Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1878-02-08

days: that not only am | engaged to
her for tonight, but for life, and I in
tend to marry her just as soon as | re-
ceive my parents sanction and partner
ship in my fathers business.
BY the time Irving had finished, Mrs.
Wortley was unnerved to visible de-
gree, for above all things she had made
up her ind that her son should make
brilliant match and to think that now
one was thrown right in his path, she
must receive this startling intelligence
that his heart and hand were elsewhere
She managed to say, finally:
well, sir, my sanction you never
will receive; and until you give up this
insane idea, desire to hold no further
communication with you, and I'll inter-
view your father on the matter?' saying
which she swept from the room.
That evening, as Irving was taking
leave of Edna, his last words were:
"And you will continue to love me,
and when wish it, marry me, come
what Wilt"
Have | not promised to love you
until death does US part :"
And, indeed if she had not spoken a
word, her great. earnest, beautiful eyes
would have satifed him.
The Wortley family. including their
guests, Mrs. and Miss Moore, were as
sembled at the breakfast table few days
later, and some one was passing re-
mark on Irving's non-appearance when
servant entered and said
"Plcase, Mistress, Mr. Irving would
like to see you; he is very i'll indeed"
And excusing herself, Mrs. Wortlcy
proceeded directly to her sons chamber,
and on entering tho room was omnous-
ly struck with her sons appearance,
which caused the mothers heart to show
itself
"Oh, my dear. are you ill?"
Eyes, mother, and have been so all
night"
A servant was Immediately despatch
ed for The family physician. When he
arrived Irving was in a high fever The
doctor looked very much concerned, and
taking Mrs. Wortley aside, gave strict
orders to have the patient very quiet, as
he was threatened with brain fever and
being on quite intimate terms with the
family, he enquired if Irving had any
serious trouble recently to have produced
it, Mrs. Wortley hesitated, colored and
felt very conscious-strcken, but replied:
ooh, perhaps,a triAing annoyance, but
nothing of sufficient seriousness TO cause
this dreadful illness"
All if that mother could have read
her poor boys mind from the time she
bad last spoken to him
The patient began to grow worse rap
idly, and, becoming delrious, was con-
stantly uttering unintellgible sentences,
but only one word could always be un-
derstood-E
1t was the crisis of the fever, and all
were anxiousl y watching at the bedside
Of the sufferer after lying for long
time, though life was even then extinct,
Irving opened his eyes and for the first
time in many days the light of reason
shone in them, and looking from one to
the other, he turned to his mother and
said:
Mother, feel that l am dying, bit
| cannot go willingly till my last request
is complied with
Here his parents and sister burst into
tears, but be babe them be composed
and listen.
II desire that some one be despatched
for Edna Stirling, also for Rev. Mr.
Graham. Summon them both to my bed
side then, in the presence of all here and
ere depart this life, desire to be
welded to one for whom, if | we're dying
to save her life, l would give up will
ingly."
The mother, only too eager now to do
all within her power for one SO beloved,
aud yet so soon to be clasped in the arms
OF death, sent servant who quickly re-
turned with both parties. Mrs. Wortley
first interviewing them in the reception
room down stairs before they entered
the sick room. Poor Edna, worn TO a
skeleton by anxiety concerning her low
or, having called twice day to enquire
about him during his illness and always
receiving the same answer that he was
worst, still never realizing that he was
i'll unto death, now completely gave vent
to her feelings and was scarcely able 10
ascend the stairs leading TO his chamber.
but when there, and seeing The great
change in the loved face and realizing
how soon he would be cold, unconscious-
ly the poor girl rushed to the bedside,
and.would have thrown herself in her
lovers arms, for she was almost crazed.
but those in the room gently restrained
her. Irving took her hand in bis and
locking at Mr.. Graham, said:
Il beg Of you make haste, and join
US in the holy bonds Of wedlock ere it is
too late"
Aud there, in that death-like and aw-
ful silence, broken now and then by
the sobs Of the loved ones. the young
and beautiful girl, with probably long
life before her, was made the wife Of the
man who was to enter the spirit land in
probably few hours Oh. how awful
y sad that marriage cercmoByl
Two days later the remains Of Irving
Wortley were deposited in tho W
church-yard, and although years have
passed since then, every two or three
days a beautiful but very sad lady, in
mourning attre,caD be seen weeping over /
grave, the monument AZ its head bear /
ing the inscription
IwiNG WoErLEr, aged twenty-three.'
- . s~-