The Brookhaven ledger. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1880-07-15

up your world, that you have not
much time to LOOK down to mine.
There are people Who think such as
we have no time to love, but you
have seen Mary aad my boy, and
You'll tell me if l tire you?
81 was a careless fellow enough
six years ago, not neglecting my du-
ty when at my post, but fond OF a
good time with my companions
when off duty, always ready to ac-
cept friendly glass, and sometimes
with my head not quite steady when
l mounted my engine, though the
air always set me right before we
had gone far on our way.
"One evening, at dance. l met
Mary Morton. She was the pretti7
est girl in the room, sir, and little
bit of coquette in those days,
though no more than natural, with
all the young fellows trying their
best to turn her head.
"I was not long behind the rest.
II couldn't get her -out OF my
Thoughts ,Tbut it did not take me a
great while to find out the truth o;
the matter. | had lost my heart,
The only question was, would she
turn me adrift, or give me hers for
that she had stolen? 1t was many a
week before | got up my courage
enough to determine to ask her to
be my wife. Every moment of of
duty | would spend with her, until
| grew to fancy she used to watch
and wait my coming.
But was not without my jealous
hours, for all that. How did | know
how she spent the time, | was 50
constantly away from her?
At last | heard of another dance,
to be given on the night | would be
off duty. | could not see Mary un-
til then, but felt sure sha would
know ! would come for her and
would 90 with no one else.
But when the evening arrived, l
found, when called for her, that
she had already gone. Perhaps, sir,
in your rank of life, you know, too,
what it is to be jealous, and how a
man destroys his future happiness
by it.
my first words to Mary were
those of reproach, while her smile at
my entrance died away, and her
face grew white"
Il did not know you We're coming
John. How could II
"You might have waited. then"
| exclaimed.
| "And stayed at home, perhaps,
to have had you |; ugh at me, with
the rest. Besides | am quite salts
fled with my escort, and believe l
am the only persol to be consulted
in the matter. A
"As you will" ] said. turning on
nv heel, muttering the word Co.
auette! between ny Teeth, and un-
needing the little pleading glance
she sent from time to time across
the room to where / stood"
"She was not without pride, and
if she suffered from my GOODNESS,
she only smiled the brighter on 9th
ers, until / grew mad with jealous
anger. That night began a series
of dissipations with which / en-
ployed every leisure moment. l
drank more deeply than l had ever
done in my life-not as before, for
so called good will and good fellow
ship, but to drown memory.
Il did not 60 near Mary for a
month. To me it seemed year.
Once, after a nights carousal, Ipas-
sed her on the street; but not until
long after did learn of the bitter
tears my haggard face and dissipa-
ted air had cost her. Finally my
better nature triumphed, and went
to her, repentant, to ask her forgive
ness, and perhaps her love.
"On long, lone night ride l
made up my mnid to do this, though
like a thousand devils, memories of
the moments had spent in the last
few weeks crowded around men, as
Though taunting me in contrast to
her purity; but with Gods help |
would make myself worthy, l said
aloud, and thought the hours would
never drag along until l could find
myself once more in her presence.
She came in to see me, holding out
her hand with sweet smile of well
come, as though we had parted yes
terday, and yet-and yet there was
a change. All, I learned it, all too
soon! In those first few moments l
told her the story of my life for the
past few months, of what it had
been before / knew her-of what it
should be if she would give me the
assurance and promise of her love.
Then paused. For moment si-
lence fell between us; then she
spoke. A bright fash was in her
cheeks, her lips trembled, her lash
es yelled her eyes, but her lips fal-
tered not"
"John," said she, 81 am only a
girl, it is true, but the man l marry
must be man. Perhaps l might
have loved you''-here a little trem-
BILE crept into her tone-"but l have
almost ceased to respect you. Were
YOU my husband, ] would fear for
: you, and fear and love cannot go
,, hand-in-hand.
"Stop" l said. "Do you want to
drive me back to the life 1 had hop
ed to have left behind me? 0, Mary
; do not be so cruel. Be my wife, and
let me prove the stuff that is in
me-"
"No, john" she answered, softly
but the blue eyes now raised tt
mine were swimming in tears. 81
: you have seen the wrong, surely
YOU will not return to it. Rather
, if YOU indeed love me, prove your
, self a man. 1t does not take a bat
tie field to make a hero"
"Prove yourself a man. Thes'
|, were the, words that haunted me in tn
weeks that followed, saving me from
ruin would else have drifted into
i but torturing me with their hope
lessness. What hope had ], in m
, rountine of duty. of changing Mary
mind? Yet, spite her words, some
,b;po; in her eve had told me tina