The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1877-01-27
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said; "but, Essie, fear you are doing
wrong"
He put his arm around her and drew
her close to his heart.
''It is no harm to kiss me once, Essie, "
he said; "even he could not envy me
that"
He bent his head, and their lips met
in one long, last, farewell kiss.
MAY God bless you, my darling"
he said; land always remember l would
have given life itself to have made you
happy" and then he was gone, leaving
her white and still, but fearless.
Lights flashed from the windows of
one of the stateliest houses on one of
Boston's most fashionable avenues.
1t was Essie nanton's birthday, and
her mother was giving party In honor
of it.
Essie looks brilliantly beautiful this
evening, leaning on the arm of her
handsome lover.
Her cheeks are flushed, her blue eyes
shining, her red lips smiling sweetly;
but any 6ne, looking close into her face,
would have seen that her smiles were
forced-that the flush on her cheeks
was caused by excltemnt. .....
Yes, there was a great change in Es-
sic Danton from the day she had given
her promise to Victor Dana.
Her face had grown pale and thin;
there was weary look in her eyes, and
a sorrowful droop with her sweet red
lips.
Yes, she was suffering, though she
of On r.
less eyes.
She was sweeping past one the doors,
her rose .cppwned head bent low, listen
ing to something Victor Dana was say
ing, when suddenly the words, "a teie=
gram," fell on her ears.
She saw her mother pass out of the
room, and quick as thought, she drew
her hand from Victor's arm, and follow
ed her.
As Essie came forward, her mother
Slipped the telegram into her pocket.
"lh0therl Motherl" she cried, "what
is it? Where is it from? Please, moth.
err, let me see 1t %
"You will see it in the morning,
dear"
"Marty 2 Is it Marty mother ? does
anything all him ? Mother, mother give
it to me. l must know the truth"
Victor Dana had followed Essie, and
he came forward now.
"Mother, will you give 1t to me.
know 1t is about him."
Her face was white as death, as she
clung to her mothers ann.
lyon had better let her know the
worst" Victor said; "this excitement is
worse than any news could be-"
Without word Mrs. Danton handed
her the paper, and pale and fearless,
Essie read:
marty is dying. Brain fever. He
is calling piteously for Essie There is
little hope"
''Mother, / will go to him; must 90
to him, and at once" .....
care you mad, Essie 2" her mother
said, glanclng at Victor Dana.
81 understand you," Essie said, and
then she passed over to Victor's side.
"Victor," she said, ~ wronged YOU
when l promised to be your wife, for 1
did not love you. See the only man
could ever love is dying"
She slipped the diamond ring off her
finger, and laid it in his hand.
lyon forgive me the wrong would
have done you," she said.
''It is better to know the truth now,
than years after this. have loved YOU
very dearly, Essie, but / would rather
give you up than wed you, knowing
your heart was not mine.
When gray morning broke, Essie
knelt beside the couch Of Martin Holm.
esby.
What cared she for danger. Was
not her darling dying 2
"Essiel EssleI come to me. oh nv
davlingl life without you is worse than
death"
marty, l am here, " she said, press.
ing her lips TO his feveTed brow.
"Essie," he cried again, "no one
will over love you as have loved YOU.
will you not come to me, my own, my
love-"
She laid her cold hand on his fore
head.
81 am here Marty, beside you. Do
you not know me?"
A CLEAN of reason shOne in his eyes.
"Essie? my Essie?" he said.
"Yours forever" she answered soft
ly, and then he fell asleep, holding her
hand 10 his.
"Spare him to me, oh, father in hea-
yen," was the cry Of Essie's heart, as
she kneh beside him while ne slept.
In his mercy God heard her prayer,
and Martin HOlmesby was given back
from the brink of the grave.
When he awoke from his deep sleep
reason shone in his eyes. The crisis
was past.
"He will live," said the doctor, and
a prayer of thankfulness went up from
Essie's heart.
Six months later Essie aud Martin
were married in the old church they
had attended together in their childhood.
"My darling" the young husband
said, as he pressed kiss on her dainty
lips, "are You sure you will never re-
gret all you have given up?"
Never" she replied, smiling "my
world will be my husband s. love, +" and
OF course her husband kissed her again.
Family Story Paper.
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Why is a ship designated as "she''?