The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1875-06-09

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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,
.oftened look on her face. She had
watched Blrney Graham day after day,
held his thin hand in hers and bathed his
hot brow, and all these days and weeks
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? Birney
Graham seemed to be asleep when Alice
Marlay stepped noislessly 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 camein, simply nod of recog-
pition passed, nothing more. He was
too weak to thank her or to quarrel with
her. A week later he was able to be
dressed and lie on a 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 kind
ness to him. She came in softly, little
pale and trembling a little. This man,
Birney Graham. lying there helpless as
babe, so weak even then that Brown
could easily have frightened him to death,
had nevertheless come to have strange,
sweet power over her. She sat down
upon a little rockingham beside his
sofa. He looked at her steadily with his
intense black eyes.
IL had thought" he began. Then he
stopped. This beautiful face, pale with
emotion, this was the face of his old, lost
love, his first and only love, whom lie had
worshipped-ahl God knows how wildly
He turned away from her and buried his
face in the cushions, and broke into pas
sionate sobs. He was so weak, so very
weak, yet.
The heart of Alice Marlay gave nigh
ty throb, till it ached IN her bosom, then
it lay deathly still. She hesitated a mo-
ment, little short moment, then she took
Birneys thin face between her hands and
turned it back toward her again and kissed
him on the mouth.
"Birney, dear Birneyp she whispered
in voice ineffably sweet and tender.
He laid one wasted arm about her, and
they both wept together little. tits very
sweet to mingle happy tears.
Just because these two were so strong
and proud, and unforgetful-for that very
reason they will love each other with a
mighty love, which shall endure when
common loves are all forgotten, love which
shall hold together till death parts them,
and after that day comes that no other
mortal can ever fill the place left vacant
BY either.
"The man I marry must be a strong
man." Alice Marlay had said. The mar
she married had hardly strength to steE
from the sidewalk to the carriage on hi:
wedding-day. But he was a strong man
for all that, and his name was Birney
Graham.
Alice Marlay's father was a practica
old gentleman with no nonsense abou
him, and, best of all, no snobbery abou
him either. He cared precious little fol
Highland blood ard that rubbish, ant
thought the world was wide enough fo
everybody, and one person was as gooC
as another so long as he behaved himself
When his daughters choice was announc
ed to him, he received the news in fash
ion peculiar to himself
"Why couldn't she have taken him fiv,
years ago." said he. am not Away
asleep when my eyes are shut, and
thought then she could not do better
Birney Graham is one oil the few men w
known in my time who had head on 'em
If she had married him five years ag
she'd have saved sight of nonsense AM
I'd have had son to help me all thi
time.
So you will understand the "hiddel
meaning" of the remark Father Maria,
made when his approval was asked fo
the match.
"Yes, yesl It's the strangest thing il
nature that people can't learn any sense.
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