Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1883-12-29

Ia secret care, nluuen, suspected, Dut
unshared there was a certain relief,
in spite of the quick pang Of loss and
sorrow, in the intelligence that May
gave US suddenly me morning-she had
succeeded In obtaining position, and
was going away at once.
No one opposed IL. For a moment
some recollection of noble women, who
had sacrificed themselves and their own
hearts for the sake Of those they loved,
flashed through my mind. l thought
Must we two suffer 10 secure the
peace of one ?"
But I put the ungenerous thought
aside-ashamed oft. Why should the
true and loyal heart be sacrificed to tie
tickle one that could not be leal and
true?
And besides, 1t may be that Milly
does not dream Of my falsehood, l
thought for believed l had Kept my
secret well.
Whatever she dreamt Of or whatever
she knew she made no sign. Her pale
cheek whitened another shade, while
May was speaking, and her eyes shot
one swift glance from the girl to e;but
said nothing, and 1t was understood that
May should 60.
Throug. the few days that remained
before her departure lived like one In
a dream. To the last IL seemed to me
that something would interpose to de-
tain her: that Milly would speak-would
sacrifice herself, even at the last, to both
of US. But no-when the hour Of part
ing came realized that all such hope
was vain-iod forgive me | In that
hour almost hated Milly!
put the girl into the cars, and in
that last moment heart spoke to heart.
Goodbye" I said-scarce know
ing what said. God bless you, love,
and pity me !"
" And help YOU" she whispered to
do your duty Oh, George, be good to
her, she is herself SO good-and indeed
abe loves you-dearer than her life T.
There was curious smile on Mi.ly's
pale, sad face, and q strange light in
her eyes, as l rejoined her.
=" She is a good and noble girl" she
said more to herself than me, thought
and love her--ab, wait awhile-as
/ love you; you will both know, some
day, how well 7"
That day came all too soon. Three
weeks had passed since Mays depart
ure, and had quite made up my mind
to shrink no longer from tho ful6llment
of my pledge, so asked Milly to nix
upon our wedding day.
Her face flushed crimson first and
then turned pale, and look OF pain
dawned in her eyes.
Not yet" she said. " Be patient 4
little longer yet, and then she pressed
her hands upon her breast and half
whispered" me only q little
longer time !"
did not urge her, why should l? l
believed that she saw the change in my
feeli ngs and was panied by it. l griev-
ed that this should be so, but what
could l do We were all doomed TO
suffer.
1t was at noon-time, in the factory,
that asked her partly on the spur
of the moment, partly because I could
be spared the hypocrisy OF any tender
passages there.
went back to my work. We used
steam, of course. To this hour I don't
know what went wrong. Suddenly
there was an explosion, an awful noise,
a rush, piercing cry, and q woman
flung herself before me, throwing her
dress, her hair, her apron, know not
what, about my neck and face, and
then knew no more for many hours.
When recovered consciousness,
found myself uninjureti, save by the
shock but Milly-my poor, generous,
wronged love-Milly was dying.
She had thrown herself before me,
screening me from the smoke and
steam. She was bruised, crushed,
scalded almost past recognition, only the
gentle eyes, full of mingled agony and
love, looked up into my face, unchan-
ged.
Don't cry" she whispered, as I
knelt beside her bed, In all the misery
Of remorse and selfreproach. cit is
30 much better thus I am so glad
to have it thus, dear. It's only life
that am losing now. Had l lived
longer should have lost you, and l
loved you dearer than my life"
May had been sent for. 1t was mid
night ere she arrived, and Milly was
sinking fast
She frightened at the sight of the
weeping girl, though.
"No tears" she said. 90 meant to
give you to each other by and by, as
soon as could conquer my own heart.
knew you loved, but that you were
good and true to me. But should have
been unhappy, confess, and it is much
better now. Think of me sometimes
when 1 am gone. / die happily-hap-
PLY for your sake, whom loved dearer
than,my lite."
Her faint voice ceased, her sweet eyes
closed. Her pain and grief were over.
My little, gentle, generous love had
passed from earth to heaven.
Years passed ere May and / forgot
that mournful hour, and when at last
we married, as was Milly's wish, a
shade of fond regret was cast, even on
our welded happiness, by the memory
Of the devoted, tender girl who had
loved mo so much dearer than her life.
---------------- -
q, nv WI u,,s, saDrAT NrpvE UE