Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1878-04-10

4 know he wrOnSeu you ueepiy-
know he was a robber, convict. But
he loved me. Never by word or look
did he remind me that was portion
less bride; never did he urge me TO
seek relief from you until he was SEN
fenced, when he begged me to accept
your offer. He had been in prison two
years when his brother came from Aus
tralia and found him. He was veal
thy man, and would have provided for
me if had permitted it. But l would
not. Much older than Harold, he was
a great invalid, and last September he
died. He left to me, his brothers wild
ow, property amounting to over hun
dred thousand dollars"
"Had he no relatives?"
'None. The two brothers stood alone
i'm the world, and Godfrey chose to con-
slider that did more than wife's duty
in clinging to Harold through all He
was very ill before he died, and | was
allowed to visit him in the hospital,
where he engaged room, and soothed
his last hours"
$50 you are independent"
"But that is not all, father. feel as
keenly as you can the shadow l have
thrown across Maude's life. 1 have
been in this city ever since Harold died
and watched my sister often when she
had no suspicion that l was near her.
4 tNl lax-a h,,t faf har nd
my sister, and longed unutterably to
be reconciled to them, to have them once
more give me words of affection. But
for Maude's sake, would not come,
even after | knew 1 need be no burden,
until"
Here Helena paused, and fixing her
large dark eyes mournfully upon her
fathers face, said softly:
"Until l was dying"
"Helena," her father cried, drawing
her into close embrace, AS If to drive
away the great destroyer. my daugh-
ter, what do you meanp"
Il mean that a chronic disease,
brought on by sorrow, poverty and
toll. has developed into an incurable
trouble that will soon end life l am
glad TO lay down. 1t will not be many
weeks, father, before your waywafd
child will bid you farewell to meet no
more on earth. And l want to have
this money, that comes too late to help
me, settled upon my sister. Will you
examine the papers and have will
drawn for me?''
Eyes, child, yes. But first We must
have DR.. Reynolds see you. He has
known you from a child. He may sug-
gest some remedy. Helena, / cannot
give you up now"
81 will do all you wish, father. If
can prolong my life to be your compan-
ion after Maude is married, will. Do
not tell her yet, father; l may live un-
til she is Walters wife, and | would
not bring any sorrow into her present
happy prospects,
IL will keep your secret, dear. And
| will send DIR. Reynolds to see you AT
once"
But the doctor could give no new life
TO the weary woman, who had so pain
fully atoned for the wilful disobedience
of her girlhood. With care and every
comfort in her old home, surrounded
by tender love, Helena faded so slowly
that Maude did not suspect that the kiss
pressed upon her lips upon her wedding
day was the last her sister would ever
give her.
The excitement, the love that bore
Helena up until after Maude was mar
ried, gave way when the bridal party
left the house, and Mrs. Holt found her
senseless in the drawing-I DOM.
She sank rapidly then, insisting upon
keeping the news from Maude, and
died in her fathers arms when wintry
winds were blowing.
At the last, her words were ever:
"Maude-love to my little sister
do not trouble Maude-she welcomed
me home-a beggar-a convict's wife
little Maude-love to my sister. Faith
-farewell-father-d do not trouble
Maude!"