The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-03-01

no support, no guido, no love, no hope.
Life was worse than blank a dull, dread
certainty OF sorrow. II would be torture
10 die Il death were to remove me from
her sight-it would he torture 10 live and
never have her love or presence. Those
were bitter days, full Of the depths Of sor.
row. Those days made mo grow old a
score Of years. was never young after
ward.
"Atlast, when could command myself,
begged to be allowed to love her till my
life went out. II any one could win her
instead OF me, was thankful to have one
so good as Alfred Trulnbull. l conquered
self, ] found my highest happiness was
still 10 see her happy. Sometimes when /
visited her the old love, the yearnings 10
claim her for myself, would sweep over
me till my head grew dizzy and my heart
sank within me, and then my better ma.
ture said; Rejoice In her Joy, and be con-
tent only to love-
~ came at last to be resigned, = yes,
happy in my idol worship. From her 1
could hope for nothing but kindness and
tenderness, but could never love any
other. The time drew near when she and
Alfred Trumbull were TO commence their
grand life-work. Suddenly his health
failed. She went to him-she cared for
him day and night with the same intensi.
~ Of love that | had given her. II could
not arrest disease. He longed for return.
ing health, because they would have been
so happy and congenial In their work and
love: but one day In early spring he died
In her arms, and was laid away among the
first flowers, 10 rest from his labors.
III never saw q life so blighted as hers,
Her whole heart lay beside his In the
grave. She lost oil interest in life. She
grew quiet and sad and more ethereal.
She never mentioned his name, but we
knew that she longed to live with him,
even though she must pass through the
valley OF the shadow.
against all my struggling l found my
old desire TO claim her coming back into
my soul. l showed her all the delicate
yet unobtrusive kindness possible. Her
very sorrow made her unspeakabIy dear,
"Aiter Alfred had been In heaven O
year, and knowing that she loved no one
else, told her again the old burden Of
my heart. She seemed moved to pity as
she laid her hand on mine, Just as she did
once before, and said in tones Ishall never
forget, Burton, am Alfred's!
II lived over again the old dayso OF tor.
ture, and again conquered self to minis
lister to her happiness. l should have
died II could not have loved her, and l
was almost happy that she did not deny
me this. gathered beautiful and rare
things for her, and IN all ways made her
life less sad II possible. Two more years
went by, and again l feltas though must
have her to care for aud love and serve,
and again laid my affection at her feet
With the same sad smile she had borne
for three years, she said, looking down al
the mourning robess she had worn for him,
Burton, l am Alfred's still, but IL I can
make your lifeany happier, / will be your
wiier
"Those words staggered me. had not
dared hope for this, though Iprayed for
it. Joy seemed to take away my senses
and seeing me 80 beside myself, the old
look came back once or twice to her face.
l was as one who, shipwrecked in mid.
ocean, after Cllnging for days to a floating
plank, at last picked up by stray ship, Is
helpless through joy and gratitude. Twas
more dead than alive with my wealth OF
happiness. Mary Fairchild and I were
made one. Marsh, how live over again
those beautiful days. ! used to look at
your pretty wife beside you as we Jour.
neyed, and think Of my precious Mary.
"My cup Of joy was full to the 6rim.
She accepted my homage and was CRATE.
full. spared no pains to make her life |
complete. To have her in my home, 10
have the blessed influence OF her presence
evening after evening, was the browning
Joy OF man who had loved for years in
silence and unreturned affection.
~ was so entranced with my Joy that
another summer had come around again
before l began to realize that she was full.
ly mine, and then the next winter flew so
rapidly and little son came into the
household. We were both very grateful,
!, all the more. because thought It might
fill Mary's heart something as the old
love had done.
81 watched her cheeks grow brighter as
she fondled the boy, whom l named AL.
fred Tor her sake. They were so beautiful
In my home, mother and child. ] worked
with redouhled energy, and well,nIgh for.
got that there was any heaven beyond,
my Joy was 50 complete below.
"Spring came and l gathered wild flow.
ers to wreathe the browS Of both. One
day, while absent from home, message
came for me that my wife was III and De.
sired me to come. grew palsied with
fear. | FASTENED home 10 find her Just
able to speak to me. She had had VIC.
lent hemorrhage OF the lungs. was
wild. l knelt before her, and clasping her
In my arms, begged her not TO die, but
live for my sake and her boys. She put
her white arm about my neck, drawing
me to his little face and hers, as she said
family, Burton, keep the darling child
who Is ouRS,-but II am Alfred's!'-and
was gone!
"For months did not know what hap.
pened' All was blank. Ny boy died
before l came to myself, and was alone
again in the world. | travelled hi nv
health permitted work, and then l laborel
necessarily!
~ love Mary now as loved her SO
long ago. No other can ever OIL her place.
She is as much mine to love as ever. All
this has whitened my hair you see.
must lock up my Heart again, lest the
world look In upon my idols. DO you
see that ! have reason for not loving
AGAIN."
MTarsh's head was bowed. He loved Cone
as brother, and he had suffered all this
and loved on, and was brave and strong.
"Let US take my little girl and go back
To yours and Mary Fairchild's home"
YES, and Mary has an only sister,
strangely like your wife. You need an
other heart to lean upon. Your nature is
different from minew
Not many years after Marsh had taken
the sister to be mother OF his pretty
daughter, and burton 0oae. leaving his
property to this little one, had been laid
In rest nv the side NJ MaTv Enirchtld