Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1879-06-14

'Heio yeeteIudy anu tney are III Sied
distress. Could l trouble you to &C
with me?
Il will do your errand. 1t is toe
stormy for you to venture out
ooh, it's no errand. I am cory tc
trouble anybody"
Mr.. Grey saw what was wanted
and saying he would be back direct,
ly vanished for his rubber suit.
The rain drove into theiy faces
and the wind howled through the
dark night like the minister of a
thousand storms-not for a poor fish
erwoman, perhaps but for one as good
and fair as Edith Willoughby, he
should not have hesitated a moment.
When they came upon the beach the
waves fairly leaped into their faces,
and Edith shivered and chung half
terrified to her companion in spite of
herself
81 believe you had better return
now, and leave it to me" he said.
mo, we are almost there l should
never forgive nyself if I did," she
answered, catching her breath as she
! spoke. ut is only you I'm worried
about"
II am glad to be able to help you,"
he said. Ard I think he spoke the
truth.
Inside the cottage poor Grace Poo
ley lay on her hard bed trying to
breathe on little longer, if so the
good God might send some friends be-
fore she died to care for her poor Or
phan boy.
When the door opened her eyes
frightened, and she raised up a little.
The Lord bless ye for coming. |
know He WILL" she said as Edith
threw off her wet covering and went
toward her.
"This is only one of the boarders
who came with me, she said IN re-
ply to the woman's questioning look.
81 should have come to day had l
known you were worse.
She sat d OWN beside the bed, and
Anson Grey watched her as she spoke
in low, tender voice to the grateful
woman.
Among the words which he could
distinguish was promise to sea to
Jamie and when the old woman who
seemed to be nurse came up to ad-
minister something, and in a half
whisper asked Edith to fray with
them, he began to think he was in
another world. And it was another
to him truly, Surely she would new
er do that. But she did. Kneeling
upon the bare floor, olasping her white
hands she sent up such prayer for
help and strength as Arson Grey had
never dreamed of hearing before.
After that night Arson Grey knew
where his heart was, but for his life
he dared not approach Edith. She
seemed an immeasurable distance
from such as he, bat he cherished the
memory of her prayers as the one
glimpse inCo leavea for which he
should thank Godali ME life.
Edith's mother was a gay woman,
and such she meant her daughter to
be, though for her life she could not
keep her from terreting out and help |
ing also, an innumerable number of |
forlorn, poverty stricken people who
had no earthly claim upon her, as
they went their fashionable rounds.
1t was notifying, even exasperating,
but she was rowerless to prevent it.
They were to be off again soon, An
son Grey heard, but he would have
missed seeing had he not accidental
ly met her as she was hurrying up
the beach toward their boarding
house on the very day they left. He
could not let her go without telling
her what was in his heart.
MAY l speak to you moment ?"
he said, abruptly stopping her.
"Certainly."
AS the words left her lips, she saw
what his speaking was going to be.
ooh, not that, Mr.. Grey"
Somehow he took courage from the
quick paling of her lips.
"Yen, that l love you and want you
for my wife"
~ am to be married Christmas"
He turned and was leaving her,
when something made her speak.
"Mr. Grey"
He faced her again and she saw