The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1878-04-25

Only waiting till the shadows are 4 little
Only waiting TN the glimmer Of the days last
beam 10 Town;
Then from out tho gathered darkness holy,
deathless stars shall rise,
BY whose light my soul shall gladly tread its
pathway to the skies.
now DUKE LINTON DIED.
a ThRillsnG sketch.
II am dying" said my Aunt Nora to
me, as I sat beside her one autumn eve.
For some time had known that she
could not live long, yet her words sent .
SILVER through me.
II trust not, aunt" said I. claspinP one
Of her wasted hands in mine; ''you are no
worse to-day than for months rast. Surely
you should not give up all hope"
"Why should care-why should I
hope2 Life is but one long torture to me,
why need mourn that it is about to gol
My woman's heart has borne too much.
my child. Fate wove many darksome
thread for me-"
AooAeN ~ "oAuAooo ply a. Ack Us eIAc
lay among the pillows, pale and wasted,
and knew that her thoughts had gone
back into the past, by the slight smile
that curved her lips.
l tenderly passed my hand over her
faded hair, and thinking Of all the SORROWS
she had faced and struggled with, bent
forward, pressed my lips to her brow, aud
murmured, softly:
MY poor auntie!"
Her large eyes opened and turned to
my face.
winnie, may tell you2' she iDquir-
ed.
Certainly" said l in surprise; "what
can you wish to tell me, Aunt Nora?"
My one great SHINY one great sor-
row." was her answer.
Was my aunt mad? Surely, the ap-
Proach of death had turned her brain
Her great sin! Why her life had been
one great sacrifice, her heart the abode OF
suffering, since that time so long ago
when she stood, half-crazed with grief
over the dead body of her promised hus-
band, the handsome young heir of the
Linton homestead, that was now without
master or mistress, beautiful but de-
serted spot All, we'll IIknew that she had
suffered, but none could say that she had
sinncd. She had lavished her wealth
upon the needy, and in many cottage
was her name spoken at the hour OF
prayer, reverently, with blessing after
blessing upon it.
"Sinned?" said I, softly. "Aunt,e,
dear, you are but dreaming Will you
not trv to sleep?''
MAY, child, ere long I will sleep
soundly, but cannot die with it untold.
Promise me that you will not shrink from
me when tell you; for, Winnie, since
took ysu to my heart, you have won me
to love you as loved but one before,
Promise me-"
"Auntie, dear: nothing on earth could
turn me from you? no sin, however dark,
could make me love you le.s.''
She clasped my hand convulsiycly.
"Ah, child, you do not know" she
said; "upon my hand is blood, the blood
Of one l held dearer than aught else on
earth. Winnie, do not, pray do not turn
from me; remember am dying!' for !
had tried to withdraw my hand.
"Aunt Nora" I cried, in horror, "vou
cannot mean this! Surely, you of all on
earth are not the one to shed the blood Of
human being! Auntie, darling, you dc
not mean it."
"Child, listen, while have strength to
tell, for l know that my hou are num-
bered. DO not condemn until you hear
me. When vas young and fair had
many-too many lovers. Heircss to a
noble fortune, possessed of rich beauty, lit
was no wonder. Life was q perfec. dream
Of Joy, for my father worshipped his only
child and had been too young to weep
when my mother died. "Gayly as some
light butterfly danced along life's path
way, nor dreamed of sorrow or care.
"Fliends I had, yes, many a one; but
of ali, loved the best one fair. faced girl.
We had met at school. and then had
fallen in love with her. It was not strange
for she was more beautiful than any pic.
ture had ever seen, with lol e golden
hair, large. innocent blue eyes, and ripe
red lips, like those of tender babe. He1
skin was clear as that of a waxen image,
and seldom held the least color. She was
shorter than I, but perfectly Termed, with
tiny hands and feet.
Il, with my dark eyes, raven hair, and
tall, slender-fgure, felt nothing beside
her for beauty. although many said was
falreet.
"Be that as it may; when my fathe,
took me too E., Lottie and l wept bitter
at parting; but my tears fell fastest, and
she promised 10 spend the following sum
mer with me in my country home.
"Ah, Winnie, alas, the day came! ]
met young Duke Linton, and loved hin,
with the whole wild passion Of my young
heart. You do not know, child, how q
woman OF my nature can love. But his
deep gray eyes ana naughty brow were
stamped upon the heart Of the careless
girl, and are still cherished in the bosom
OF the dying woman. And yet, 0, God
that who 80 loved him should have laid
him so low.
lin Heavens name, aunt, do not saw
you killed Duke Linton!"I cried, in ter
rOr.
"Child said she. calmly, Il did. It was
I who drove the dagger to his faithless
heart, who bent above him when he
breathed his last.
"Let me tell you oil. I loved him as
it is the fortune of few women to love.
and he protested to worship me. How
my old heart throbs even now when /
think of those happy days! God of mercy
why were they 80 few1'
She paused moment, then went on:
1--WE were engaged, and the day set for
our union. In perfect dream OF bliss I
wrote TO L0ttie Dent. She replied, and
said she was going to visit me very soon.
"May had left us, and June roses were
blooming ere Lottie came to me.
ttMOle beautiful than ever. more cara.