The Lincoln County leader. [volume] (White Oaks, Lincoln County, N.M.) 1882-189?, 1883-07-21

devoted to INN and consulted his
every whim, and was so anxious
about his comfort that ] was at
tracted toward her. She did not
seem to doubt his recovery, and
when one evening l asked her if
she did not think he was sinking
rapidly, her large, lustrous eyes
filled with tears and in a choking
voice she replied :
81 don't think he is sick enough
to die"
"But you should be prepared for
the worst" said /.
II cannot be prepared for it.
No preparation IA Tighten the
blow. If he dies, it is my desire to
go too"
"But you cannot go without
committing suicide, and you GER
tainly cannot contemplate such a
deed"
ooh, I don't know she exclaim-
ed. 81 don't like to think about
it."
"The consumption grew worse
rapidly but his wife was still hope
full, for he talked of what he would
do when he recovered. One night
about twelve o'clock l was sum-
moned to the poor fellows room.
He lay gasping for breath, and his
wife, even beautiful in grief, sat
holding his hands. The end soon
came, and l saw her bow her mag
nificept head in despair.
ale was buried in compliance
with a request that he made, onthe
mountain where a little stream
flowed, and where a tree covered
with wild, beautiful vines, shaded
a grassy plot.
Il did not see Mrs. Delure the
fair widow, for few days after the
funeral. Then she came to tell me
good bye. "When the memory
of your husband affords a melan-
choly pleasure, instead of a deep
grief, will you not write to me" l
asked.
81 don't know" she replied. 4
can't feel as though l shall ever
again feel disposed to write, but 1
thank you for the deep interest you
have taken in me, and hope to some
day meet you again"
"You are young Mrs. Delure
and so am |. We may live a long
time. We may meet again. |
would like though, to gam one
promise; that five years from now
you will write to me, If for nosother
purpose than telling me hat you
are we'll"
"But / may not be we'll" she re-
piled with a faint smile that went
to my heart.
"Then promise to feline whether
you are sick or well ?"
"Why, if l am living l will be
either sick or well, and If I'm dead
| cannot write you know" and
again the faint smile, like a soften
twilight, passed over her beauti-
full face.
Write to me anyway ?"
81 will" she said as she entered
the hack. II will write just as
soon as l can"
~ returned to Arkansaw and re.
sumed my practice, but business
cares did not remove the image OF
that beautiful face. Day and night
my thoughts, sometimes anxious
beyond endurance, wandered back
to the watering place. Once
dreamed of that quiet, sad smile,
and awaking found that the first
beams OF a rising moon were light.
ing my chamber.
1.-TWO years passed and | heard
nothing from Ella, as | had learned
to think of her. At last l deter,
mined to go again to the water.
ing place. One evening af
ter l had been there few days, ]
was strolling on the mountain and
l CHANGED to stroll near Delure't
grave. Hearing voices l ap
preached cautiously. l stood be
hind a tree. The moon came out
and / saw Mrs. Delure and a maj
sitting near the grave.
Il cannot marry you," she said.
"YOu have been very kind to me,
and have greatly aided me in get
ing my school, but l cannot marry
YOU"
do you ever expect to marry
again 7" he asked.
~ don't know. There is one
man whose memory Hove. He wal
was with me when my husband
died. If | were to marry any one
/ would marry him. I promised