The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1880-06-24


passionate love crept to her mother
eyes, for cruel and heartless as Aim
La Troy had proved herself, she love
her only child with all her life and soul
From the first time the baby lips nur
INJURED mamma she had worshipped
with wild, passionate love. Many
time, as she gazed upon the beautiful
little face, and listened TO the swee
voice, wild fear would take possession
OF her as she thought OF the life and
soul she had wrecked. "The Sins Of the
parents shall be visited upon the chill
dren, and then she would kneel ant
pray, as she had never prayed for her.
self:-"ohl God, spare my innocent
child; let Thy wrath fall upon my head,
but have mercy on my child" Ah al
ma La Troy, did you have any mercy
on him who sleeps so far away in R sui.
cide's gravep
The long years had passed away. To,
day was Violet La Troy's nineteenth
birthday, and there was look of per.
feet JOY on her fair face as she raised il
for her mothers kiss. "Are you happy,
my darlingP" Alma asked, tenderly,
clasping her in her arms. ooh, yes,
mamma; l am so happy. Tonight is
my ball, mamma" and she buried her
face on her mothers shoulder. "Mam-
ma, Carroll has just left, and oh | he
says he loves me, and l am 80 happy. "
Mrs. La Troy raised the girls head
and looked keenly into the beautiful,
blushing face. There was slight look
OF pain about her mouth as she asked,
"Do you love him, dearestf" "Love
him, mamma" was the passionate an
swer; ~ love him better than my life.
Without his love 1 could not live." A
shudder shook Alma La Troy's frame.
She had seen that look upon another
face long years ago.
Very lovely Violet La Troy look ed in
her ball dress Of pale pink satin, trim
med with lilies OF the valley and rich
point lace. She stood in the conserv.
atory, under the dropping lilies and
Japonicas, the mellow light streaming
upon her fair, upturned face as she
gazed into the eyes Of a young man
standing by her side. "How beautiful
you are, little Violet he said, taking
the small, ieweled hand, "and b ow very
sorry ! am that l must leave you."
''Leave me, Carroll" she cried;--
"what do you meant" He looked at her
quickly. why, of course, I must go,
Violet. Did you not know that am
engaged to be married 2" "Engaged |"
broke from the girls lips, while hue,
like the pallor OF death, settled upon
her face. Engaged to be married I'll
Oh, my God you are joking. Tell me,
Carroll, tell me You are joking" "No,
Violet, l am not joking" he answered,
his voice slightly troubled, "I thought
you knew it,"
"Engaged-engaged to be married."
murmured the girl, a look OF awful,
despairing anguish on her face, "and
you told me you loved me-you taught
me to love you"
"Why, OF course loved you, Violet:
who could help it ? you are SO beautiful.
But 1 loved you as brother might love
his sister. Oh, Violet, forgive me-
for the wild agony of her face terrified
him. "Oh, I did not mean to do this.
Tell me, Violet, you forgive me-" Not
one word issued from her palIid lips,
but with low cry she sank at his feet
nsenslble.
Three months later and Alma La Troy
sneels beside the couch of her dying
'hld. A stream of sunlight shines
through the window upon the beautiful,
narble'like face OF the dying girl, and
he dark eyes unclose and wander to the
ace OF her mother. Mamma" the
pale lips murmur, 'do not grieve for
ne. / want to die" "Violet, Violet,
ny darling, my only one, do not die. 1
'annot live without you. Oh, my God
ny God spare her to me-" Then, with
'lasped hand, and her white, despairing
ace raised to the blue sky, Alma La
Troy uttered a wild prayer Of entreaty
o the God she had 80 grievously offend
d-a prayer that sent o thrill, half
'ity, half fear, through the hearts OF
he listeners. But God turned deaf i
ar to her appeal, for as the last wild
7ords died away smile lighted up the ,
ace OF the dying, and stretching ont J
or arms towards the blue sky she sank !
ack on the pill ow. "Mamma Papa
)arroll 1t was all over. Violet was '
cad. A low wall OF heart broken an ;.
uish echoed through that silent room /
oh, my God she ia dead My sin {
as fallen upon my innocent child" Il
Yes, it was true. He who slept in his tl
nknown grave, amid the wild flowers, Z
as at last avenged. What pleasure p
'ould her riches bring her now g. q
You'd she not willingly exchange that .
rincely dwelling and retinue OF SER
ants for the hut Of beggar to bring to !,
fe again the beautiful form lying cold n
death AS she had sown 80 she 9
'aped. =
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