Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1880-03-20
COUNTY, MARYLAND, 20,
have washed them clean, come to see

have washed them clean, come to see
me-" ra a. 'rI
| And, cutting her horse with her
silvsr-hsndlsd whip. she dashed past
him ont Of night. f. sca
| The next week, he was invited to
dine at her fathers table. Mr.. Haw.
thorns would accept NO excuse. y
| ut is in our country an honor to
b Q self-mads man. I have no
guests of whom I shall bs more
proud" BAD
But when he entered the elegantly
appointed drawing rooms. Miss Haw-
thorns gave him simply . eourteous
bow Of recognition, and made no Of
fort to approach him. .,a &
OAos or twice during the meal, hs
found her eyes fastened on his face,
a. he was drawn on to speak on this
or that topic, a. it was presented,
while ono and another mingled in the
discussion, dsfsrring to his opinions
ss to those of q man who understood
himself. .... ..J -,s
| The ice once broken, he met her Of
ten, but never once had their hands
touched. He was admitted even in
to her circle now. He went only that
he might sec her, listen to her voice.
| With her, he never forgot the cold
night, the driving snow, the aenssless
inanimats form, she had brought back
to life, and light, and consciousness.
He gave no name either to his pain
or his exquisite happiness Of being
near her. He was in the mselstrom ;
let it whirl him whore it would.
The summer came, and on its wings
it brought the whisper that Miss
Hawthorne was to be married in the
autumn.
The day he heard it he went out,
as once before, to walk off the sharp
psng that made his former pain
seem nothing. Was it fate that, as
he turned into path leading through
the woods, he deserted ahead the
slight, willowy, graceful form he
knew but too WELL
| She was coming toward him. In
another minute they must meet but
even in that minute something came
between. There was sudden rust
ling Of the bushes. He heard low
cry from her lips, as a large dog
sprang on to the path, his blcod-shot
eyes and frothing lips, betraying his
madness. The creature sprsng to-
ward her, but the man was quicker.
He had thrown himself between them,
and graspsd the dog firmly by the
throat.
"Run for your life" he said, feel.
ing his strength could not long hold
out against such odds; but to his utter
amaEement she stood still.
i "You shall not die for me" she
said.
Then he remembered that in hil
pocket was a pistol, he had carried
for protection, whsn at night he had
BEEN intrustsd with money by the
firm. he told her where to find it.
"Hold him 4 minute longer she
said.
i The next, a sharp shot rang out on
the air, his hands relaxed, and the
brute fell bleeding at his feet.
he turned toward her. She waa
very pals, and the pistol had fallen
from her hold, but her eyes were FIX
cd on his hands. He looked down.
For the first time he saw that they
were bleeding.
care they washed clean ?" she
said.
| He held them toward her.
Eyes" he answered; though I have
saved your life for another man. I,
who have dared to love you"
| She spoke no word, but looking q
moment in his eyes, stopped and rails
cd first ono then the other to hes lips.
"There is but one man" then she
said, "to whom I will belong, and he
it il who for my sake washed his
hands in blood. Alex, it needed this
to lay bare our souls one to the
other.
Then she burst into bitter weeping,
but her tears fell ON his breast.
i