Smyrna times., 1878-09-25
For Her Sake.

Only miner and his sweetheart. He
in his everyday fustian clothes, she in her
simple calico gown, with but a knot of
ribbon at her thrOat-he living all the
bright, sunshiny day where the brightest
rays might never pierce, so deep is he in
the bowls of the earth she, the daughter
of miner like himself, for whom with her
own hands she prepared the MONDAY
meal, or set his home in order for his COM
ing; but, for all that, the story to which
she had been listening was none the less
sweet, and Tom Wilcox felt his heart beat
as it had never throbbed in the face of any
danger, when he looked down into Ray
Bernard's shy brown eyes, which, raised
for one brief instant to his face, flashed
forth their cherished secret, then stopped
and sealed it on her lips with Cupid's seal.
The moon laughed and the stars twinkled ;
it was such an old, old story to them, but it
was full of honest truth, even though the
simple little brown cottage formed the
back ground, and the low breezes whisper
ing through the trees were their only wit
nesses. What if they repeat the secret in
every cline? No one could understand
their language save the trees, and the3
were ever silent. But suddenly clouc
| hid the pale moon from their sight, and
somehow, it seemed reflected on the girls
face, as with sudden courage she claspec
her hands about her lovers arm.
Don't 90 down into the mine to-mor.
row, Tom," she said. I" feel as if some
thing were going to happen"
"Why, little one" he laughed, "sucE
fancies as these don't do for a miners wife
You forget [growing serious have safe
guard now which have never had before
the safeguard of your love or rather it!
most precious knowledge. Don't worry
lassee We've work at the new hall to
morrow, and it would be as much as m!
place for me to be missing"
| But the girl shivered even in the warn
summer evening, and the hands clung NOR
| tightly to his arm.
81 can't help it, Tom," she answered
" never felt SO before; but try as | vii
! can't shake off the feeling"
We will laugh over it together to,mol
row evening, darling, when" and h
stopped and whispered something very 10y
in her cara something which brought tn
blood tiding once more to her very temple:
81 can't wait long you know" he sale
aloud. Your father must be looking ou
for another house.keeper. Ray, my dar
ing, life has Just begun for me. God gran
l may make you as happy as you deserve
And with his fond good night kiss b
left her.
With folded arms, resting on the wick'
gate, she watched the tall, stalwart torl
until it disappeared from sight, with
much pride in its manly grace and strengt
as if he were king who had offered n
his kingdom, and the princess worthy OF
royal dover. Then the last echo OF
footsteps died away, and, with hapP
tremulous sigh, she turned to enter II
house; but by her very side dark fgu
started up. The girl uttered fan
scream. Then the moon merged from b
: hiding place and disclosed the mans fac
Strangely wild it looked, thought Ray,
she said:
"Why Jack! How you startled me
Where did you come from"
awe not been far away for the pa
hour" was the surly reply:
Eavesdropping, ehT" asserted Ia
with sudden scorn. | trust you were
paid"
"Not if the old adage be true as to
teners hearing no good of themselv
You'd no time to make mention OF
name, you and your lover. What was
he whispered in your ear? Was 1t
name the day? Answer meW grasping
arm in his passion.
"And by what right do you question
If exclaimed the girl, wrenching her a
- from his touch.
"The right of love! Have l not 10y
YOU from your babyhood? Were not
first nuts, the first wild flowers, the f
to berries laid at your feet as boyish tropf
ne Of success, your smile the boys highest
d. ward? 1t was for this have loved you
n these years'
ii' Jack, l am sorry"-and Rays ve
grew soft, "but it is through no faul
9 mine. | thought you loved me as
- brother, and gave you n sisters aneci
in return. You will soon get over
disappointment.
"Men don't get over their wounds
10 strike the heart. 1t is only women
can do that, since no steel, however sh
can penetrate their hearts. | don't
YOUR pity-give it to the man to whom
If have given your love. He may yet nee
NV if he crosses my path"
| Jack, hush ~ exclaimed the girl "
:. do not mean those words. Have /
cut seen you step aside rather than tread U
the a worm, to crush out a life God
per =. 81,
or !" "Aye-but let the serpent rear its
hla, across NV way, and see how quickly /