The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1880-03-30

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two refractory girls, Lola was allowed
comfortable accommodations went away
with his heart crushed to the very earth,
and feeling as il never again would the
sun shine golden. bright for him.
While Lola vent slosly up to the little
plain room which vas not so pleasant rs
had been the servants rooms in her own
fathers house. 60
There Was little look OF pain on her
mouth and . deep, troubled expression
10 her eyes - she cat patiently down to
some sewing. t,~a..t ,,,
IL could not have done otherwise
oh, 1t would have been dreadful to have
promised to be his wife because be could
ssye me from this liiei wish I could
love him; I have tried and tried, and ]
cannot" - ......... .se
And then, the matter thus censcien.
tiously settled in ber own mind, Lola
vent on in her plain, new dull little way
of living, TO be suddenly and sharply
aroused from It day two or three weeks
later by . telegram from Hugh Fsnton,
thss briefly sid only this:
II am dying. Willyou come 70 me p
Dyingi Her one good friend. her one
dear friend. Dying! II seemed cruel
mockery to think OF bis dying in. the
eush and glory OF maturity, with every.
thing In the world to live for.
She hassened to him % fast % the
nrst train could take her, to 6ud him ly-
ing pale and peaceful, waiting for the
woman be loved.
He could still speak, wearily. and with
labor, but his face grew radiant with .
tenderness that seemed lees OF mortal
joy than the rejection from the hither
shore, when she knelt weeping beside
him. g 81 1 aa
mo; this 10 best for me, Lola" he
ssid, tenderly. II would rather die like
this. With you here beside me, than live
without you My darling. do you know
whv have sent for youp
Even amid al the pity and desolatiou
in her heart, she shivered at his suggest
i've words. ~ @
"0h. my friend, Hugh"
He interrupted her, quietly. s
II want you to let me give you my
name before l 90, dear. / want you to
know how thoroughly. how perfectly ]
love you. You will not refuse ? 1t 10
the last request / shall make Of human
being-don't refuse me this--don't send
me sway-out yonder-without grant
ing me this. Il will not hurt you, Lola
II shall not be here to annoy-you will
be comfortable and happy, and free as
overland l."
He smiled In her borriied eyes. 3
"Oh, Hugh-no! mo-! 1 cannot take
advantage OF you'll dare not be 90 cru
ely sel6eh-'' fas5fa Jaw as
II understand, dear-fully. But you
seem to forget how it will take the last
sting from my dying pillow, how It will
tighten the way clear to the beyond, il I
may know my wife weeps for me-"
Her beautiful face Nas pala A .hia. .her
eyes gIowed Ike dusty starS, neT v0IVe
WUo CtCdhs totSuoCs tFtktiE9s
"Will it do that for you. my friend
Knowing all you know, will it please and
comfort your assaa "a. 40 si7ioa
1T will make me Welcome death to
call YOU my wife one little bour.''
"Then, Hugh, whenever you are ready,
I am ready" 7l.ss4s esas4sai . ~
And so, half-hour later, the family
Clergyman stood ct the bedside, and in
the presence. of the dying man's mother
and sister. and the eray.haired physi
clan, Lola was made Hugh's wife.
Nor, except for the mortal pallor ol
her sace, and the desthly coldness Of
her hand, did the man who loved her
know OF the terrible agony thst was 10
her mind. 2
And the minister went away, and Cla.
RI Fepton kissed the dear, peaceful. ra-
diant face on the pillow, and threw her
arms round LolSs neck and sobbed on,
her anguish and gratitude. and the dear,
quivering.lipped old mother blessed ber
boys wife, and Dr.. Sandtord shook hel
hand warmly. =. go -
II only wish l might have eeen :hil
under other circumstances, Mrs. Fen.
ton" be ssid, and nobody but the man
Who loved her saw the uncontrollable
sbudder that surged over Lola st the
sound Of the new name.
An hour or go later the family lawyer
Was closeted with Hugh Fenton, and
when Lola Was called in, afterward, hel
busband's face Was 50 exquisitely peace.
tul and satisned that it almost startled
her. gee sssaIsia' s'e
doctor Sandford tells me there 10 on.
lly an hour or 90 more, in oil probability
Everything Is done, my wife. I am =
peace with the world, my conscienc,
and heaven. Sit here with me, dear
until-the last. want your sweet ias,
TO be the last I see this side" zee ,et
i So there they were, she, cold. pale
strung to . nervous tension that wai
agony 10 endure, and he-preceptibl,
growing further away, until, like bab.
on its mothers breast, be closed bis eyes
All Though the night they waschet
and waited for the breath to hutter ava,
forever, and just when the dawn begsl
} to break DR.. Sandford took his finger
of the wrist, and turned with . choked
solemn voice: sia
"Thanks be to God Hugh will live
The crisis hes passed. and bic pulae hs
been strengthening steadily for fftee
. minutes! shts rs
! And the next second Lola lay 10
dead faint on the door beside her hul
bands bed, ea sig @ aai ltal ,ssl
} Her husband An dhe. would live An
she-did not love him! Heayen he pit
, Iful! i's ss&es ~ e3
> Such fearful days followed, and y,
: nobody but these two understood any
thing about Il, and even they did M
? wholly understand each other.
. Such awful days, when Lois praye
y that ct heart she might not be . murde
1 ess; that heaven would give her strens,
!. to endure the life forced upon her; whs
d Hugh Cursed the fate that spared hin
because she was 80 cruelty punished
= the mistake oft all. iisFg ii'R eF
III Days, snd weeks, aud months passe
= finding Lola always q her post, alws.
! where fond loving wife would be; tin
ing her growing moro and more patier
a. a 4