Daily Republican., 1882-06-15
HER FAIHFR'., CHOICE,
MARRIED AGAINST HER WILL AND !
TWO YEARS PENANCE.

1t is sick mans feeble call, spoke
scarcely above whisper; but it reach
es Elsie Vernon's listening ear, and i,
moment she has sprung from her sea
and Is by the invalld's side.
"ies, father !" she answers, IL an
here, dear!'
With evident effort he stretches ou
one thin, emaciaLed hand, and CLASH
In his the white delicate fingers whicl
rest there 30 lovingly. The dark eyes
though wearing the look which con.
stant suffering gives, fasCen themselve
upon the girls face with worshlDfu
fondness. and a sigh breaks from tn.
parted lips.
"Has he not come yet ?" he ques
tions.
mo, papa. He may DO here now a
any moment"
'God grant it may not be too late =
he says, almost as though uttering 8
prayer, and the girls calm gives away
under his words.
Father, father !" she cries, falline
on her knees and burying her face in
her hands; "Do not say that You
Will get we'll Indeed, indeed you
will--you must !"
"No, my child! My hours are nun.
bered; but if, before die, can see you
Cole Collins wife, | shall go almost
willingly"
"Oh, papa, not his wife !" pleaded
the girl: "Give me time TO know him,
Our betrothal has always seemed SO
strange, so unreal, thar, though have
almost learned TO love him through his
letters, Stlll, If were bound to him, l
fear 1t would turn into hate p
Hush, Elsie-hush You have for
gotten how sacred is this bond-that to
his father l owe all am in the world,
and that promised, On his death bed,
his son should woo and win you. Had
not seen him? Did | not know how
we'll he was calculated to win any girls
fancy? Possessed of a face and form
any man might envy, with eyes whose
lustrous light is full Of honest purposes,
cultivated, brilliant in conversation
MY darling, you soon will love him as
he deserves. l do that which l know
Is for your future happiness. l cannot
leave my child alone upon the world p
The sick mans voice died away. He
had said more than his strength could
bear, land he sank back, almost fainting.
upon his pillows.
But at this moment the door eagerly
opened. A man stood upon the thres-
hold.
Elsie glanced up. Who was this in.
,ruder? Tall and thin, with bald head
Ind eyes hidden from sight by blue
glasses, through which hepeered around
he room.
Did he bring bad news of Cole .
Cole, who had been Frustrated from
fastening to the side of the man who so
summoned him.
Trembling, she arose and advanced
o meet him. The stranger bowed, as
le said, in low, musical tones, which
ounded strangely from such source. |
Gam l IN time? I have travelled |
light and day. But forgot, my ill
less has 80 al tered me that your father
would hardly recognize me-" handing
Ter card.
She read on it the name which
eemei branded Oh her brain-"Cole
jollins."
Could it be-? What nightmare pos
essed her? This tits was the man
er father asked her TO marry! She
ould not; and she studdered at the
bought.
But Cole already had approached the
the sick mans eyes had
ested upon his face, az he bent ten
erly over him.
"Poor fellow how i'll you must have
cen !" he said. But, oh, thank
eaven, you are in time Call the cler-
yman; am going fast !''
RATHER sobbed Elsie, "spare me
lis."
"Will you not let me die happy ?" he
uestioned reproachfully.
And 80 Cole Collins won his bride.
ike piece of cold, white marble, she
nswerod the solemn questions put her
'ith the calmness that desperation
gives.
The man who was dying had never &
'fused one wish of her young life. To t
Inn she owed 1t, to him she sacrificed {
. But 1t was the spirit of a martyr, q
ot . bride. d
"Bless YOU and reward you r he
I'D, when all was over; then closed b
Is eyes with glad sigh of content,
ID the spirit. as If waiting but for
Iis for its release, fed away.
A week later and Elsie sat alone in
II own room, but her white face AMI
'avy eyes testified to something of all Ii
70 had endured. T
Not once had the man 30 strangely v
ade her husband-the man whose o
me or whose memory brought q r.
udder-intruded upon her privacy. +
Dt since she had been carried fainting u
'm her fathers side had her eyes O
sted on his face. II
'Ob. God, that I might never see 1t, "
ain !" she said aloud, the words G,