Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1881-05-26

in its half whisper, " can you imagine
anything at all about what tell you "
"No," replied Miss Richardson, bit
terly, for there is no romance, not one
grain Of it, In my life. The romance
had was spoiled just short time ago.
Keep your faith in your Richard, Mar
thy, but I have none left for man. You
must go on now, and let me know the
rest
"I would rather die than lose my
faith in Richard" said Marthy, tremu-
lously. "There is such little more
to tell" she went on then; g all the time
his letters told me 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 a 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 I yet
loved him, and how little / cared
whether he was rich, or whether he was
poor, wrote him glad letter, that
was coming to him soon, soon. When
I reach the end of my journey, there he
Will be to take me home, to his home.
I can almost see him now, SO glad to
find me again.
She was moving restlessly about like
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.
81 think / know your Richard" said
Miss Richardson, by-and-bye. " He is a
tall, handsome man, with blonde eyes
and hair, and a pleasant, bright way
with him. You know I live in Sacra-
mento, too"
In few moments 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," said she, quietly.
So all the night long she lay awake,
with her arms around little Marthy. Ali
the night long, thinking and thinking,
she lay, with the sweet breath of the
trusting child-woman falling on her left
hand-the hand was shorn now Of its
sparkling ring.
I" loved him too," she cried to her
self, suddenly, and then her arm tight
ened upon the child heart beating under
it, and the throb ran through her like an
appeal for mercy. The cars tramped
into and through the night, and by-and-
bye the morning came, as fair and fresh
as though Kate Richardson had not
made sacrifice the night before.
When the train rolled into the depot
at Sacramento, Miss Richardson espied
Dick Powers waiting, and by his side
was AL Fisher. He was haggard and in
distress, he was thin, and he had grown
five years older than when she left him
two months before. He saw her, too,
and ran along by her window, grasping
the hand she held out to him.
sob, Kate, Kate" he pleaded, i'm
ploringly.
She went to the door to meet him, and
drew him along the aisle; Dick, here
is Matty," said she.
He looked at the wild rose, blooming
so sweetly for him, and as he saw the
soft hazel eyes brimming up with drops,
the falling corners of the shy mouth
quivering, the old sweet beauty grew
upon him again, and a hungry smile
dawned in his eyes.
"Oh, Marthy /" he murmured.
cat last, dear Richard, at lastl she
cried, as he gathered her in his arms
Al Fisher took Miss Richardson home,
and she was gravely polite and smiling
all the way. But it was two years
before she allowed him to draw the last
drop of bitterness out of her heart and,
even then, she gave the last kiss before
marriage to baby Marthy-San Fran
cisco Argonam.