The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1879-04-12
GOALS OF FIRE /;
OR,
EMMA'S EL0PEMENT.
BY G. W. STANTON.

emma, this is wrong l bcseech you,
give it up"
a>" " Wrong, Ada. No, it isnot wrong. Such
words wound me. Can you look into my
heart-can you feel the tumult there, the
bitter, bitter struggle between love and duty?
No, it is impossible Then, how can you
advise, how can youjudge of that which you
never dreamed Off
Emma passed her hand YEARLY over her
brow, and arising, slowly paced the room,
tears running down her cheeks the while,
and her busom throbbing convulsively.
did not mean to pain you, darling
Heaven knows nothing was further from
my intention 1" said Ada, throwing her arms
around her sisters neck, and gazing upon
her in mingled sorrow and affection. 81
only thought you might regret it afterwards
that it is not well to throw away love
tried and true for a love untried and un-
known"
" But life is not made up of one love = re-
piled Emma, passionately. Gift were, my
father would never have loved my sainted
mother, and you and had never seen the
light. You know not what you talk of!
Untred and unknown! Shame sister
How can you speak SO, when for five long
years Robert has waited, and hoped that
he might find favor in my fathers eyes
loving me all the while,and never swerving
an instant from the constancy? If this is
not patience -ifthis is not devotion, what is
it?"
She drew her lovely form up to its full
height, her face glowed with a noble enthusi-
asm, her eyes sparkled with the reflex OF
the emotion that thrilled her being, and one
unshed tear trickled down her cheek, adding
a touching pathos to her expression.
Ada gazed upon her in admiration, for an
instant forgetting her solicitude. But the
fear that that very beauty would be shadow
ed with care and gref-that that very gran
deur which now rested upon her like the
mantel Of an empress, would be changed to
the stoop of remorse by her own act, return
ed with force rcdoubled, and Ada plead
again vehemently.
81 know all this-I do not breathe aughl
against Robert; indeed, believe him to be
good but think, sister mine, this act will
change the whole current of your lfe-once
done, it cannot be undene, no matter how
much you may wish it. You at least will
lose nothing by waiting little longer"
"a little longer! VIII the heart that ha,
been hardening towards me"
No, not towards you, only towards youl
purpose"
"My purpose, then-'tis one and the same
thing. That purpose is my hope, my life
my all say, will the heart that has been
hardening towards me for five long years
melt noloI Will my fathers iron will bend
for no reason before unknown, simply tc
satisfy that vain hope of yours2 You sug,
gest mpossibilities-your love for me leads
you to idle faneies. must not-I cannot
i will nos listen to you! am resolved
and all the eloquence Of"
"Our mother, Emma-our dead mother
Could not she turn you from it?"
"No," with choking sob, not even hel
blessed voice for am right" Were she
alive, she would not oppose me as you anC
father do. But it is passwords are useless
God and my heart are with me-they
alone shall counsel me I"
"And you will leave your home, you
father, your brother, and me-leave US all
Emma?"
Yes"
"Knowing that father will think you un
grateful, and-and perhaps never forgiy'
you, perhaps die before you can make you
peace with him? ?"
Ada sprang forward and threw herself Of
her knees before her sister, and clasped he
hands in supplication.
Emma leaped to her feet and strobe away
her face very white, her bosom heayin
violently. Pausing involuntarily, she gag
ed upon the kneeling form, passed her ham