The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1878-06-05
HOW DIXIE LINTON DIED.

no worse to-day lnan iour ihoutp
past. Surely you should not give ul
all hope p ;,
| "Why should | care-wby shoul'
hope? Life is but one long tor
ture to me; why should | mourn
tha. it is to go? Nv woman's hear
has borne too much, my child Fat'
wove many a darksome thread owe
me.n
| looked in wordless pity at ber al
she lay among the pillows, pale and
wasted. and knew that her thoughts
had gone back into the past, by th'
light smile that curved her lips.
/ tenderly passed my hand Owe
her faded hair, and, thinking of al
1.-THE sorrow she had faced and strug
gled with, | bent forward, pressed
my lips to her brow and murmurec
softly:
only poor auntie,"
Her large eyes opened and turned
to my face.
Winnie, may / tell you 7" she in
quired.
Certainly said /, in surprise
"what can you wish to tell me Aunt
Nora ?n
NV one great sin-my one grea
sorrow" was her answer.
Was my aunt mad? Surely the
approach of death had turned hel
brain Her great sin Why, her
life had been one great sacrifice. heI
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 husband, the
handsome young beir Of the Linton
homestead. that vas now without
master or mistress, a beautiful but
deserted spot. Ah, well knew she
had suffered, but none could say that
she had sinned. She had lavished
her wealth on the needy, and in many
cottage was her name spoken at
the hour of prayer, reverently, WITH
blessing after blessing upon it.
"Sinned 2" said l, softly "Auntie,
dear, you are bnt dreaming Will you
not Try to sleep?'
Nay, child. ere long shall sleep
soundly, bat cannot die with it un'
told Promise that you will not
shink from me when / tell you; for,
Winnie, since | took you to my heart
you have won me to love you as |
loved bat one before. Promise me. u
"Auntie, dear, nothing on earth
could make me turn from you; no
sin; however dark, could make me
love you less"
She clasped my hand convulsive-
| ly.
"Ab, child, you do not know" she
said, upon my hand is blood, the
blood OF the one | held dearer than
aught on earth. Winnie, DO not, /
pray do not turn from me; remember
! am dying ~ for | had tried to with
draw my hand
Aunt Nora,i | cried in horror,
"you cannot mean this Surely, you
of all on earth are not the one to
she'd the blood of human being
Auntie, darling, you do not mean
it.n
Child, listen, while | have the
strength to tell. for | know that my
hours are numbered Do not con.
denim until yoI hear me. When |
was young and fair | had many-too
many lovers Heiress to noble
fortune, possessed of rich beauty, il
was no wonder Life was a perfect
dream of joy, for my father wor-
shipped his only child, and | had
been too young TO weep when my
mother died,
"Gayly as some light butterfly |
danced along LIES pathway, nor
dreamed of sorrow or care.
Friends had, yes, many one
but of all, | loved the best one fair
faced girl. We had met at school,
and then had fallen 10 love with
her. 1t was not strange, for she was
more beautiful than any picture l had
ever seen, with long golden hair,
large innocent blue eyes, and ripe
red lips like those cf tender babe.
Her skin was clear as that of waxen
image, and seldom held the least col
or She was shorter than |, but per-
fectly formed, with tiny hands and
feet.
81 with my dark eyes, and raven
hair, and tall, slender figure, felt moth
ing beside her for beauty, although
many said | was fairest.
BE that rs it may when my faith
er took me to E, Lottie and |
wept bitterly at parting; but my
tears fell fastest, and she promised to
spend the following summer with me
in my new country home.
"Ah, Winnie, alas. the day came
met Duke Linton, and loved him
with the whole wild passion of my
young heart. You do not know,
child, how a woman of my nature
can love. But bis deep gray eyes,
and naughty brow were stamped up
on the heart of the careless young
girl, and are still cherished in the
bosom of the dying woman. And
yet, o, God, that who SO loved him
should have laid him so low :"
"In heavens name, aunt, do not
say you killed Duke Linton ~ cried
in terror
"Child,n she said, II did. 1t was
| who drove the dagger to bis faith
less heart, / who bent above him
when he breathed his last"
"Let me tell you all / loved him
as it is the fortune of few women to
love, aud be professed to worship
me. How my heart throbs even
now when | think Of those happy
days, God of mercy, why were
they so few ?"
She paused moment, then went
on.
1--WE were engaged, and the day set
for our union. In a perfect dream Of
bliss l wrote to Lottie Dent. She re-
piled and said she was going to visit
me very soon.
MAY had left US, and June roses
were blooming ere Lottie came.
more beautiful than ever, more