The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1880-04-01

her. l loved her truly, but her cold
love froze out my affection, pure, as l
knew it was; while this erring, passion
ate heart with which l flv is mine en-
tirely. She will soon be happy with an
other l know-happier than shall ever
be-aHd will forget, ere long, that there
ever breathed one so unworthy of her
thoughts as l. CHARLES CAMPBELL.
There were screams and tears and ter
ror in the house; but there, upon the
floor, set Ruth, pale and motion1ess, her
blood, and her eyes closed as though she
wished never to open them.
People said she bore it bravely, when
they saw her, in little while, quietly
and busy as before. When the wi IL was
opened, and it was found that Charley
Campbell had been disinherited, and all
the property was left to Ruth, they
spoke of it as an act of justice, and
thought that all was over; but /, and l
only, knew of the canker worm eating at
the young heart night and day.
Six months passed by, and we heard
nothing'of the false lover. We never
spoke of him to Ruth, or among our
selves, and all the love l ever felt for
him had turned to scorn.
At last one day letter reached me.
1t was postmarked c., and was from
a comparative stranger, who had writ
en- 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 dread of pursuit was over,
they had returned to this country.
Then for the first time they had heard
of the loss of Charley's fortune, and
W.T. o1 cto thnp, f1l1 -,
the face. Their debts accumulated, and
the change in circumstances brought
change of affection. They quarreled
madly, each reproaching the other, and
the white hand of the woman was often
raised against the man she once pro-
fessed to love. Sin-branded, beggared,
poor Charley Campbell paid the penalty
of his crime, and worse was yet to come.
They were in carriage one day,
driving toward dwelling place, for
debt had turned them from the old one.
They were quarreling in suppressed
voices, and looking hot hate into each
others eyes, when sight arose before
them that struck them dumb with hor-
ror. There, in the middle of the road,
stood the woman's injured husband,
with pistol in his hand, aiming straight
at them. Whether he meant to fire at
her was never kn ,wn; but the ball en-
tered her heart, and she fell forward
with a scream. The explosion of the
pistol frightened the horse; he became
unmanageable, and dashed forward
down hill, crushing the driver be-
meath the wheels, and stamping on and
mangling him. 1--WE think him dying
now." the writer continued. ellis
right arm has been amputated, and he
is prostraled by pain and loss of blood
lie has need # 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 20 my side un-
seen, and had read it also. Down at my
feet she knelt, and buried her face in my
lap us might grieving child. Neither
Of us shed IL tear, but we sat thus for IN
hour in utter silence. Al last she spoke
4 have favor to ask, Mary
Promise me that you " i'll grant it."
Anything, darling" replied.
Let me go with you, she murmured
"Let us nurse him if he is suffering
and be with him TO the last i he shoulC
die. He was almost my husband once
my dear, Oh, take me with you!"
do you remember how lie ha,
wronged you, RuthP" l asked.
" Mary" she answered, rising to he
feet. do not misunderstood me.
would not let him know of my presence
| do not seek TO bring myself to hi
remembrance. | will go with you as
maid or nurse; a coarse dress, a servant
cap, and the curtained light of sicl
room will keep me from his knowledge
! If he RECEIVERS he shall never know tina
| have been near him. l only seek Il
L.. 4 L.
| little good can, for loved him dearly.
Who could Withstand her? We wer
Oft next morning by the first conveyance
Ruth already wearing the servants dress
and hidden further still beneath clos
bonnet and veil.
had thought that nothing could hav
softened my heart to Charley Campbell
but | was mistaken when | saw hin
lying before me. Scared and manned
the shadow of his handsome self. NJ
tears fell fast, and l gave him my han,
as in the old times, when trusted in hi
honor and virtue. He was thankful 70
my presence, and whispered faint wor
of welcome, but before night fell he wa
delirious, and knew no one about him
Oh, the long days that followed!
shall never forget them. And throug
all Ruth never left his pillow. Whe
all the rest shrank from the wild raving
and the appraised arm o delirium, sh
never wavered; no toi' no vigil did sh
spare; and when, at last, he lay quie
and weak upon his pillow, her han
brought the invigorating draught an
lifted up the weary. helpless hanC
And this was the heart he had deeme
cold!
One Gay we sat together, Ruth and
beside the window, and Charley SCENE
to sleep. Suddenly he stirred an
called to me. l bent over him in a
instant.
Mary" he said, 81 have somethin
to say to you-something which lii
very heavily at my heart. Ii l shoul
die without uttering it, my soul woul
never rest. Mary, you remember whe
left Ruth. You know how felt thel
l believed her cold. thought that
the hot passion of the woman fled wit
| had found true love. l must hay
been mad, l think, for oh, how bitter
l have rued that belief. Mary, whe
you see Ruth Ear e tell her this, an
tell her, too, that long, long since l hay
discovered that she was my only love
3 that in throwing away her pu
1 woman,y affection / lost the richie
| Jewel in my life."
The words were uttered softly, bl
1 Ruth's ear had caught them she stoC
5 in the shadow, where he could not s
her, ana listened.
e Through all my fever have thoug
of her." he went on, land at times
: have thought she stood beside me. TIL,
Y | would strive to ask her forgiveness
a hit the sweet vision ALWAYS faded M