The star. (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1874-1875, 1875-01-22

cloth swayed softly to and fr0.in the air
| that stirred in the room as If evoked by
an invisible fan in airy fingers.
| Edward would come in as he always
did, happy, hungry, tired--three condi.
tions that, when found united in one per.
son, are sufficient indications of that
PERSONS remarkable good nature.
| And Edward was admirable, and the
| dainty meal was awaiting him when the
/, train was in.
!, In her gray lawn dress, with a hall
handkerchief pinned over her breast
Mrs. ElwOod was picture OF noble
matronhood.
| And the sweetness of the picture was
increased by the white cap on her gray
| hair, and the glasses over her peaceful,
faded eyes, that had once been very like
her only boys.
And now she was waiting, waiting as
May Clifford was. for her one, only dar-
ling to come to her.
Waiting with quiet, accustomed pride
for her boy, while May paced to and fro
on the station boards with q restless,
newborn sweetness, tinctured with
pride, surging over her heart, even up to
her eyes.
Somehow I hardly know how to tell
this.
AS think OF it, it seems SO pitiiul-so
That bright, golden September evening,
with cool, sunset winds blowing; that
fair, eagerfaced girl, who was waiting
for the boon of lifetime; that placid
browed old mother, who loved him so.
/ think of that picture, so fair, SO
sweet, and then / shrink from that other
oh, that awful otherl
1t happened-that was it, it happened ;
and SO terribly sudden, too. Not u mo-
ments warning.
Nothing but one wild, fierce shrek of
the whistle, and Strengthening and a
form as he met the check at his post, and
he and his engine rushed to their doom.
The news flew on appalled, wings, near
and far, of how misplaced switch had
caused a frlghtful collision between Ell
woods express and the up evening lug
gage train.
And. they found him. There were 9TH
ers-oh, SO many others, too!-but we
are telling only of this brave man. who
loved May Clifford. They found him
standing straight up, pinioned between
two heavy beams. with one hand in his
vest pocket, clutching the jewel case
with grip that was death itself, and the
So carefully they carried him home to
the peaceful spot from which the sun
shine was now forever faded-to the
home where domestic preparations
seemed so pitifully awful when they
carried him in, and his mother and May
Clifford knelt on either side of him, fair
ly distraught with the sharp, sudden
agony.
And the mother, the dear old mother,
kissed Mays white, quivering lips when
they found the ring i'll his pocket, and
went away to leave the two alone.
Oh, pititul mockery of lovers privacy
She had had the boy always, she said,
in her poor broken heart, and May could
have him little while now.
Can you picture that vigil, you whose
lovers have put the ring ON your finger
between warm kisses and whispered
vows of love?
Can you wonder that May kissed him
on his white forehead over and over
that she wound her arm around his neck,
and drew his handsome head to her ach-
ing heart?
I don't wonder; and her excuse was
what verify believe will be found writ
ten against more than one woman's name
in the great book of accounts
"For she loved him So"
She wears her ring, with the date OF
his death, the date Of her joy, the date OF
her sorrow, next the warm fingers he
had held that fateful morning.
She wears her ring, and she is true to
the memory OF the only lover she ever
loved,