San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1882-02-02

he Rulucu. Inc coinuSo W hAo "ts'h
was distilled in that best Of all alembics
tho heart; aud gradually there was
accumulated within him gently'iiow'
ing river OF thought, beside which Hope
stood waving her green branch. and
bidding himin honeyed accents, Never
despair"
In the morning he arose, after II
dreamless night. vigorous and deter
mined, and fastened to carry out one of
the most difficult OF the three resolu-
tions ne had formed that was TO part,
perhaps forever, with the girl beloved
MARY, "'said lie, gazing mournfnlly
into her fearful face. Il love you us
well, indeed better, ut this moment than
ever did-but We must part. Cir
cumstances have occurred which rem
der this painful step necessary
Cannot you explain, sWalter?" de-
manded she, clinging to him. -
Dear Mary, don't ask mel cannot"
replied he, painfully. Il cannot, in
deed only TO mY-Godl Listen" con,
timed he, solemnly; TO morrow shall
be far away from you; ahd'the proba-
biIities Dire that IL wdh be,a very long
tirue-- ut present, / think, many years
-bcfore we shall meet again; so that
continuing our engagement lisa mere
mockery, because Stheohanoes are that
shah be unable 10 keep it.Ss =
"Ohr EXCLAIMED the girl, wounded
to the quick by a'sentimentt lie .nisun-
derstood.
"Do not mistake me-" said he, taking
her by the hand and struggling to sub
due his own strong emotion; Il love
you dearly, and that is the reason do
not wish you to remain bound to what
may never he fulfilled on my part. You,
know, would be faithful and true; but
why should you neglect the many OPP
portunities you will have OF making
yourself happy for the sake of a man
YOU may never see again? No, Mary;
you shnll not do so from this moment
you are free, and may heaven bless
you'll" e~ ,.
The girl hung her head and cried
bitterly, for she felt that her young
hopes were about to be withered.
Walter, animated by, the new feel
ings he had acquired, was invincible;
his duty required the sacrifice, and it
should be made. Undoubtedly it was
one of the greatest he could have made,
for he might have played upon the
girls credulity, and maintained his po-
sition as lover without the remotest
prospect or intention of becoming her
husband. But with the resolution to
do right comes consideration for 9TH
ers, which weakens the natural selfish
ness of the heart, and gives it the
power to make those stern sacrifices
which honor so frequently demands.
"Now, for my mother" thought he,
and tremb.ed at the interview before
him; for, had the alternative been pre-
scented to him, he would have preferred
that the maiden he had parted with
should have been acquainted with his
error, than that his mother, his
irreproachable mother, should have
known that he had brought shame on
the name of the parent who had been
50 honored and respected when alive.
After protracted conversati Il with
his mother, she yielded to his entreat-
les, and consented to retire to more
humble dwelling. The removal was
speedily effected, and, on the evening
OF the day on which they took posses
sion of the two apartments which
were thonceforth to be their home, the
mother bewildered by the change, in
quired from her son why he had gone
SO far from the Office.
81 have left Mr.. IS employ-he
was dissatisfied with me, replied Wal
ter, slightly blushing at the equivoca-
ton. -,,-,
Dissatisfied with you'll" exclaimed
the mother. "Oh, Walter, there is
in all this l don't under
stand; first, you bid Mary farewell,
then you induce me to leave Cloudesly
street, and now you tell me you have
lett your office. Waiter, my dear son,
do not conceal anything from me-"
Walters lips quivered and his eye
avoided his mothers steady gaze, but
making great effort he soon recover
ed himself, and seeing that he must
be cool and firm, or all would be ex-
planned, and perhaps so shock his moth
or as to do her serious injury, he adj
dressed himself TO her IN the calm
language of reason. He explained that
he had been discharged by Mr.. -
owing to his being extremely dissatisfied
with him, and that, as he never intend
ed to return to that line of business
again, it was necessary, until he had
established himself in some other, that
his mother, deprived OF the assistance
of his salary, should be placed i'll such
Il position as would enable her to live
upon the slender annuity she enjoyed. /
My son" said the mother, affected .
at this instance of tilial devotion, but .
why separate from Mary?"
Because" replied Walter, Il wooed .
her under favorable circumstances, be-
came gracious il her eyes 10y the aid OF .