The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1881-07-22

'It is as deathless as my love-" said
Leslie, softly. ''Tell me why, little
friend"
"I don't know why I should" said
Wilma, the stern pallor of her face grow
ing no less; but you have shown me the
truth I never dreamed dwelt in human
form. / will trust you with what no
mortal but my dear uncle, Ralph Bar
rington, knows and loves me for"
''Did you think I ever was married ?"
she questioned. ssWas," she said, scorn-
fully, as Leslie turned white, 81 am not
now, thank Heaven. When was fifteen
I ran away from boarding-school with
Leon Fontaine. No matter all he did !;
but he drank, gambled, tortured me,
broke my heart-for I did have heart
then--starved me till my little child,
my innocent baby, died of cold and
hunger in my arms, and was buried in
the Potter's field"
Two tears dropped here from eyes
that burned like fierce white flame,
then she was ice cold and distant as
Gver.
81 could not bury her," she said,
with husky sob, and Leslie Murdock,
his whole soul on his lips, cried pas
sionately:
'Don't distress yourself; your con-
fidence is sacred; come to me-"
His arms were opened to her, his ten
der, worshiping eyes wooed her, but
she put him, steadily, gently aside.
'sNo," she answered low, mot there ;
let me finish. Leon died by his own
hand in den of wickedness, infamous
in itself, shame to his manhood and
an insult to me; then I must have
starved, but Uncle Ralph found me,
pitied, me, loved me. / have hated all
men loved to distrust and distress
them till now"
"And now Y-Leslie Murdock's voice
was winning and sweet-"my own love,
my wounded dove, come find refuge
upon my heart and let me teach you
how love can atone for all the heart
pangs. As Heaven is my witness, you
shall never regret it."
With infinite sadness she shook her
head
"No," she said solemnly, s'I shall
never be any mans wife. Your friend,
if you still wish, never any more"
In vain he reasoned, pleaded and be-
sought her; she was more sweetly win
ming than he ever knew her, but rock
could not have been more infexible.
When, at last, he bade her goodbye,
he said, softly
'.Dear little friend, I will help you
bear your burden. Bless you for your
confidence. Goodnight"
He kissed her hand reverently and
was gone.
One year, two years. The season was
at its gayest at the old summer resort.
Island Home" had risen, phenix-like
from its ashes, and was more beautiful
and tempting, more sought after than
ever. Wilma Darlington was there, with
a new, softer light in her face, less stern
and cold than two years before. How
true a friend Leslie Murdock had
proved. Only once had he, while teach
ing her anew the sweet lesson of belief
in life and humanity, asked hsr love.
and received the old answer:
81 shall never marry"
She missed the old companionship.
Every nook in the beautiful summer re-
sort brought suggestions of that happy
time, the sweetest Wilma could remem-
Der of her whole life. AS the loss grew
upon her she began, with heart-sick
longing, to wish for him until she
shrank back, abashed and fearful at
this painful, new experience. Yet she
was not willing to surrender; pride had
held sway too long.
"Oh, for death r she prayed, "for in
life he will never know"
She had climbed Promontory Rock to
watch the incoming waves and the dying
sunset, with unutterable sadness and
loneliness at heart. None guessed what
lay beneath the serene, marble-white
face, upon which years had left SO slight
an impression.
81 must co." she told herself, rising
at last. 81 did not know how late it
was"
What was it that bIanched her cheek
to the hue of death?
The waves had risen till every avenue
had been cut off. In few hours they
would sweep her from her frail foothold
out into the world beyond.
Oh it was cruel. Life was sweet,
after all, when dreary death stared her in
the face. The thought of that tender
love she had so slighted came to her,
and there was that cold, merciless water
creeping slowly up, and the dashing sea
spray wrenched her quivering form.
Once she cried aloud for help, but only
the moan of the waves answered her. At
last in lonely despair, she. crouched,
shivering, against the cold rocks, wait
ing to die.
"Oh, lovel' she cried, family ''in
Heaven you will know"
Hark Was it fancy? A shout, dis
tant CLEAN of lights came over the toss
ing waters. Nearer and nearer the little
bark came to the perilous rocks once
she heard her name called as she drifted
away for an instant into unconscious
ness; then, amid the darkening storm
that was rising, in the rocking, eddying
fisherman's boat she knew herself folded
safely to the heart of Leslie Murdock.
'sMy own, my priceless treasure,
almost lost r. he was saying as he shell
tered her shivering form. 81 was COM
ing back toyou, and oh, to find you thus r
His voice broke, but two wet clinging
arms were about his neck.
"Once by fire, once by food Love, il
is not in vain; you are mine."
Forever more, all your own r
The voice was trustful, her passionate,
clinging touch never faltered in the
darkness.
Leslie Murdoch kissed in speechless
rapture the lips SO near his own.
There, with the toiling fisherman
bringing them to. land, with the inky
blackness of storm and night abou!
them,s ,sbroken by silver tangles Of angry
lightning and ominous rumble of thun-
der, borne over tossing, murky waves,
held close to the heart so long her own.
Wilma Fontaine- Darlington felt the
memories and hatred of bitter years drift
away, and with his passionate, heart
felt kiss dawned the morning OF peace
in her soul, after the brooding night Of
weary sorrow.