The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1882-09-20

was comfortably placed in the bed,
which was brought into the sitting
room, I went for the doctor, and sent
the following dispatch to Hector:
"Sylvia is here. Come"
/ asked no questions concerning her,
but readily conjectured she was Hec-
tors truant WIFE The physician pro-
nounced her beyond all human aid. The
following day and night her condition
remained unchanged.
Hector arrived about five o'clock
Thursday morning. He did not speak
when admitted him, but bis haggard
face told of his mental suffering.
pointed to the room l had Just left, and
he entered it, closing the door silently.
Matte and her mother were resting AZ.
ter their long vigil, and death
like stiffness reigned throughout the
house. / remained in the kitchen for
perhaps an hour, then stepped softly
to the Sitting room door and opened it:
The scene that met my eyes was
strikinRly pathetic-even tragic.
The old tree near the porch, with its
richly tinted foliage, was in blaze of
glory. The first crimson beams of the
rising sun, glimmering THROUGH its
branches, upon the low, many paned
windows, cast ever-changing fantastic
fiaures upon the walls and over the
white coverlet On small table nea
the bed candle was flickering feebly
as if ashamed OF its attempt to give
light after the god of day had an
nounced his presence. Hector knelt
beside the bed with his face buried in
his hands, which rested upon the
pillow.
Tho position he had unconsciously
assumed expressed the very abandon
mont of grief. The contour of his no.
bic head and'siie graceful, easy posture
of his manly form touched my artistic
fancy. Death had removed the mask of
suffering from the woman's face, and it
appeared young-almost girlish again.
There was o smile of ineffable peace on
the cold white lips, and the marble lids
with their long black lashes, were
closed as if in sleep, 1 stood, lost in
admiration, forgetting all else save the
picture before me- which, when traced
upon canvas, brought me fame and
the wealth l priced for Mattie's sake
At last approached the bed, and
placing my arm around his neck and
said:
Come, Hector, let us go out into the
pure morning air."
He started and grasped my hand. His
eyes were fearless, but his genial, hand
some face was almost as pallid as the
dead woman's.
"Oh, Ralph" he whispered, in tones
of sincere regret, "what terrible end
ing of a life that Was once 80 bright and
joyous"
We went out into the morning sun
light, and with his arm linked in mine,
he told me the story of his marriage
with Sylvia, and the three years of per-
feet happiness which followed; of the
blind devotion and infinite trust 20
heartlessly betrayed by the woman he
loved and the man he called his friend.
BE generously covered up the still
smarting wounds, and naught save
words of pity fell from his lips.
''She opened her eyes just before the
last sigh escaped, and she knew me,
Ralph" he said, as if finding comfort
in the thought; "for smile Just as she
used to greet me with years ago, came
to her face, when she saw me bending
over her"
81 am glad she recognized you,"
replied, soothingly; 'for it was very
touching to hear her plead for your for
giveness."
"Ah, yes, she knew I forgave, as I
hope to be forgiven" he answered,
with heartfelt emotion.
The following day we laid her to
rest, forgetting her weakness and evil
behavior, and leaving in meekness he
SINS to her Savior"
A year after finished the picture, in
which l endeavcred to delineate the
dawn of a new day upon earth, as 1 sin
cerely hoped, the dawn of eternal lif
for Sylvia.