The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1882-09-22

father aud mother, stricken down
at ; blew, we're borne away TO their
last resting place, snd she wss left
at the age OF sixteea an igHorzat,
inexperienced girl, 10 be father and
mother TO the three terrified chill
dren that elung aroand her, weep
ins. No detail Of that sad time
escapssl Yiass memory. The leav.
ing Of pleasant home aud friends,
the sale Of familiar books and pic
tu~s, the removal to the small
house IN . distant street, the terror
that fsil upos. her when she sac
what shs bal to fsce alone; yea,
alone! Oh, bitterness when he had
come to her, aud pleaded with earn.
est eyes, and tender loving sntrssty
for permission to share her burdens,
or, at least for her promise that
when he had made bis way be might
come and claim her.
Here binding tears rose 30 Yidas
eyes, but she pressed them bravsly
back. Yes, she had done wisely to
refuse his prayers to burden his
young life with what had sspped
the .vigor Of hers. She had bade
him 10 uuiettered, tree to win fame,
fortune, happiness for himself; and
after prayers, passionate sntrsaties.
even angry remonstranocs he had
left her abruptly, stung perhaps by
some hasty word wrung from her
By the pain she struggled 70 hard
to conceal, and she had remained
behind to battle stsns with lite, to
waste her young energies in the irk.
some toll Of u daily govsrness, 10
bring up the children entrusted to
her guidance to be useful members
Of society. :In .his last thought lay
the only happinsss Vida knew.
Twelve long years sue had passed,
striving to do her duty, aud this
WAS the:.eud. Two young sisters h's'l
b~su laid quietly to sleep Ia the
church. ysrd-sbetter %; better so,"
murmared Yida bitterly Ose Of the
boy hsd gone forth to win his own
bread.
The oldest now shared his houue
with his sld maid sister but Yida
knew il would not be lons before "
younger aud iairer claimant would
take her place as mistress Of the
house. Aud then, what ! said Vida,
gloomily, pressing hsr, hot cheeks
against the cool wisdow pane. ~
have sacrificed my own life to those
other lives, for what eud 7 Yidai
Vida I IL 1t no comfort to you to
think you have done your duty,
that you have them happy, that
they have taken the place of nearer,
tlearer ties you need hoped fort l
ought 70 b, I know" she moaned
aloud in hsr dispair "but, oh +! ]
would have liked little ray Of sun
shine Of my own. I en- sot old y
long life may lis before ne. How
blank 1t lo0ksi How can bear II r
May l not shars 1t p ssld q voice
hoarse and broken by strong emo.
tion, aud Yida fprniug round
swiftly with . tslsultuous thrill ol
mingled hops aud tear, saw alone
beside her the form, dlnly defined
in the twilight Of u powerfully knit
man. She shivered slightly, aud
stood dumb, but he bending for.
ward, took her two cold hands in
his aud murmursd In tones husky
with passionate hope.
''Tsll me Vida, will you send me
away now ~ harshly ~ you did
twelve years ago. "No, ,no;"she cried,
with . great sob ~ she suffered him
been 20 lonely 10 misersbler Why
did you not let me hear ono word
from ycu in all these weary years v
any love-" he answered, draw.
ing her closer, - though to shield
to fold herin his arms. "Msx, / have
her from the very thought OF harm,
~ went away to win y name and
home for yos. 1t Was y weary task
and / feared before 1t Was done
that seas one better than myself
had won you. l was too proud TO
try and keep my image in . heart
1 was too poor to claim. Bat oil
this weary waiting is at an end tor
us both, Vida, ify you willsorgive me.'
How can help fergiving yeu,"
she murmursd through her happy
tears, "wheu you Lave given me
on my birthday the one gift In the
whole world 4 dssired--your love,
your wife I ~ be.n