The Republican journal., 1882-12-21

protect ana nelp her-She was so dell
cate and sorrowtul, 50 absolutely alone,
now that her unnatural parent had de
serted her
Two or three uneventtul days went by,
Cora filling her new situation with salts
factory promptness. There was bond
of sympathy growing between them,
which she had no desire to break.
one day. twenty miles down his route
Frank heard a bit Of news which worked
him into a fever of impatience. Never
had the whip curled SO sharply over the
flank of his sturdy horses, never had he
made better time than on that day, when
it seemed to him but a snail's pace
At last, however, the stage drew up
before the inn, whose roof sheltered the
girl who, in few short days, had grown
ineXpreSsibly dear to the driver
He held a hurried consultation with
the hostler which resulted il the latter
agreeing to drive the stage on to its des-
tination for 4 certain sum Of money.
Then Frank went into the long dining
room, and seating himself at one of the
small tables in secluded corner, he
waited for Cora Pressey.
He flushed to the roots OF his cripsy
! IA ms FtpfNll nan 90 ut Nu!4ltt at 1ltl e.
She noticed it. and wondered silently.
thinking, meanwhile, that ne was not a
bad looking fellow, with his broad brow,
Forpst eyes and firm lips.
"Aiiss Cora" he said rather dwkwardly:
II would like to have you ride with me
this evening, if you will. | have some
thing of Importance to tell YOU, he add
ed, hurriedly, growing redder than ever
with embarrassment
Cora looked at him wisttully. Was it
something about her father? But she
dared not put the thought into words
there were too many about. SO she mere
ly bowed her head in acceptance of bis
invitation, and went away.
Half an hour later she was tucked in
to a trim little cutter beside him, dash
inc along over the moonlit road, and
waiting lnXIous)y for him 10 reveal the
matter of Importance at which he had
hinted
But Frank was curiously silent for Il
long while 1t seemed TO Cora that he
would never speak at last with a sud
Gen effort he said
Miss Cora, you've known me only a
few days, but you've seen enough of me
to know that am q blunt spoken fellow
so you won't be upset 10y what | am 60
ing to say. I'm not much Of gentle
man, but haven't any bad habits and
make 4 fair living and well, | want a
wife, little gal; and love YOU. If You'll
have me III Go my prettiest to make YOU
the happlest woman in the country
Cora smiled up at him through tear
filled eyes, and this gave him courage to
Slip one arm over the back of the cutter
and draw her closer to his side.
She murmured something about being
almost a stranger to him: but Frank had
grown wonderfully bold, pressed With
his lips the lids over the giIrs dark ewes
ard queried:
''D0 you love any ether manH
"No,' she answered honestly enough
II believe YOU are the best man | ever
knew
Whereupon Frank kissed her again
upon the lips this time, and made sec
ond proposition, 70 which at first She
would 10 listen. But The will and energy
OF her earnest hearted Wooer carried the
day and the result was a call upon the
Justice of the Peace: and when they re-
entered the inn that night the girl was
Cora Pressey no longer but Cora Hollis
ter, and Frank face was radiant and
triumphant
la the dingy waiting room an excited
crowd was gathered.
Frank endeayored to hurry his wife
past the doorway, but her quick glance
had caught a glimpse ot 4 familiar hg-
ure.
"Father!" she cried and stepped into
the room.
Yes, there he was, haggard and dis
heveled, with blood shot eyes aud I'M
Shaven face. He might have been fine
looking once; there was Just the ghost Of
a debonair air about him stl despite his
Wretchedness an officer guarded him
on either side
''What had he done :" cried Cora with
pallid lips
Some one in the crowd answered bru-
tally enough:
"hilled brother gambler twenty miles
back; they're taking him through to the
city
Then the poor little bride went into q
dead faint in her husbands arms and he
carried her up stairs with lis brown
check against her white one.
Nj night he watched beside her while
she went from one deathlv swoon into
another At last III the gray morning
she smiled sadly into her husbands eyes
and whispered
do not be troubled; will 90 away
"Not II can help it" answered Frank,
with grim set Of bis under lip.
Then all at once he put his face down
on the pillow beside her and began to cry
| like a two year old baby
With her slender hands she stroked
the mans big curly head and talked to
/ him in a sweet, weary way that went
straight to his warm heart
Dear friend" she said, 81 know how
unsellish you are, out | will not allow
You to make such sacrifice. You shall
not share my shame"
'Look here, little woman, | knew all
about this affair yesterday morning 3
that's why | was in a rush to get mar
rled. | knew they would bring Col.
Pressey through here and | knew if | did
not make sure Of you then that | never
should get you. My little darling wife,
| he went on, kissing her hair and ewes
and lips, ''thank God nothing can sepa-
/ rate us, nothing but death"
And looking into her husbands eyes
/ Cora knew that here was her safe home
/ and shelter torevermore
My reader would set me down as an
unsatisfactory story teller were | to omit
the sequel.
Col. Pressey committed suicide month
4 later in his prison cell.
\ Frank took his little wife away to his
eastern home, where she lives content
ed little matron, proud and happy in
her husbands love and the possession of
coong, bright-taced baby.
| SHIP BELLS. Two vessels were fined $500
each, in the Bangor district the past season,
faI sailing without bells. In the summer of
! 1880 there was IA great stir in this port in re-
gard to ship bells, and the authorities began to