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


The driving of the doctors buggy
into the yard stopped her remarks,
when Delieia returned to Alta Vanne-
var to find her in wandering delirium.
Three strange days were devoted to
nursing the invalids. A burning fever
made the young girl unconscious.
Aunt Thankfurs charge was con-
scious, but very weak and silent. In
deed, he seemed to himself to be in a
dream half fullof delights, but pervaded
by great trouble which he could
scarcely name.
The radiantly lovely face of Delicia,
the rustic of her dress, the sound of her
footsteps pervaded his consciousness
like blessing, while his desperate quest
and misfortune were only half-rcalized
by him in the bodily weakness and in
action of brain caused by excessive loss
of blood.
Glow long have I been here P"
Delicia sat by him, having taken
Aunt Thankful's place for a few mo-
ments, and started from a momentary
absence of thought to find Guy Van
nevar's eyes fixed piercingly upon her.
This is the fourth day. Are you
better P"
az am not sick, only in n sort of dream
which l cannot wake myself FROM"
You are very weak"
1T was you saw when came here,
wasn't it P'
"It was l who shot you," replied
Delicia, blushing.
"I-f remember. Oh, my sister
Altaw-trying to rise upon his elbow.
ellie down, please. You must not
exert yourself. / have something to
toll Won said Delicia
81 have been here four days, you say.
Good God! what will become of herp"
Drink this coffee and try to be quiet.
Alta is safe"
"How can you knowP"
81 have her in my care. Wallace
Munroe is dead--accidently killed"
And they were not marriedp"
NO"
"Thank God!"
And then he asked:
Are you sure of this?'
Entirely sure"
He could talk no longer, but was visi-
bly, better in few hours.
The next day, pale, wasted, but
strong, in simple earnestness, he said,
quietly, to Delicia:
"How wonderfully beautiful you
arem
Something in his eyes kindled hers,
and for the first time in her life Delicia
felt within her pure breast the warmth
and sweetness of love.
Half alarmed by her emotions and the
growing power of the beautiful eyes
bent upon her, she rose from her place
beside him.
You can see Alta to-day, you know
if she is better. will go and: see."
Alta Vanndvar was better in body,
but suffering in mind.
She looked like a living wrath in
one of Delicia's long white wrappers,
and turned from her brothers kiss and
sat down in Delicia's lap like a tired
child.
"Oh, if could die! know you love
me, Guy; but you did not love Wallace.
And he is dead. Oh, Delicia, you
understand-you are a woman. i loved
himm
Guy Vannevar looked down at the
two figures, buried in the great easy
chair, the serene woman folding the
suffering child to her bosom, and look
ineXpressible filled his soft dark eyes.
And Delicia, glancing up, saw it and
knew it was for her..
| cannot tell you how in few days
these two grew together; but when
Guy Vannevar had told her of his po-
sition as n gentleman and the son of a
gentleman, and discarded his disguise,
which had facilitated his pursuit of
Wallace Monroe, the atmosphere of
mystery and suspicion was entirely dis
PEELED, and as weeks and months brought
their developments and occurrences,
Delicia realized that the prayer of her
secret heart was granted one great and
good loved her, and had asked her to be
his dearly beloved wife.
All had come to her-love, romance,
marriage and happiness; but to-day
scarcely less beautiful than of yore, she
will tell you that few women add to
their history the experience of having
shot their husbands, which is hers.