The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1879-03-27

one as good and fair as Edith Willoughby
he should not have hesitated moment.
When they came upon the beach the
waves fairly leaped into their faces, Edith
shive red and chung half terrified to her
1mpanion in spite of herself.
" believe you had better return now,
and leave it to me-" he said.
No, we are almost there. should never
forgive myself if did," she answered,
catching her breath as she spoke.
1T is only you am worried about"
VI am glad to be able to help you," he
said. And think he spoke the trouth.
Inside the cottage poor Grace Pooley
lay on her hard bed trying to breathe on
little longer, if so the good God might
send some good friends before she died, to
care for her orphan boy.
When the door opend her eyes bright
ened, and she raised up little.
"The Lord bless We for coming. ! know
he WILL" she said as Edith threw Oft her
wet covering and went toward her.
This is only one of the boagaers who
came with me, she said in reply to the
woman's questioning look. II should have
come to-day had known that you W, re
worse.
She sat down beside the bed, and Arson
Grey watched her as she spoke in low,
tender voice to the grateful woman.
Among the words which he could distin-
guish was promise to see to jamie; and
when the old woman who seemed to be
nurse came up to administer something,
and in half whisper asked Edith to pray
with them, he began to think he was in
another world. And it was another to
him truly. Surely she would never do
that. But she did. Kneeling upon the
bare floor, clasping 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
dares not approach Edith. She seemed
an Unreasonable distance from such as
he, but he cherished the memories of her
prayers as the one glimpse into heaven for
which he should thank God all his life.
Edlth's mother was gay woman, and
such she meant her daughter to be,
though for her life she could not keep her
from ferreting out and helping also, an
innumerable number Of forlorn, poverty
stricken people who had no earthly claim
upon her, as they went their fashionable
rounds. It was notifying, even exasper-
atine, but she was powerless to prevent
it. They would be off again, soon, Arson
Grey heard; but he would have missed
seeing had he not accidentally 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 | speak to you a moment?" he
said, abruptly stopping her.
Certainly"
As the word left her lips she saw what
his speaking was going to be.
''Oh, not that, Mr. Grey"
Somehow he took courage from the
quick plling of her lips.
"Yes, that; love you and want you
for my wife"
81 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 how
white and stern he looked.
Had | been free you would not have
asked in vain"
For days and weeks afterward Arson
Grey Rugged the memory of her look, as
she said those blessed words, to his heart,
caring more for that than the love and
caresses of any other.
Christmas came, but death came with
it, and Edith's lover went his long jour
ney, leaving his afiianced bride and her
scheming mother to console themselves as
best they might
In way mysterious to all save Will
liam Skinner, Edith heard of Arson Grey's
Illness, and, as we have seen, went to him
and had the courage to become his wife.
The people of Burlingame learned to
love the gentle mistress of the old stone
mansion on the hill, and never suffering
one called for help in vain, as long as
my lady," as they called her, was mis-
tress there.