The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1880-11-27

He knows how poor you are, and he says h.
does not like to die, leaving me poor mans
wife. He looks so i'll now, Ralph, that
cannot contend with him. You know |
would sooner die than displease my loving
kind old father therefore, / have given
him my promise. He says that if at the
end of "A year, we still love each other, he
will bless our penniless wedding, whether
he blesses it here or in heaven.
"Ralph, my one love, you know | will be
true, and, my darling, trust in you. II
you love me, Ralph, do not answer this let
ter, but remain true for year.
"Do not blame me for this am doing
exactly as my poor, foolish. though loving
Uoolish through his love for his little Lynny
father wishes.
"Believe me, Ralph, I will be truo in
every thought, during the year, and you be
faithful the same length oftime; then come
and claim her, whose proudest hope is that
she is still "YouR DARLING."
81 never wrote it, Ralph" was all ! said,
but my heart cried bitterly;
"Dell Dell! can never forgive YOU"
for knew she wrote the letter.
''You never wrote it? you never wrote it?
Lynny," he said, his grand Saxon face pale
as death.
"Ralph," cried, forgetting again my
agony, that l was the wife of another, 81
believed you false to me. Oh, God the
agony of that belief; and in my madness
and despair, married Willard Grey.
"My father asked me to do so on his
death-bed, said he could not die happy, leav
ing me, his darling, unsettled in life. Dell
could take care of herself, and she had money
in her own right, but II, his youngest
child, would not only be alone, but penni
less, for he knew Dell had no love for me,
and he would not leave me to her care"
"Ralph, thSd told me, anxiety for my fu-
many years, or Ar ieast, a lIttIe longer, wert
hiSmind at case"
81 thought you false, and would have
given my life for father, and SO and SO,
married Willard Grey"
ooh my darling my pretty one f.! could
you not have trusted me?" he said; then
as if remembering himself, he continued, 81
came to bid you farewell, sweet, even be-
lieving you false, could not go, withou
once looking on your face, but did no
mean you should see me-"
had asked God to forgive me all my
sins, so must have asked pardon for thii
one among the rest. | made no resistance
when Ralph took me in his arms,and pressed
one, only one, farewell kiss on my lips.
Goodbye, my pretty one, goodbye" h'
said, and then stood alone, beneath thu
dropping trees.
Stood alone beneath the dropping trees
knowing that never again in this life, woulC
my eyes rest on the face Of Ralph St, Clair
That was six months ag5 and then
thought my heart had known the depth o
ils suffering.
God help me l did not know all tn,
heart could bear and not break.
Two months ago, suffered more-more
do not know il it wcro more-but this,
do know.
Two months ago, Willard and Dell and
were over to friends to dinner.
We do not visit yet, but she was an ole
friend of fathers.
Del's lover was there, but very few strang
er's.
We were all gathered round the table
when Victor Leigh, that is his name, Deli
/ lover, mean, looking up, said;
"By Jove Twelve OF us round the table
if mother had come, and am glad she di,
lot, there would have been thirteen"
Willard looked up and laughed.
"superstitious, Leigh? that's goodi but i
would be more natural for your great-grand
mother to believe in that, than you. Their
is only twelve OF US here, now if one of u
died, you would
Ny husband stopped short, his face grow
ing pale, his eyes had rested on me, and
know fear went through his loyal hear
that before another year he might lose me.
"You may laugh as much as you like,
Victor said, not noticing how suddenly vii
lard had stopped "but was at a dinner
year ago, and thirteen of Us sat down, eacl
OF us saying he did not fear the fatal mum
ber."
do not know what impelled me to asl
the question, l only know asked it.
"Did one of them die ?"
"Yes," he SAID. "You all knew him, BY
the way, a splendid fellow, handsome as
young demi-god. Ralph St, Clair. Drowned
at sea, you know"
The next moment Dell was beside me.
"Make no scene, for Gods sake, Evelyn.'
| do not know whether she called il
scene or not. only looked wearily al he
for a moment, and then, Tor the second tint
in my lilo, quietly tainted away.
That is two months ago, and know
will soon see Ralph. / think God has for
given me all my sius, because am not fright
ened at the thought Of dying.
wonder will see him up in heaven.
am almost sure Will.
wonder also, as lie here, will Willar.
mourn long for me. Poor Willard # good
ness got its reward in this world, you woul'
be happy but, do not think it doesi loT
know ynu will sorrow hug, for your po"T
little, child wife, as you call her. It is rath
er sad that should die. | almost pity my
self, as picture my grave and the naitl
headstone, and think SOC the name
"EvELYN GREYs
Aged nineteen"