Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1883-10-24

| DO not kill him. Hebert, bis boy, is
dying, and calls for him.
All eyes turned with curiosity and
surprise upon me, but l cared not.
The mans hand with the knife fell to
his side.
His boy, Hebert, is i'll and dying l
repeated, and he calls for his father
| and the doctor says if he does not see
him be cannot possibly live.'
1 shall never forget the look of ag-
ony that came in the place OF the an
ger TO the dark face of HerberPs father
My boy dying, and l here!
He had been beside himself th an
ger. but the shock of my words sobered
him, aud taking my hand he led me
from the place. Once out in the street
1 tried to leave him, but he held me
tightly.
III my boy lives it will be you who
saved him. he said you shall come
with me-
Such a pathetic scene it was when
the mother, bearing footsteps, came to
the door and saw her husband. L can
not think of it now without tears.
A couple of hours later the doctor
declared the danger past the boy had
seen his father, and his delirium quiet
ed, had sunk into sl1mber.
So il was that 1 Pollie Evans, saved
two lives.
Mr.. st. John, true 10 his word, never
from that time neglected his family
and Herbert grew and thrived from hi;
childhood (Which they told me had al
ways been delicale) into as stalwart a
lad as ever gladdened a parents
heart.
Twelve years have passed SINCE
then, and am Pollie Evans no longer
But l will not anticipate.
That night was the turning point o.
my life.
You must stay with US, my child,
Mrs. St. John said. 'Henceforth youl
home is in this house, which but fol
you would be desolate indeed. l car
never repay 10 you the benefits you
have given to me. but all that is in my
power 1 shall do. Your real name /;
Mary, you tell me. | had a sister Ma
ry once, and l love the name. Mary,
will you be willing to let me do what
can TO make YOU happy useful wo'
man p
l was at once sent 10 school. o
course | had much to unlearu, as wei
as 10 learn, but hard work accomplish
es wonders; and two years ago l re-
ceived kindly words from my teachers
that brought a thrill Of pride TO ny
breast, for felt that l could at las
reach the ultm alum Of my longing ,ano
90 forth into the world and work fol
myself and be independent.
One day when thought we were
entirely alone-Mls. ST. John and my
self-in her boudoir, l broached, th'
subject for the first time.
l was little prepared for the effect o
my ords. l knew that she loved me
though not till then how much. Bu
though she pleaded. yet | was firm, 10
[ had discovered something within my
self that forced me 10 do so. But. on
it was hard indeed 80 resist those ten
der, earnest tones.
Mary, do you know that TO see yol
leave my roof would break my heart
You do not speak. Is there, then, M
way in which l can induce you 10 giv'
up this idea that has gained such a hol'
over your mind"
of course there 49, cried a ricl
voice at the door that brought the
blood in torrent from nv heart tc
my cheeks. as pushing aside the cur
tains, Herbert entered.
His eve. met mine, and fell. 4
Joyous light sprang into his handsome
iace-that face that bad long knowI
| cared for with more than a sister,
affection.
ASK her TO stay as your daughter
mother
stood there blushing crimson
a soft hand took mine.
Can 1t be possible, Mary, that yor
care for my son !? l had not dared 10
hope for this. l knew that Heroer
loved you, but 1 never dreamad yo'
had a thought for him that was no
merely sisterly.' Cab, my short sighte(
benefactress y will you indeed stay
Mary. as my daughter
And as my wife9' another voice
added. while strong young arm en-
folded me.
And / stayed and hero still am
no longer Mary Evans, but dignlied
Mrs. Herbert st. John. Herbert often
calls me 'Pooly,' for which do no
chide him, for love to hear my ol(
name spoken in his tender tones, ,lhousl