Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1882-06-23
But what could | do? We were so

sue ilau iOlleu lOr me, since my lalnel
had gone on to that "better country
that upper day." where we fondly
hoped to join him, never to part any
more; and now, when her strength
had failed her and she tainted by the
way it was my duty to strengthen
and prov de for her and lead her in as
pleasant paths as possible. And had
tried. oh, how had tried to be a com.
fort to my mother.
Yet how could | DO this dreadful
thing; how could | marry this brutal
man, for the sake of IL home and for.
tune: \ terrible conflict was raging
in my heart.
I Duty pointed to sacrifice. After
all, it was but the question of few
years, and them life's weary burden
would be laid aside, never to be borne
4 again.
! "Well?' cried Mr.. Hartley, at last,
tired of waiting for my answer and
watching my pale face with eyes full
triumph, "hase you made up your
.Wlnd:'
1 "tf1e me time" moaned, "only a
little respite. Grant me three days to
consider, and at the end of that time
will give you my answer"
"He moved towards the door.
! "Eery WELL" he returned "remem-
!, Der that shall expect my answer,
when | come again, three days hence
The door closed behind his burly
iigurc, and he was gone. | buried my
face in the trembling hands and cried;
1t seemed rs though my heart would
: break.
;. 1t was all so hard to bear, and |
was So Young. Besides, there Was
= Willie Leslie; we had loved each other
, for months, his simple ring Was on my
/ finger, and We had hoped, some time
/ in the future, 10 be husband aud wife.
/ But. alas, he was as poor rs |, only "a
islerk on small salary, and marriage
WAS a dream in which We had no right
to lndulge. But We were everything
to each other; and our love was the
me sole ray of sunlight in our dar ken
ed lives. How could | give him up !:
Dared | break the mans heart, aud
cast away the happiness which moth.
( ing but true love can bring:
/ lie came that very evening and
listened TO my story; listened with
pale face. aud downcast eyes. lie had
/ been so sure of my love and faith that
sis all seemed u dream TO him-all Rly
miserable-missrable story. Like u
/ flood tide. then there rushed over my
heart the full enormity of the sin
which was about To commit. Ny mind
.Sas male up at last. | would not
h~rry one man for his gold, when
my heart belonged to another; |
aould be true to myself. told Willie
80 and when saw the glad light
flash into his blue eyes | was satisfied
With my own decision
DO not know how We won mother
over to our way Of thinking; but she
consented TO our plan, and 50 the were
quietly married;
The thrse days probation were over,
and John llartely appeared pompons
and coarse as ever; aud my heart leap
ed with gladness Al thought Of the
fate had escaped
/ We'll. Miss Louise" he began, in
his ovrrbearIug, tyrannical way, Il
have come for nv answer.
Il can never marry you, Mr.. Hart
tcly," replied bravely,
/ Ills face grew purple With ungovern-
able rage.
"Wh DO YOU mean" he cried.
Don't you know can turn You and
your mother into the street =
"Do your worst, sir,' | returned,
coldly: but YOU can insult me no
longer; am Willie LesIie's wife"
"Leslie's Wife be interrupted,
reeling as though he had been struck,
"impossible''
at is true, nevertheless - | answer
ed quietly.
"Do you mean to say. he cried
snerrlusIy, "that YOU are the wife of
Young Leslie, who came into Il fortune
last week k: | cannot belive ~ You
are decelying me for some purpose =
Il am Willie Leslie's wife," | re-
peated, though my brain whirled diz-
'zily.
At that moment the door opened,
and my husband entered the room.
This is my wife, Mr.. Hartley '"
he cried, land if you do not leave her
presence at once | will eject you forci-
blyY
/ Hortly turned quite crestfallen and
sneaked away.
Tell me- | cried as my husband
/ drew me closely to his heart, tell ME,
Willie, what did that man mean . Did
you hear what he said
Il did, my darling" Willie an
swered, land | will explain now. |
am poor man no longer, for my
( fathers brother, who died few weeks
ago, bequeathed Il large fortune to
me. 1t is yours and nine. | wanted
to prove your love, Louise, to see il
you were willing TO marry me for my
self alone. Tell me, my wife do you
regret il =
ii could never regret, my darling"
| sobbed, clnging closer to him Il
have you as long as we both shall
live"
He stopped, and kissed me. With
such love | could defy the world.
For richer--for poorer, little wife, y
he murmured, "until death us do
part.'
And mother, looking on, with her
eyes full of tears, added fervently-
"Amen,'
An American tourist was visiting
Naples and saw vesuvius during an
eruption. "Have you anything like
this in the New World? :" was the
question of an Italian spectator. "No,"