The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1877-07-06
COWARDLY CRIME.
ny hIzziH MuLHrRN.

tAAO ANAe sNWsANI L'tAANI ~srANl 'NNNse-N~s@tJ ,
with a look Of sadness 10 her deop,
gray eyes,
''Mr. Delman was here, father ~
she asked.
eyes, DEAR her father answered,
turning from the window, and draw
ing her over to him.
'Dld you ask for time, father
Will no renew II for you ?"
'sN0, Isabel,n her father said,
,Rravely. "On Tuesday the time Is
up, and II the mortgage Is not paid
before that, he will close 1t if--if''-
ar do not lowor my womanhood
and marry his son Clark
Edward Milton looked proudly at
his daughter, so fair, so pure, SO true.
Could he ask her, even to save him,
TO become the wife Of n drunkard and
gambler, but who was the only son
of q rich mana rich man, who
could turn them from their home In
q week.
But ask his proud, pure Isabel to
marry Clark Delman? Certainly
not. They would pass from the old
homestead and face the future, b0-
fore Isabel would wed Clark Delman.
Edward Milton was no longer q
young man, nor was he a strong one,
and II was like parting with life TO
leave his old home, but he would not
ask his darling, his Isabel TO sell her
self; for that was simply what II
would be.
"Would you wish me TO marry
Clark Delman, father ~ she said,
after short silence.
He passed his hand over her sunny
hair.
"No, darling" he said, rbut II Is
hard, very hard, to leave our old
home. / never wished you TO marry
him, isabel, but his father pleaded so
for him. He seems to think you
could save him."
cSave him |" the girl repeated, 'a
man, father, who will not be brave
for his mothers sake, for his fathers
sake, for the sake OF his own honor
and manhood, would never be brave
for my sake"
At this instant step sUunded on
the gravel path, firm, manly step
that brought the rose-ilush 10 Isabelis
fair face, and the next moment a
gentleman entered the room.
He was tall, handsome man, with
honesty stamped on his broad brow,
truth shining from his dark eyes,
with a smile OF almost womanly ten
derncSs, making beautiful his firm
mouth, as he came forward q man
whose love would be a crown 10 the
woman who won II,
He came quickly forward.
He loved Isabel Milton, and she
knew It, though he had never told
her so. He intended to walt I'LL he
had pushed his way higher on tho
ladder Of life, for he was only book
keeper in the mills Of Evarts & Sons.
lie meant 10 bo patient and wait !;
but now as he saw the paleness Of
Isabel's face, saw the troubled light
in her eyes, his love mastered every
other thought, so he came forward
and folded her in his arms.
1What Is II, my darling ?" he said.
"oh ! Isabel, my love, Let me comfort
you," then turning TO her father he
said; fWlll you give me q sons
place in your hearth VIII you givo
me Isabel for my wife 9''
III she loves you, Charles, Will
give her to you gladly, II she chooses
you herself. ] know you are worthy
Of her, bat Charles, we are poor,
very poor; even this home Is no
longer 0urs ] paid a dehs for my
only brother, who died a year ago,
and to do Sc, had to mortgage my
old home, and on Tuesday next the
mortgage falls due, and / am not able
to meet It,"
~ wonder II ! were to see Mr.
Delman"--
"No no ! Charles, he would not
listen TO you"
"Well, who knows what may hap
pen In week, sweetheart ?" he said,
kissing her. "You are going to be
my wife, little one, and ] have q
right to help you In your trouble"
After a little while Mr.. Milton left
the room, aud the lovers sat talking
together.
A knock at the outer door startled
them.
Isabel rose, and passing out TO the
hall, opened the door, and Clark Del.
man stood before her.
One glance told her that no was moi
pelfectly sober.
"You must excuse me-" she said,
coldly. ~ cannot see you this even.
ing"
oIsabel," he said, quickly, Hmy
father was down here to-day Isabel,
you can savo mo from the life / am
leading. VIII you not do 81 (?
love you, hut you treat mo rs nc
other woman In town would do"
sl'ardon me-" she answered, nbul
] cannot stay much longer, and thl.
talk Is useless. Even were you worthy
Of woman's love, ! do not love you
that should be reason enough for you
to cease annoying me.p
"lint do You know that on Tuesday
next your father will have to leave
this house--the house he was born in
and his father before him 2"
81 know all, and my father and
would suffer all, sooner than that
should swear to love, honor and obe,
you, Clark Delman. Have / spoken
plainly enough nowT"
Without another word he turned
| otyaV fnuiiaptna, ont,nnthtno. s,u,lo,