The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 18??-1882, 1881-11-11

went awav, so that by and by he could
marry his bud of girP-that's what
he always called me! Oh, how tender
and true he is! What grand place his
heart is to live In! What little queen
he has crowned me! His letters have
been so loving and so sweet that one
never came without carrying me
through the space of heaven; and they
were such sorry little ones l could
write in answer. So many noble wO
men must have loved him. But he
loved his little Marthy all the time.
All, Miss Richardson and her earnest
reverent tone deepened in its half
whisper, can you imagine anything
at all what l tell you?'
No replied Miss Richardson, bitter
ly, for there is no romance, not one
grain of it, in my life. The romance
l had was spoiled just short time ago
Keep your faith in Richard MarLhy,
but l have none left for man. You
must 60 on now let me know the rest.
Il would rather die than lose my
faith in Richard" said Marthy trem-
ulously. "There is such little mere to
tel, she went on then; "all the time
his letters told he could not afford to
come; he was waiting in hopes, and oh,
if the time was to him as to me, then
to both it was dreary, dreary waiting
And grandpa began to fret; he wanted
to see me married before he died. But
one day, month ago, he died. and left
me alone with the cows. Then, to
show Richard how much l yet loved
him. and how little l cared whether he
was rich or poor, wrote him a glad
letter, that l was coming to him at
last. And, oh, am coming soon, soon.
When reach the end of my journey
there he will be to take me home-his
home. can almost see him now, sc
glad to find me again.
She was moving restlessly about like
the wind, and her hands were winding
their fingers about each other, her eyes
shining, and her chin with its cleft
pointing into ray of the moon.
Il think know your Richard said
Miss Richardson, by and by. "He is
IA tall. handsome man, with blonde eyes
and hair, and pleasant, bright way
with him. You know l live in Sacra
mento, too"
In few minutes the porter came
along again, and Miss Richardson gave
orders to have only the lower berth
made, for we will sleep together to
night, Marthy,' she said, quietly.
So all night she lay awake, with hel
arms around little Marthy. All the
night long, thinking and thinking, sht
lay with the sweet breath of the trust
ing child woman falling on her lef
hand-the hand that was now shOrn OF
its sparkling ring.
Il love him. too, she cried to herself
suddenly, then her arm frightened upOr
the child-heart beating under it, and tht
throb ran through her like au appea
for mercy. The cars tramped into ant
through the night, by and by morning
came, as fresh and fair as though Katt
Richardson had not made a sacrifice
the night before.
When the train pulled into the depo
at Sacramento, Miss Richardson espiet
Dick Powers waiting, and by his sid
was Al Fisher. He was haggard ant
in distress; he was thin, and had grown
five years older than when she left hin
two months before. He saw her, too
and ran along by the window graspinl
the hand she held out to him.
ooh, Kate! Katerhe pleaded implor
ingly.
She went to the door to meet him
and drew him along the aisle. "Dick
here is Marthy,' said she.
He looked at the wild rose blooming
so sweetly for him, and, as he saw tn
hazel eyes brimming up with drops, tn
falling corners Of the shy mouth quiv
ering, the old, sweet beauty grew upOl
him again, and hungry smile dawne'
i'm his eyes.
'Oh, Marthyl little Marthyv he muI
INJURED.
AT last, dear Richard, at lastp sh
cried, and he gathered her in his arms
AL Fisher took Miss Richardsol
home, and she was gravely polite an
smiling all the way. But it was tw
years before she allowed him to dra,
the last drop of bitterness out of he
heart; and, even then, she gave tn
last kiss before her marriage to Bah
Marthy.
Powers would never think Of calm
her any other name besides Kate Ricf
acknowledgement Magazine.