The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1880-04-02
,BURG, Pa, FRIDAY. APRIL 2, 1880.

worthy OF her thoughts as /.
CHARLES CAMPBELL"
There were screams aud tears and terror
in the house; but there upon the floor sat
Ruth pale and motionless, her brides veil
dabbled in the dead mans blood and her
eyes closed as though she never wished to
open them.
People said she bore it bravely, when they
saw her, in little while, quietly aud as
busy as before. When the will was opened,
and it was found that Charley Cambel had
been disinherited, and all the property was
left to Ruth, and thought that all was over;
but l. aud only, knew of the canker worm
eating at the young heart day and night.
Six months passed by aud we heard
nothing of the false lover We never spoke
of him to Ruth, or among ourselves, and
all the love had for him turned to scorn.
At last one day letter reached me. 1t
was post-marked c., and was from a
comparative stranger, who had written to
me as Charley's only relative. Oh what a
tale was recorded in those lines. can only
give the substance. The two had fled to
Europe at first; thence when the dread of
pursuit was over, they had returned to this
country. Then for the first time they had
heard of the loss of Charleys fortune and
poverty seemed staring them fully in the
face Their debts accumulated aud the
change in circumstances brought change in
affection. They quarreled madly, each re-
preached the other, and the white hand of
the woman was often raised against the man
she once prolessed to love. Sin.branded,
beggared, poor Charley Campbell paid the
penalty of his crime, and worse was yet to
come
They were in a carriage one day, driving
toward a dwelling place. for debt had turned
them from the old one. They were quarrel
reling in suppressed voices and looking hot
hate into each others eyes, when sight
arose before then that struck them dumb
with horror. There, in the middle of the
road stood the woman's injured husband,
with pistol in his hand, pointed at them.
Whether he meant to fire at her was never
she fell forward with scream. The explo-
sion of the pistol frightened the horse; he
became unmanageabe and dashed forward
down the hill, crushing the driver beneath
the wheels, and stamping on aud manglng
him. "We think him dying now" the wr-
ter continued. "His right arm has been am
putated and he is prostrated by pain and
loss of blood. He has need of the friends
whom he has so much offended; will you
forgive him and come to him."
The letter fell from my trembling fingers
Ruth had stolen to my side unseen, and had
read it also. Down at my feet she knelt
and buried her face in my lap as might q
greving child. Neither of us shed tear
but we sat TINS for an hour in utter silence
At last she spoke.
81 have favor to ask Mary Promise
me that you will grant it."
Anything, darling, replied"
'Let me go with you," he murmured
"Let us nurse him if he is suffering, and b,
with him to the last if he should die. Ht
was almost my husband once, my dear. Oh
take me with you ~
"Do you remember how he has wrongec
you, Ruth?" asked.
MARY she answered, rising to her feet
edo not misunderstood me. l would no
leave him know my presence. do not seel
to bring myself to his remembrance. | vii
go with you as a maid or nurse; coars
dress, a servants's cap, and the curtaine
light of sick room will keep me from hi
knowledge If he RECEIVERS he shall neve
know that | have been near him. | onl
seek to see him once again, and do what lii
tie good can, for loved him very dearl!
Mary-very, very dearly"
Who could withstand her? We were o
next morning by the first conveyance, Rut
already wearing the servants dress, an
hidden further still beneath a close bonn,
and veil.
had thought that nothing could hay
softened my heart to Charley Cambell, but
was mistaken when saw him lying befo
me, scared and manned, the shadow of hin
self My tears fell fast and gave him m
hand as in the old times, when | trusted
his honor and virtue. He was thank ful f
my presence, and whispered faint word
welcome; but before night fell he was deli
: ious and knew no one about him.
= Oh, the long days that followed | shs
never forget them. And through all Ru
never left his pillow. When all the re
7 shrunk from the wild rawlings and the u
: raised arm of delirium, she never wa we're
nor toll nor vigil did she spare; and whe
=, at last, he lay quiet and weak upon his p
low, her hand brought the invigorat
? draught lifted up the weary, helpless har
I And this was the heart he had deem
! cold
u One day we sat together, Ruth and I /
, side the window, and Charley seemed
- sleep. Suddenly he stirred and called
!; me | bent over him in an instant,
~ "Mary," he said, 81 have something
h say to you-something which lies very he
! lily at my heart, If | should die without
tering it my soul could never rest Ma
you remember when lett Ruth. You ku
C. how left then. | thought that in the
C passion of the woman | fled with |
VI found true love, | must have been ma
e think, for Oh how bitterly have rued t
~ belief. Mary, when you see Ruth Ea
+" tell her this, aud, tell her, too, that !
"e since have discovered that she was my {
Nv love-that in throwing away her pure
ny manly affection | lost the richest iewe
- my lifr."
us The words were uttered softly, but Ru
ear had caught them; she stood in the 81
TN ow where he could not see her and
lte ened.
m, Through all my fever have thougl
AN her." he went on, "and at times I
ON thought she stood beside me. Then W
strive to ask her forgiveness, but her :
ith vision always faded, and strange nurse