The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-07-08
growing pale, and thin, ]

/ was daily growing pale and thin l
still waited.
I knew the girls used TO whisper to-
gether about me and think me strange,
but no one knew my secret--noe even
madame, who had more than once sought
nv. confidence; and so twelve months
passed away-four years since Jack had
left me.
It was net to day, but very nearly TO
the time when she had parted from me,
and it was almost two years since l had
heard from him. I was trying hard to
grow patient and contented with my lot,
for Mime. Graingor had gradually taken TO
me, making me more and more her right
hand, when one glorious spring morning,
when l was coming out OF the breakfast,
room to 90 up stairs 10 work, she called
me into her little snuggery. where she
sat as q rule, and attended to her Gus
toners letters, for she had an extensive
clientele, and carried on business in
large private mansion on Wilbeck street.
aGrsce, my DEAR" she said, taking me
in her AZ ms and kissing me, ''it worries
me to see you lock 50 Ill. Now what 90
YOU say to fortnight in the country"
A fortnight IN the conntryI and at her
busiest time, with the London season
coming on,
I thought of that. and then, as l
glanced round at the flowers and inhaled
their perfume, the bright fields near
Templemore Grange foated before my
dimming eyes, a feeling of suffocatien
came upon me, and the room seemed to
swing round. believe that for the first
time in my life should have tainted. 70
painful were the memories evoked by
her words, when sharp knock and ring
at the door echoed through the house, fol-
lowed instantly upon the dull fall OF q
,stter and the sharp click of the letter box.
II was like an electric sheck to me,
and without q word l darted into the hall,
painting with excitement and my hand at
nv throat to tear away the sitting SEN
sation. :.
But It was a letter. I could see it
through the glass in the letter.box, and
l seized it with trembling hands, IN.
spired as it were by some strange power.
u ok! dear Jack, at last" l gaspet,
as l turned 1t over and saw it was h
strange blue, Official letter, formally d.
rected to nae.
Even that did not surprise me. II was
from Jack, knew, and l tore open the
blue envelope. "
Yes. 1 knew It'll The inner envelope
was covered with Australian post-marks,
and ignorant rs l might be OF its con-
tents, j was raising it to my lips TO cover
it with passionate kisses, when l saw IT
was open.
Then a mist came over my mental
vision for moment, but only to clear
away as, half supplied, turned the mis-
sive over and over, held it straight for u
moment and then, with sigh OF misery
and despair, stood mute and as ifturn
ed to stone.
"Grsce, my child In mercy's name
tell me-"
1t was madame, who passed her arm
round me and looked horror
stricken at my white face and
lips. The next moment l dimly
remember she had caught the letter-his
letter-my letter-from my hand and
read it aloud: "Mr. John Braywood,
Marlboro, r. county, Melbourne and
then, in her excitement, the great official
sentence like brand upon it, "deadl'
That was the beginning OF my first and
only illness, during which madame ten
ded me AS mother, even to giving up
her business aiterwsrd, and retiring to
live with me in this quiet street, where
she died, and lett me well-to do, as you
sec. l have grown up old since then,
but am not unhappy; great as was the
trial, it has led me into what l hope has
been a useful life. And besides, why
should sorrow, knowing as do, that
which came to me years and years after
that Jack died with my name upon
his lips-died true TO her that he loved
and am but waiting till We shall meet
again.-Cassers Magazine.