The Benton weekly record. [volume] (Benton, Mont.) 1880-1885, 1882-09-14

A1~Aet "A'L 81 IALtIG cV4t lallt Oh welcome, ant
: simply said:
My father you will find very i'll,
fear" made him glance again into he
face to see if indeed his mothers word
were not true, and on these slight youns
shoulders was not get a gray head.
But no! the face was young and exquis
ite lovely.
The great blue eyes looked up at hin
piteously, the red lips quivered; but abou
her, was an AIR Of intense calm, as though
she had neryed hcrselfto suppress all signs
Of agitation, Of grief.
Silently she led the way into the room
where the sick man lay.
lie had taken a heavy cold, and had
been suddenly seized with acute rheuma.
tisnl, in close proximity to the vital parts.
Instantly Dr. Crindle's professional
eye saw that the case was well-nigh hope
less.
He forgot his fatigue, his annoyance, as
he struggled with all his skill to battle the
grim enemy, but in vain.
As the morning sun came creeping into
the room, q long, low wall welcomed it
from that limly-lighted chamber where a
dead Elan lay.
| The doctor lifted in his arms the slight,
unconscious form which had stood by his
side so braYely through all these long hours
and bore it from the place.
On her own bed he laid the girl, then al
most reluctantly went to work to bring
her back to sense of the reality Of her
suffering.
Iler sW0on was long, but when at last
the bl4e eyes unclosed she made a sudden
effort to rise, as though conscious that she
was needed elsewhere; then with shud-
der came the recollection that her father
could never need Or miss her more, and
with suppressed cry of pain, she fell
back on her pillows.
"A week passed.
! The grave had received its own; the
house WAS silent and gloomy.
Eva took little note Of anything, save
that . kind, m0therly face was constantly
beside her, and that many times day
! SoIiiS OliC SIbEiGO lft IOOtA WHO DFOugnJ
in an atmosphere Of strength and rest,
She grew to look for his coming, and to
sink back into the old apathy when he had
gone; but she could not have told whether
he was young or old, or described his face
or form.
Yet it was this which made her look up
on DR.. Criudle and his mother as old tried
friends.
When the mists scattered at last, and she
knew that she must take up her young life
again, with this newly laid burden resting
in all its Weariness upon it, it was to these
friends she looked for adVice-to them she
detailed her fathers plans.
He intended to send Arthur to school, y
she said, with a dry sob. II still think it
best; but I shall be very lonely with only
Harry and Will in the great house. Papa
always said our means would be indepen-
dent, and [ suppose they are"
and so they proved, and SO they carried
out their plans.
And Mrs. Crindle listened, half in pleas
ure, half in pain.
"Perhaps," /" she thought, II might have
been her mother had not Clay already Sc
lected for me a daughter.'
Strange this was the only subject on
which the little party had not touched.
C1ay's engagement had been for SO long
SO intangible a thing that they had grown
to dwell upon it as little as possible.
It was like touching a sore, SO that Eva,
with her young heart already throwing off
its burden Of grief in new sweet joy-to
which she gave no name, or stopped in
deed to know that it exsted-little dream
ed Of the misery in store for her.
Nor did Clay think more than she.
He called himself brother to the lonely
orphaned girl.
He wrote Majorie long accounts of her
how he hoped one day they would be
friends.
Yet, when he knew that day was about
to dawn he shrank back. and he knew not
why.
The knowledge came with the announce
ment from Majorie that she was coming
home sooner than she had hoped, and in
The early May would pay visit TO his
mother
In May and April was half gone.
The snow had long melted, but he and
Eva still had their frequent rides.
He had an engagement with her on the
evening that he received the letter.
AS they were driving beneath the shall
ow Of the elms, he drew it from his pocket.
eva" he said, 'syou have been my
friend 50 long that am going TO bespeak
your friendship for some one very dear
% me. This letter is from my future wife.
Will you read 1T"
"A great wave Of color surged to her face:
her very heart seemed to stop its beating
as she. stretched out one little icy hand to
AXE it from him.
Silently She read Through, then folded
md held it out for him to take again.
s'I am very glad for you" she said, in
luiet measured tone.
Then their eyes met, and each read
lown, down into the others soul.
Heaven help us bothp said the man,
Ind he turned the horses heads homeWard. |
Three. weeks later Miss Markham ar ;