The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1881-04-07

the FORM or ner nuSOanu.
When consciousness returned to her,
with it returned i resolution to trust
the dear life so long lost to her to no
other; and, strengthening herself for
the task, she resolutely took her seat
by the bedside of the wounded man.
He was sleeping a troubled sleep.
The parting rays of the sinking sun
fell upon his couch. Slowly the twi-
light faded into night. The sound of
the distant cannonading had died
away, and in it's stead was perfect
stiffness. Beulah could not but think
it was all some weird dream that would
pass away with the mOrrOw's dawn.
But no; it was reality; and the
mystery in viii. their meeting was
involved forbade joy to be a partici-
pant. Whatever the future might re-.
veal she would not censure him until
she knew all.
These reflections were disturbed by
the object of them, who opened his
eyes and gazed vacantly around; at
last they rested upon her: a glad look
succeeded the first moment Of aston
ishment, and he uttered fervent-
"Thank God!'
Leaning forward she pressed her
lips to his, and placed her cool palm
against his heated forehead. For a
moment he yielded to this return of
Ellen, and then he gently put her
from him and said:
''Wait until you know I'LL. and then
forgive me if You cam
''Hush = said Beulah, gently. "You
must not exert yourself now; we will
not talk Of it until you are quite we'll.
"Quite we'll! Then it will be when
we meet in eternity. But an oppor-
t,,nity has been given me here, and l
must not waste the few moments left
me. l shall tell you that which few
hours ag" had thought to bury with
me. When shall have finished,
shall he beyond the reach of censnre.
Forgive me if you can--and rem mber
that it Was my great love for you that
caused it all. l cannot tell when first
the seed nj ,l-,". t.. VT: :.tIl g.. t
within me. grew ir. Il IF he patI
# poverty. i'll r,hr;l'"l when | saw
yo:, treading 50 patiently its thorn.
Wav-o'r :" uttetly unit for it's trials
My annual income WAS :arct'ly suffi-
ri"nt for Our absolute necessities ;and
80 invested Il small capital in specu-
l;.tion. Fortune smiled upon me. l
then doubled the amount, and lost.
Being almost pennil~ss, l WAS in des-
pair when Temptation presented itself
in the most beg .,iing form. The da,
after my m:sfor. IL .tht:r WAS Il deb:
paid Of su :, long ndin, hat l WA
sure 700 would it 70 mind he.
fore silo It! b. ;l''ls' to ',.lace it. ]
It;tked tn i and lost. TIE more H..
Volved | became, the nj 'rt dtspt,at,
tl>". lth r">o"+:''l O y" last means
of saving myself from utter ruin. ]
appropriated money belonging to the
firm that was not able to refund. But
as God hears me, the intention of CON-
hitting theft was farthest from my
thoughts. would not have touched
one cent but for the hope of replacing
it. Resolving to burst asunder the
chains of vice, which were fastening
themselves around ME. ] went to Wen
sora, to seek assistance from my moth.
er's brother. But my last prop was
removed when, upon my arrival, I lea
rned that he had recently died, and his
property had passed into strange
hands. My faithful Grimes was my
only counselor. You would know
what has become of Grimes! All,
Beulah, do not despise me utterly when
1 tell you that the grave You have
visited and wept over for four long
years rs mine is his.''
With shrek of horror, Beulah
withdrew her hands from his clasp
and buried her face in them, as if to
shut out some horrible vision. A
light broke over the dying mans
countenance as he saw the mistaken
impression his words had made, and
he exclaimed
"Not that-oh, no-not that!
Whatever other sin may have stained
these hands, they are free from that
one crime--the shedding of human
blood! Poor Grimes was thrown
from his horse and instantly killed !;
after the first shock was over, some-
thing whispered the event was
Opportune, and that I could easily
pass myself off as the dead man in the
minds Of the inhabitants of B.,
and thus escape impending ruin. |
therefore sent you the dispatch signed
. II. F. Wilcox. l knew if l was be-
heved to'be dead the story of my guilt
would find no circulation, and you, at
least, would not hear it. thank God
for the relief that so soon awaits me.
When am gone, think as kindly of me
rs you can, for believe me my crime
has already received it's punishment a
thousandfold.''
"Oh, Russell, do not ask me to for.
give one whom I have never cen.
sured!" cried Beulah, struggling for
composure.
She saw the tide of his life ebbine
away, and endeavored to stay his de.
parture with her loving caresses. He
sank into an easy slumber. All was
silent. The clock sounded the hour
of twelve. His dreams again became
troubled, and he clasped convulsively
the little hand placed within his own.
Placing his head upon her bosom, she
breathed forth prayer of anguish,
pleading for the life whose sands had
run 50 low. to be spared to her, but
ending with, Not my will, but Thine,
be dOne.''
lament" was fervently answered
by the dying man.
A moment more. and the white.
winged messenger of God had borne
the spirit of the erring man before
the tribunal of his Judge.
Shall we seek further to unveil the
mystery? No, let us no desecrate
with our touch one fold of the curtain
that shuts from our view the great
hereafter.
A SERIES of six etchings of Carlyle
from authentic and unpublished por.
traits and sketches in the possession
of Carlyle's family, made during
about fifty years, are shortly to be
issued by the London Etchers' Society.