The Opelousas courier., 1883-09-22


mitting suicide, and you certainly
cannot contemplate such a terrible
STEP
"tOh, 1 don't know she exclaimed
L don't like to think about it.
"The consumptive grew worse
rapidly, but his wife was still hope
full, for he would talk of what hi
intended to do when he recovered
One night, about twelve o'clock,
was summoned to the poor fellows
room. He lay gasping for breath,
and his wife, beautiful even in grief,
sat holding his hands. The end soon
came, and | saw her bow her magnif,
cent head in despair.
"He was buried, in compliance
with q request that he made, on the
mountain, where a little stream
flowed, and where a tree, covered with
wild, beautiful vines, shaded a grassy
plot.
al did not see Mrs. Delure, the
fair widow, for a few days after the
funeral. Then she came to bid me
goodbye.
"When the memory of your hus-
band affords a melancholy pleasure,
instead of a deep grief, will you not
write to me?" / asked.
"'I don't know she replied. i
don't feel as though l shall ever again
feel disposed to write, but | thank
you for the deep interest you have
taken in me, and hope some day to
meet you again
"You are young, Mrs. Delure, and
SO am I. We may live a long time.
We may meet again. I would like
though, to gain INT promise that,
five years from now, you will write to
me,if for no other purpose than telling
me that your are we'll
"But I may not be WE'LL she re-
piled, with a faint smile that went to
my heart.
g Then promise to tell me whether
you are sick or well?'
Why, if I am living, | will be
either sick or well, and if I'm dead, /
cannot write, you know and again
the faint smile, like a softened twi-
light, passed over her face.
"sWrite to me anyway?
az WILL she said, IS she entered
the hack. Il will write just as soon
as / can.
81 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 almost
beyond endurance, wandered back to
the watering place. Once I dreamed
of that quiet, sad smile, and awak-
ing, I found that the first beams of
a rising moon were lighting my cham
Der.
1.-TWO years passed, and ! heard
nothing from Ella, as had learned
to think Of her. AT last ! determined
to go again to the watering place.
One evening, after / had been there
a few days, I was strolling on the
mountain, when / CHANGED to stroll
near Delure's grave. Hearing voices,
I approached cautiously. / stood be-
hind a tree. The moon came out, and
saw Mrs Delure and a man sitting
ear the grave.
"sI cannot marry you,' she said.
You have been very kind to me,
and have greatly aided me in getting
my school, but / cannot marry YOU
"sDo you ever expect, to marry
again?' he aked.
az don't know. There is one man
whose memory I love. HefWas with
me when my husband died. If I
were to ever marry any n I would
marry him. / promised to write to
him, and I have tried a dozen times,
buf each letter seemed like a love
letter.
81 could stand no more, and ex-
claiming Ella. I rushed from my hid
ing place and caught her in my arms
The man looked on for a moment, and
turned away.
eOur arrangements Were SOON com
pleted. Our wedding was quiet and
simple, and Immediately after the oere-
mony, we started for my home in Ar
kansaW.
2 We began housekeeping at once,
and / know there was not a happier
man in town than I. One evening,
while Ella and / were sitting In. the
twilight, she said
81 never saw a man SO little IN
terested in any ones history as you
are. You have been acquainted with
me 4 long time now, and have never
asked me anything about my former