Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1879-01-30
It brought q couple of shepherds to the

1t brought couple of shepherds to the
spot. My limbs were lifted out of the
stream she had already bathed my
brow and plastered up my temple-and
then I was carried slowly down, to inter
rupt the answer Uncle Ritson was send
ing to Bella and Mr.. Neville.
My fall and the immersion were &C.
credited with the prolonged fever which
almost bafaed my good uncle's skill: II
any one suspected otherwise it was cid
Elspa, but she was too ''wise" to revert to
the subject when she came to see me ere
my convalescene.
Very slow was my recovery; retarded
no doubt by the scraps Winnie read to
mo as pleasant nseaos from her sisters let
tiers. It was now eddie this, or ''Eddie''
that; and as shut my eyes and ground
my teeth, the better to endure, felt in
dignant that my noble. fronted Edgar
should have pet name like baby. To
me he had the majesty Of monarch.
How could she address him so2'
| was down stairs before Christmas
came, able and willing to assist my aunt
in her multitudinous preparations, and
tried to smile and look grati6ed during
the Christmas merrymaking.
l had heard but hardly seemed to real
| ize, that Bella was to be married early in
the new year, and that she and Der hus.
band would come and spend the honey
| moon with US, and was doing my best
to nerve myself for the meeting.
The old year was closing in. Elspa-
J who else2--came up to the house with a
letter she had found lying in by-road.
1t should have been delivered some days
previously; and it was supposed that the
postman had taken more drink than was
good for him during the Christmas
''camdings," and dropped it by the way.
Goodness! how that letter stunned me!
Bella was by that time married. She
and her husband were to be with us on
New Years day, and they should bring
with them New Years gift for Cousin
Adela, as a thank Offering for tringing
them together. Their photographs we're
enclosed
Isaw only the one: Yes, it was Edgar's.
There was no mistake.
The house was at once in a hustle of
preparation. Again I slipped out, to hide
my agony and prepare myself for the
coming trial.
Dreamily I went along. saw nothing
before me but that meeting on the morrow
and the revelation it was sure to bring.
My mind seemed a chaos, in which
thought was lost.
All at once found myself on the reedY
margin of the lake, as the silver circle of
the moon was rising above the mountain
tops. And there 1 stood, looking on the
dark waters, whilst something seemed to
whisper to me that there was peace; that
need not meet the proud bride and my
inconstant love unless I chose; that I
might hide my sorrows and secrets there,
and none be the wiser.
My foot was on the brink. There was
step on the stones behind me. turned;
and think my halfformed purpose was
visible in nay foce, as I once more con-
fronted old Espa, weird and witch like
in the moonlight, a warning finger held
up.
Sharp were her words, sharp as nv need
She babe me go down on my knees, and
thank God that He had sent her to save
me from my third peril the peril Of body
and soul. What was pulling over2
What tight had to Il ng away the life
that was given for the service of others2
How dared I tempt death, loving the
creature more than the Creator? She had
heard my raving to the winds when
thought myself alone, and had kept a
watch upon me. And she babe me 90
back home, and pray to be forgiven, and
to ''trast the Lord to make His dark
ways plain"
She took me by the hand, and led me
back like penitent child; said to my
aunt that she thought was not we'll. and,
by her leave, would watch me through
the night. Something she gave me, too,
and slept.
When I awoke chaise was at the gate,
and before could fasten my dress with
my trembling fingers Bella had burst in,
radiant with happiness, and flung her
arms around me.
"Come, Adela, make haste!" said she.
edward is all impatlence to see you and
show you our New Years gift"
"Edwardv"I gasped.
Eyes, my dear Edwardl Did you not
know his name2"
1t was all tangle. I followed her to
the livingroom below, where the great
holly bush was hanging, and there stood
stranger, who was introduced to me as
James Edward Neville, my oew cousin
and surely, too, Edgar, my own Edgar;
for he held out his arms and caught me
as was falling.
He had been best man at his cousins
wedding, and Bella had only seen him a
few days previously. The postman must
have lost another letter, one Edgar had
sent to me. The photograph had been
inclosed by mistake. The other would
be in the lost letter.
Old Elspa kept my secret we'll. But
never forgot the lesson she had taught
me; and though Edgar carried me away
from Cumberland as proud a wife as
Bella, we took good care of old Elspa for
the rest of her days.-Cos,elEs Maqazins.