Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1876-06-22

81 shall tell him to come tomorrow
evening, Mary; for so he wishes. Oh
/ know you will be happy. He will
make you one of the best Of husbands
He is rich-very rich"
"In what, my fatheri'
The old man started at these words,
for they were spoken very strangely.
"In the goods of this world, and in
in-honor and manhood" he replied
Mary did not speak further, for she
wished not to worry her father. She
knew that his soul was already tortured
by misfortune and commercial calamity,
and she would not make her sacrifice
for him ungrateful, by casting q shade
offsprosch upon him.
Ere long old Andrew Goldthwait al.
lowed his feelings to run in more pleas
ing channel. The ruin which had stared
him in the face was to be averted, and
in his soul he believed that his child
would not be one whit worse off for the
transaction. He knew Mr.. Smith to be
wealthy, and he believed him to be q
kind and honorable man. He fancied
too that he could look into and read his
daughters heart. He thought she wept
and sorrowed for the mother and broth
er and sister she had lost, and that she
objected to this match because she had
resolved not to marry. But he Aattered
himself that at the end of the first year
of married life he should find her hap
py wife.
On the following evening Mary again
sat by the CRATE in the drawing-room.
She was alone now, and her face was
more pale than usual,
But she was calm-as calm as the
marble statue that stood near her.
The cutter door was opened, and she
heard the tread of heavy feet in the hall.
Then the inner door swung back, and
her father entered. She looked up and
saw another man-it was he to whom
she had promised her hand: the man
whose money was to save her parent.
Mr.. Goldthwait introduced Mr.. Smith.
Mary arose and extended her hand. II
was cold but it did not tremble. She
looked up into his face, and she saw a
man of medium height, with high
brow, dark eyes, and neatly trimmed
beard. He greeted her politely, and the n
took seat.
Some half an hour was spent in con-
versation, generally between the two
men, and then the remarks grew grad
ually less until silence ensued.
Nearly ten minutes elapsed before an
other word was uttered, and the still
ness was oppressive, when the visitor
broke the spell.
" Miss Goldthwait," he said in low,
soft tone, you are, of course, aware of
the object of my visit here this evening,
and | know you will pardon me if l
speak plainly.
Mary looked up, but she made no re-
ply. The tones of the speakers voice
were so kind and gentle that she began
to pity him. She felt that he ought to
60 and find some wife who could love
him.
" Your father has spoken plainly with
me-" resumed Mr.. Smith. He has
told me that you feared you have no
heart to give, but that you will vet be
my wife. Yet he assured me that YOU
will learn to love me in time. once
thought should never love again. but
the sight of your face dispelled the illu-
sion. will tell You all, and then you
shall judge for yourself whether even
have heart for you
Mary had now fixed her ewes steadily
upon the speaker, and her features had
assumed an eager, wistful expression
Long years ago loved a beautiful
girl. and she loved me in return. Twas
young then, and only thought of love,
and | did not dream that fate could
crush my souls dearest hope. That fair
girl was all to me. held her in nv
soul as my very life. and not thought
had of the future but twas of her
And | knew that she loved me as well,
for she had told me so hundred times.
But terrible crash came upon my Joys.
My idols father was wealthy, and | was
poor. He was a merchant-I only an
humble clerk. When told him of nv
love he spurned me from his door. and
bade me never enter il again. o. hea-
ven, what a wreck of soul was that .
Who shall picture the utter midnight of
the blasted and broken heart Who
shall tell its wailings, and its deep. dark
griefs: All crushed and broken down,
| fled from the place where nv love had
grown up, and in the heat and whirl of
business | tried to forget nv sorrows.
Worldly fortune seemed to single me
out as its especial favorite. My wild
est and most reckless transactions turned
out well, and money seemed to fly out,
as If by magic, from everything placed
my hands to. Thus passed away elev-
en- years, and then came to this CITY.
where | settled down. That was one
year ago. saw YOU, loved YOU: YOU
opened my crushed heart and let the
tide OF love forth. Iasked the merchant
again for his child, and-and-"
The speakers lips trembled, his bo-
som seemed heaving with powerful
emotion.
" Mary" he said, in breaking tone
have asked thy father, and he has
told me-yes. VIII YOU be mine -
The maiden had no more doubt
Years seemed to have passed like magic
from the calendar OF the past : it seemed
only yesterday that loved youth told
his tale Of love. for since then only grief
had been hers, and grief was now no
more. She sank forward, and in the
next moment she was clasped to the
heart Of the man who for long years had
possessed her heart.
n