Stephens City star. (Stephens City, Va.) 1881-1883, 1881-09-24
she did SO to answer his question. I"
was thinking about you"

help me, little cousin"
His voice shook as he said the last
words he was thinking what a short
time was left for her to help him, she
looked so fragile and unearthly.
"Eva," he said. despairingly, sit is
the old story of ambition at war with
bitter, grinding poverty. have studied
all I can here books do not crow like
wild flowers would to Heaven they
did ] have tried to forget my dreams,
and resign myself to the inevitable; but
oh, I want to get away from this and be
something. Tell me what to do, little
GIRL" he concluded, in softer tone, his
white face showing the intensity of his
fierce struggle with his dearest wish.
"Talk to me if you are able-you always
calm me-"
"Poor boy!" The tone had that little
cadence of protection and pity in it COM
mon to loving women. "It is hard, I
know, Douglass she stopped sud
denly, and then went on-'I am going
to say something strange. When you
came in 1 was thinking of-you remem-
ber Uncle Jesse's will ?"
"Yes," he replied, wonderingly.
81 want you to have your wish-to be
a scholar" she continued, gravely. 81
know you will be great one-I feel it
here )" and she laid her hand upon her
heart. ~ want the money that dear
Uncle Jesse left me to do good. I meant
to make it if I lived" She spoke seri-
ously, with only gentle affection and
pure unselfishness looking from the soft
eyes, with not tremor of womanly
feeling, nor a flush of self consciousness
disturbing the serene grandeur of her
act. douglas, look at me )" her gaze
infinitely sad and sweet met his. "I am
going to die; will you marry me and
take my money!"
Douglas looked at her dumbfounded
for a moment. As he realized her good
ness, the depth and beauty of this in
nocent act of childlike devotion, he
buried his face and groaned aloud.
"Don'tl Oh, Eva darling, I can't let
you go! I could not accept your dear
sacrifice"
81 want you to have it" she pleaded /;
inot because ours would be like other
marriages, or that we love one another
as men and women do, but only to help
you when am gone"
Douglas sank on his knees reverently
by her side.
"Little girl" he said tenderly, "you
are an angelI I cannot take your money
in that way; it would be consuming
fire to devour my whole future life; the
touch of it would burn me. Eva, you
shall not do this. You deserve the best
gifts of earth and heaven. You shall not
die, and you shall be mine, when you
can be proud of me-"
"Oh, no, mol" she cried, shrinking
timidly. "Not unless I die. I did not
mean because you loved me-" The first
feeling that she had done wrong touched
her pure mind. "Of course I would
not marry you in any other way. You
will take it and use it for me? Please,
Douglas, let me do some good before
die I shall never enjoy it,"
The pleading eyes were dim with
tears, there was faint flush in the pal
lid face. Pride melted, and Douglas
Halstead said in unsteady tones,-
GAS sacred debt of honorI will ta6t
it. Heaven bless you! You are my
good angel. On you rests the crown o.
my future success" And he went away
thinking of her words "Of course ]
would not marry you in any other way,
with panied feeling in his heart that
he could not fathom.
He went to college later-how none
could conjecture-with little mystery
brooding about him, but none knew o.
the girl wife at home who as yet did MOI
love him, and who would permit nothing
but that he go at once. But Eva unae
countably lingered-was taken to tn
seashore, and across the water to sum
climes. AS if by magic she was raise
to better health. Always delicate sh
would be, something of an invalid, bu
the disease was gone; so said the fa
nous physician under whose care sh
was.
Eight years bloomed and faded, an
Douglas Halstead's name blazed like
star in public life. His talent amounte
to genius. The newspaper world courte
and fsted him, and fortune smiled upo
him. One gentle hand had opened th
store-house, so it poured out earth
choicest benefits upon him. He ha
repaid Eva's little fund long since.
"The greater debt" he wrote,
never can repay; I have you to than
for all have and am. 1 am SO glad yo