Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1877-08-09

tnl little child overbaianced himself
and fell into the water. Withou.
a moments hesitation Bert sprane
in and succeeded i'll grasping him as
lie rose to the surface. Climbing
with his insensiblc burden into the
yacht, the boom swung around and
struck him on the temple.
Eager hands caught the child
from his arms, and kept hlm from
falling back into the water. They
laid him, palo and apparently life
less, upon some cushions brought
hastily from the cabin.
Mafgies reserve was forgotten
in her anguish. She knelt beside
him regardless of the Surrounding
company, and called him endearing
names in low passionate tones.
Her voice recalled him to life
He opened his dim eyes, and smiled
family; then, with Il long qnivering
sigh, sank back into unconscious
ness.
AS the yacht turned homeward,
a mourrful quiet replaced the
merry making, for Bert was great
favorite. He was taken to his room,
and a capable nurse procured. He
lay for weeks vibrating between
lifo and death. At last the crisis
came and he began to mend slowly.
Margic's passionate words, as she
thought him dying, had echoed
through his mind during his illness.
and had helped to ltre him back
from the world of shadows which
had peopled his deliriun.
He called one day and asked to
see Margic. Tears filled her eyes
as the poor, pale young fellow rose
to meet her, and poured out his
hearts desire in flood OF elo.
quence.
She clasped her hanGs so tightly
together as she listened, that she
left the imprint OF her nails in the
tender palm.
'Mr. Evarts, you make me very
unhappy | hope nothing in my
conduct has led you to make this
proposal. If so, | am a cruel, wick
ed girl! For | cannot marry YOU
sDo not give me an answer now
| will wait-any time If you will
only let me hope.
Bert WAS still weak from his i'll
ness, and his voice broke-the dis
appointment was too great. He
sank into chair and covered his
ewes with his hand. He was 50
pale and attenuatcd, SO different
from what he had been.
Margie stood moment, her face
agitated by conflicting emotions;
then she made a resolve.
Mr.. Evarts, [ am bound by a
solemn promise to one who unself-
ishly released me from my engage
ment | shall never marry. | hope
you will forget that such girl as
Marg:e Eustace is in existence. |
seem fated to make all who love nc
wretched.'
Bert rose to his tcot:
answer me one question. Did
| dream or was it your voice which
recalled my senses when | was so
nearly dead 2
He was answered BY the sudden
tide Of crimson which dyed the
girls face He saw that she, tco,
WAS suffering and he would not
make her trial any harder to bear
sThank you; shall carry away
into exile the thought my love was
no an unvalued gift. Good~hye;
God bless you
Margie had struggled f,r calm
ness, as much for Bert's sake as her
OWE, but she burst into II passion Of
tears as the door closed upon him.
Her promise should be faithfully
kept; but her love for Bert was
stronger thar life, and she knew
that good by was final parting.
Two or three weeks after she re-
ceiyed farewell letter from him,
written on the verge of his depart
ure FOR Australia. 1t was better
thus. The wider the distance be
tween them the less chance of a
painful meeting.
Time rolled on. Margia, in a
quiet way, was happy. She found
too many duties to attend to in the
miniature world of home, to spend
her time in useless laments.
1t was fully five years since she
had received Bert's farewell letter,
and during that time she had not
heard from him. Size had passed
from her teens into her 'twenties,
and sweet sixteen began to call
the beautiful girl of twenty~three-
old maid. But more discriminating
eyes thought her more interesting
at that age than when younger.
One day a gentleman called and
sent up his card. AS she read tho
name-Bertram Evarts-her hear
gave wild throb. What could hi: