The Benton weekly record. [volume] (Benton, Mont.) 1880-1885, 1880-06-25
now SINE RrAHsRHED HIM.

considerable period, whatever Of falninir
y charms and graces she might have ono
possessed, when handsome fortune droI
i ped down upon her as if from the clouds.
Had the riches come score Of yeal
i sooner, there is no telling what might hay
e been. Keziah's attractions, had neye
been. SO to speak, dazzling. E:ut tWent
# years have great potency in turning din
pies into wrinkles, and lines Of beauty in
8 to crow s feet. and many an atlyenturou
3 CGlebs who might have found Miss Buck
}, thorne a match not unacceptable, wit
> such a fortune, at twenty-five, passed he
by at five-fortv, saved from the sin of GOV
etousness by the reflection that she and he
money We're inseparable conjuncts.
Q Even Topham Gynblaney, the daily pro
blem of whose life was to keep adjusted
the balance between a very moderate in
come and quite expensive tastes, and wh'
looked upon a thrifty marriage as the goa
| of human wishes, after a few visits of re
connoissance to Keziah, which left him il
doubt that he had but to say the word tt
receive a gracious answer, left the wore
unspoken.
Mr.. Gynblaney's visits had ceased fo1
some weeks, when message came one day
that Miss Buckthorne was quite ill-had
fallen into decline, in fact-and had been
given up by DR.. Croke. She desired to see
Gynblaney and such other friends as might
i wish to bid her farewell ere she started on
that Journey whence there is no return.
j Of course there was no refusing such a
request. Decorously clad in solemn black,
and with face put on to match, Topham
| Gynblaney presents himself at the invalid s
door.
elbow is she, doctor?" he inquired
grayely, of dried-up little man, who met
him at the threshold with countenance in
which was a whole homily on the vanity
Of hope.
"sinking rapidly" DR.. Crokc replied;
''those who wish to see her alive have no
| time to spare
"There is no chance for her, tllen?"
| ''Not the slightest. Constitution gone
nervous system shattered-lungs collapsed
no recuperative -force-no-o
"How long do you think she'll last?"
interrupted Topham, anxiouslY.
"Eight-and-forty hours at the furthest;
more likely less than half Of it. Would
you like to see herr" asked the doctor, at
length.
ri called for that purpose, = returned the
other.
'Let me apprise her Of your presence,
said the doctor; ''in her present state any
sudden surprise might prove fatal"
After brief absence the doctor return
ed.
''This way" he said, leading the visitor
to the sick-room.
Mr.. Gynblaney was shocked az the spec
tacle that met him. His heart, we have
limited, was pretty tough; but tough as it
was, it was touched at the sight Of the pale
emaciated face--enough of itself to dispel
all doubt of the truth of the doctors pre-
dictions.
-is-Very-kind-of you, Top
Mr.. Gyn-blaney, l mean," the sick lady
murmured, spasmodic cough interrupt
ing her words.
Mr.. Gynblaney took the chair placed for
him at the bedside, and clasping in his own
the thin hand extended to welcome him,
returned its trembling pressure.
The doctor and the nurse retired to pre-
pare posset for the patient, leaving the
latter and Mr.. Gynblaney alone.
II trust you will be better soon,'' said
Mr.. Gynblaney, with Well-meant hypocri-
sy.
past-hoping ~ was the
scarcely audible answer. "Dr.-Croke-
has-told-ne-the-
DR.. Croke, we may here remark, always
told his patients the worst. It they got
well, the more credit to him. lftley died,
of course it wasn't his fault
A sudden thought flashed across Mr.
Gynbaney. If he could only marry Miss
Buckthorne nor In two days, or less, he
would be widoWer, and the lawful pos
SCISSOR Ol HIS Nile l'ibtllc' iiSiS wac an
opportunity indeed!
Rubbing his eyes with his handkerchief
till they watered and looked red from the
torce of the friction, he gave the hand an
other and more tender pressure.
sDear Keziah,': he whispered softly be-
tween his sobs, ''how-how-cruel that
that we sh-shoilld be parted thus! | have
long cherished the purpose he went on,
hurriedly, mastering bis emotion with an
effort, s'of asking you to be mine. Diff
dence alone restrained me. But if you
will even now consent
Observation-Disclosures -it-would-be
a-comfort-to you-Top- Topllam, dea-''
The cough would not allow her to fin
ish.
'sIt would! it wouldHS he exclaimed,
with burst of well-feigned feeling. ssTo
call you mine, but for an hour, though
lost you the next, would forever link my |
soul to precious memory which-which
-
Mr.. Gynblaney was on the point of end
ing his flight with an inglorious flop-down
when Keziah came to the rescue.
-as-you-please,- ,-dear," F."
she sighed.
ssNo time is to be lost !" he cried, spring
ing up. "Let us send for a minister at
once !"
Just then the doctor and the nurse re-
turned. The minister was summoned, and
few minutes sufficed to make Topham
Gynblaney and Keziah Buckthorne one
flesh.
A tinge, which might have passed for a
blush twenty years ago, oyefspread the
BRIDES countenance For some moments
she lay like one entranced with happiness.
esI,oppy, DEAR she said, when they
were again alone, 81 feel rs if could eat
something; they've kept me on Cruel till i
am nearly starved. =
ssWhat would you like, dearest -
essome tea and toast, and chops, and
boiled eggs, and
ssGood Heavcns." exclaimed the doctor,
entering in time to catch a portion Of the
list. Edo you wish to commit sl1icides'
ssWf,at hurt can it ao?' she answered. |
s.You have already told me there is noI
hope
II think we might as well crafty her, =
her husband added; and finding himself
outvoted, the doctor held UP bis hand II
Mortified protest.
The repast was brought and received
ample justice.
Next morning Mrs. Gynbla1ey was up
by-times packing her trunks for an elabo-
,ate weadinr tOur. from which her hils-