud
face looked like the face of one who has
been fighting the fight with himself and
lost the battle.
Housekeeper," said Miss Marlay,
" have the best bedroom prepared, if
you please"
"The best room?" echoed the house.
keeper, doubling if she had heard
straight.
THAT was what said" answered Miss
Marlay.
Birney Graham lay in that best bed
room for weeks, "hovering between life
and DEATH" as the people who write
nnva1o lox, ko crIIa,l,y
to himself and turned his head weakly ON
the pillow, toward Brown, who sat be-
side him, and said:
els this the hospital?"
"Does it look ike an 'ospital?" queried
Brown, Indignantly.
Birney Graham thought about it two
or three minutes before making up his
mind "No, it doesn't" SAID he finally.
Whose house is lt?"
Brown told him, also that he had been
found sick and was taken in and tended
like president, by orders of Miss Mar
lay.
"What name did you say?" said Bir-
ney Graham feebly.
"Marlay, Miss Alice Marlay," said
Brown, speaking as though he thought
the patient had lost the sense of hearing.
Wasn't Miss Alice Marlay married
long agoY' asked Birney Graham, still
more feebly.
"No, she wasn't and amt" replied
Brown.
Birney Graham turned his face to the
wall again in silence. Brown went out
and announced to the mistress that her
patient had come to his senses Miss
Marlay returned with Brown, changed,
softened look on her face. She had
watched Birney Graham day after day,
held his thin hand in hers and bathed
his hot brow, and all these days and
weeks great conflict had been going on
in her soul.
Hate cannot last forever; though love
can.
A strange, new, intense feeling was
growing in the heart of Alice Marlay. 1t
was not hate. Was it love? Birnev
Graham seemed to be asleep when Alice
Marlay stepped noiselessly to his bedside.
He seemed not to see her or to hear her.
But he was not asleep. He was trying to
gather strength to open his eyes and
come face to face with Alice. After
that, when she came in, simply nod of
recognition passed, nothing more. He
was too weak either to thank her or to
quarrel with her. A week later he was
able to be dressed and lie on sofa.
Then he sent for Miss Marlay. He
thought now he had strength to look into
her face, and while he looked thank her
for all her great kindness to him. She
came in softly, little pale and trembling
little. This man, Birney Graham, lying
there helpless as baby, so weak even
Al Il ,rs0 I, 81
ened him to death, had nevertheless
come to have strange, sweet, power
over her. She sat down upon q little
rocking chair, beside his sofa. He
looked at her steadily with his intense
black eyes.
81 had thought" he began. Then he
stopped. This beautiful face, now pale
with emotion, this was the face OF his
old, lost love, his first and only love,
whom he had worshiped-ah God
knows how wildly He turned away
from her and buried his face in the
cushions, and broke into passionate sobs,
He was so weak, so very weak, yet.
The heart of Alice Marlay gave a
mighty throb, till it ached in her bosom,
then it lay death)y still. She hesitated a
moment, little short moment, then she
took Birney's thin face between her hands
and turned it back toward her again and
kissed him on the mouth.
"Birney, dear Birney" she whispered,
in a voice ineifably sweet and tender.
He laid one wasted arm about her, and
they both wept together a little. 1t is
very sweet to mingle happy tears.
Just because these two were so strong,
and proud, and unforgetful-for thatvery
reason they will love each other with a
mighty love, which shall endure when
common lovers are all forgotten, love
which shall hold together till death parts
them, and after that day has come no
other mortal can ever fill the place left
vacant by either