The Cecil Whig., 1881-11-26

now for the first time exchanged glanceS
across tho rapturnn> bounds of manhood
and maitlcnho"d. Their love. having
such tender root in the past. sent ont
bright branches of hope for the future
and was rs strong As life with them both
Mary would have borne ANYTHING for Sam
and sam. who was of a quick aud impet-
, u"us nature. found his equilibrium in
the sweet tirmncss Of Mary's character
, and adored her for the loving sarcasm
with which she rebukei his pet faults
such bright and captivating faults as
sam were then.
Sam and Mary were engaged when the
war broke out, and the two men of John
Ellsworth's household went away and
the two women waited in their solitary
home on the mountain. cheered by let
ters at first: aitcrward their only hope
| lay in some chance returning figure along
the road that came winding up from the
villages below. John Ellsworth never
came back along that dear familiar road :;
and when Sam returned one day. weak.
ague- shaken. demented. but still fondlv.
fnolishlv faithful. Mary. called Of God to
endure this greater sorrow than any
death could bring. spent the solitude of
one black night in terrible rebellion. and
when the morning dawned, laid her broken
heart at the foot of the cross. and rose
with :, calm 81 riU-for evcrmorc -
Sam wen: back worderngly to occupy
the long deserted home of his childhood; :;
hut it was Mary's hand that brought him
bread and meat. that made his bed. and
swept his tloor, and furnished his poor
home with every comfort.
sam knew that it was all changed some
how. The tongue once 50 winniuglv Sar-
castle WAS now ever too th"ughtfullv
kind, the once laughing eyes too deeply
compassionate. He sorrowcd over it with
fhe vague SORROW Of Il child. But he
trusted Mary. She knew she would set
1T all right in time. The light the hope,
The promise of his Youth. 50 helpeSSly.
- mNSterinuSly loSt-they were all kept
waiting for him somewhere in Mary's
great dark eyes.
But when sam came tot'crin9 up the
hill on his return home, he had brought
with him Il parcel. the contents Of which
he had not revealed to anv eve. 1t con-
tanned his wedding clothes. new and
sleek, Of the finest black hroodcloth. In
he pathetic loneliness Of his home he
I"qnircd Il habit of fnndling these. of
.l"atinr over them. even OF trying them
~ before the glass; and then. aS he stood
N his best mood. with his hnnny hair
'arcfullv curled, one never saw 81 sweet
and weak a face. Sam lnageG vet ever
he.itated 10 appear before Mary in these
splendid habiimcntS. That strange trou-
hte on his mind deferred him. He was
never 5" shy. ST. simple, So cnnscious of
tis lost estate, Is when in Miss VI tr, 5 =
preSencc-ncver withal 50 trany, ly happy
tnd content One evening. as he sat be
fore her, the wedding garments he had
eft at home fitted all his thoughts.
III never cared for any girl but you,
nary lie exclaimed abruptly. with
park of the old fire in his eyes IL
never could.'
No. Sam" Mary answered. gently.
81 don't believe you ever could
''Gou-you promised to marry me
once. said Sam. that brief fire chang
inc. for another instant to look ol SOL
"mn wonder aud reproach.
A deathly pallor crept over Marv's
face. Then she came close to Sam. and
laid her hand on his. and looked into his
ives with all the brantifnl tenderness
md pity of her deeply tried soul.
II shall always be true to you. Sam"
~he said. "There are some things we
ant understand. We must be patient.
But Mnt-what We hoped for once-nnw
in this world-Mn, dear sam, must
never he -
Yes, Mary. sam answered, sweetly
nbedient. thrilled through and through
by the touch of her dear hand. "ht
must never be- And he repeated the
words simply all the way hose. = That
must never be 1t WAS all right some
how. Mary knew" But lac folded the
wedding clothes and put them away that
night as one who should never need to
take them down again.
After this the ruined life clung still
'ioscr to that strong and patient one.
md the little services which Sam was
accustomed to perform for Mary. when
'"t suffering With the a.ue. or following
tIt"r the 'nui haIlucin,tinn of his pen
SION the fetching ri wo'd and til"
having Of wlt"r-tllcSe lost to hi poor
.u!u,ing inial every base anh n.eui
quality. and wrre like The offering .,t Il
.!cv"tre Lid trrmhlin.lt 1T the ftrt ni
III angel.
And the time p .Ssrd all to swiftly for
r',c work OF Mar,'S hands. Besides her
n'nistratirns to sam and her mother. her
generous Thought for the wretchrd Tray
rrs family. the name % NJ M,ry Ellsworth.
tor the gracious hclrand sympathy whicI!
1t implied. was known ani loved in AL
he villages below: and in times of sick
ucSs or sorrow. or added care, the Jour
ney up the mountain side was cheap
which could procure day Of those COW
ted services.
1t was the afliictinn of unexpected com
pany which hal uvertaken Judge llul-
comb 5 wifelesS home and refractory serv-
ants. Mary, with rare tir'nneSS. cstah-
]i>hed there iii a day her universal rule
Of peace. Among the other guests was
4 Young actress from New York. the
iuh"c's niece. blonde, handsome. mag.
niticent. At evening, as Mary stood. he
fore her return home. waiting an instant
N the hail. SO quiet and demure, with
her dark hair parted in an old, old fash
ion. and her sad lustrous eyes and her
face breathing that iueifable refinement
which the calm endurance of some hid
den and exalted sorrow alone can give,
the dashing young actress advanced upon
her with an impetuous gesture in her
strong arms. II love you - she whis-
pered. II love you. I love you des-
perately.' ~
The judges own wooing was less i'm
passioned. when, some weeks afterward.
he left his smart horse and buggy at
Marv's gate. and entered the house.
II formed a very fay 'rable opinion of
Won Mary' said this rrandiHSe prrSon-