Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1882-10-26
"You must not, Mamie. II is all

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She could have used no better argu-
ment To silence him. lie had paled
before, but now cheek and lips alike
were colorless, save for one drop of
blood upon the latter where his teeth
had met.
One instant the small foot rested in
his palm. in answer to her imperiOus
gesture for assistance, the next girl
and horse had vanished from his sight
the colt, with bit fairly between his
teeth and running like mad-running
as only a vicious horse can run, de-
termined to rid himself of the human
being he bears
Dick Armstrong forgot his anger.
just though it was, forgot all save the
great, sickening dread at his heart
the dread which was So soon 20 prove
so fatally wcll-foundcd, as, fastening
down the road. ridcrlcss horse first
came dashing past him, and then, a
mile further on, he met party Of Ia
borers carrying in their midst n CHASTITY
load.
At first, poor fellowl he thought il
that most terrible Of all burdcns-a
dead body; but as he bent over the
face, 50 deathly white but for the Grim
son stain upon the forehead, a faint
murmur Of agony escaped her lips.
Gently these rough men bore her
home. Almost as soon Dick was there
with the physician he had summoned;
but the latter, who had left him a full
hour without the sick room, could
minister but little comfort on his re-
turn to where he waited. The girl
might live, hn said. though only her
wonderful health and youth would ac-
complish that; but she would be a
cripple always.
Mamie Williams a cripplcl No
one could realize il A. the news spread;
but "a the slow weeks passed and life
as slowly asserted itself the doubt be
came certainty.
Al, well, the g7ssips declared again.
it was sad enough; but better it had
happened then than later. when
sydney Richards would have been bur
dcncd with a crippled wife his life
long.
But sydney himself. what did he
say?
The accident was five weeks old.
and the time fixed for her wedding
had long gone 10y when Mamie sent
for him.
The lovely face was white as the
pillows on which 1t rested. and the
great eyes looked larger than ever a.
they met his.
THE farm has had 10 wait for its
mistress, after all, sydney" she said
with a sad smile but it won't have
the mistress we had planned for IT.
You said it needed woman's hand,
and mine are very useless hands now
and she held them up. grown so white
and thin. 1T isn't necessary to give
you your release from any pledge, per
haps; FOR Of course YOU understand
I couldn't burden you this way. But
I thought you'd feel better. maybe. IL
you let me tell YOU so myself"
The man looked down embarrassed.
He had meant to say something like
this himself. for he wished helpmcct.
not drawback. in his wife; but.
somehow. the words sounded differ
emily from Nannie's lips, and made
him feel small and mean.
Yet they were just enough: and
when. with a few murmurcd regrets.
he left her. the bond between them
was forever severed.
AlOne-henccforth alone and help
lessl she whispered to herself. while
the great tears rolled silently down her
cheeks. But she was glad, too. that it
was not sydney Richards wife that
spoke.
That evening Dick came in.
"You can forgive me everything
now, Dick" she said. How good
you have been to me all this timel
sydney was here this morning. Dick,
and--and all Is over between us"
"You mean he gave YOU up because
because. The coward"'
Hush. dear F." she interrupted.
"It was 1 who released him. Why.
Dick, any man would be mad to take
such burden as am on his hands,"
"Thcn am mad. Oh, Mamie. give
yourself to me and I will be happier
,rifh me cro4a than ouy Iino. tI.s