The Mineral argus., 1883-11-22

80 -
she left with my mother. saying 10 me
miss Ruth, will you GOMEZ"
l trembled 80 that could scarcely fol
low her till she said:
"He LAS asked to see you alone, my
dear. Can you bear il, or shall you be
afraid?"
"No." 1 said steadily; 81 would much
rather be alone"
So she opened the door, and l went
in.
All thought Of Rosamone had fled.
went up to nv darling and took his
hand in mine.
my good angel, " he whispered-"my
my darling Ruth" And then an ex-
preston of pain came across his lace,
and he added: mot mine now; | have
forfeited that"
| think all the love | had ever felt for
him came upon me with twofold force,
and kneeling by him, / told him how
fully | forgsve him, and how dearly
lovedhim. and how / loved him then.
81 cannot believe il; | am not worth
it," he said, sadly.
And | did not know how to comfort
him.
Harry" l said, did you think l
should Conner"
"Yes. 1 knew you would, he answer
ed.
"Why were you sure?" asked again
Because Won were always 30 forgiv-
ing and good, darling"
And because you knew as soon as you
were awakened from that bad dream
that we still loved each other, just as we
did in those happy days which seem so
long ago.
Faithful until death. " he whispered,
INV n my AauR InWwn
SO we stayed for a little while. l
could not think then how near our sep
aration was; | could only thank God for
giving us back TO each other.
In those few precious days Harry told
me all the story Of his infatuatioE for
Rosamond, how quickly he had repented
of it, and how often ne longed to break of
the engagement, W though he knew
there would DO no chance of having
me for his wife. Then, IN q fit of piQuc
at some real or falcied neglect, she
threw him over aud accepted, and was
soon after married 20 ner rich lover.
II was not sorry Tor her, Ruth" he
said. II don't think she ever really
cared for me. If was more TO prove her
power Of fascination L any thing else
that she won me from you. Weak
fool that l was" he added bitterly, ITO
lose my life's happiness ior the sake Of q
dream! How | lOnged for yOn, my dar-
ling, / can never tedy0d but [ dared not
ask TO zee you till RSe, AID when knew
that in a few days | m3st die ! could not
20 without a last word from you, and
now IL seems harder than yer 10 say
good-by."
It was a very sorrowful week and my
lover grew more feeble every day, an
even | could see how near tle end must
be.
1t came very quietly and mercifully at
asst. We were watching the sunset, as
we often did, and, as it sank lower and
tower, Harry SAID, 81 shall never see
another, darling!"
mo-" answered, "but / shall sec
many, perhaps, end TO me they will al
ways speak Of you. But some day |
shall see my last, and then l shall come
home TO you"
"Ruth,b ne whispered, soon after
ward, lit IS growing so dark; come clos
er to me-"
l knelt beside him, so that his head
might rest on my shoulder; and 50 we
waited together.
] wonder | lived through those hours
to feel that in a few moments he would
be gone from me-that never while |
lived should I hear his voice or see his
face again-made me feel as though |
must cry aloud in my agony.
Still l waited, quietly, till Just as the
sunset glow was diving out oil the shy,
he turned bis face toward me, and, with
a look Of passionate longing love, signed
10 me to kiss him.
Coed bye" he murmured my wife
that was TO be-"
"Oh, Harry . 1 said, 81 am your wife
in heart and lifelong lovel All my love
is going with you, my d~arling-my dar'
ling"
/ can not tell what followed. l knew
my mother and Mrs. Lewis were with
me, but till he died l never left my
place beside him, and then l suppose |
must have tainted.
But have kept my promise, and old
woman as / I'M now, Harry is still my
Harry" 70 me.
How soon l wonder, shall 1 see him
again?
.
There was no sharpness in the old
lady's voice as she said Good nightI'
TO Madge, and asked if she had had a
happy evening.
Something in her tone made the girls
eyes fill with tears as she answered, $50
very happy, s%untie; he does love me
SOP
And the answer was, Then thank
Heaven for it. dear. True, constant
love lie the greatest earthly gift he can
give you"
~ n-a