The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1883-12-27

| WIN remOSe and gf1ef, as she knelt by
him, wringing her hands. "Oh, Thomas,
speak to mel I loved you all the
while"
But Thomas neither spoke nor moved.
The voice that had nothing bnt tender
words was silent now; the heart she
had so grieved might never beat in sor-
row or JOY again.
No person had seen or spoken with
him after quitting her the previous night,
save the dressmaker, little industrious
Miss Ford. She had answered the
knock herself. she related, and he put
the note into her hands, saying. Miss
Reece had asked him to leave it in
passing. What a.thick mist it is that
has come on" he remarked to her in
his pleasant, chatty way. "Aye, it is
indeed, SIR" she answered, and shut her
door as he walked away
For many weeks Alison Reece lay i'll
with brain fever, lowering between life
and death. Some people said it was
the shock that made her i'll and took
her senses away; others thought that
she must have loved the poor young
man to distraction; no one, save her
mother, knew it was the memory of her
last interview with him, andthe schem-
ing to send him on the route that led to
his accident, that had well nigh killed
her. But the young are strong in their
tenacity of life, and she grew better by
slow degrees.
One warm April afternoon, when the
winter months had given place to
spring, Alison, leaning on the arm of
her mother, went to sit on the porch.
She was very feeble yet. 1t was the
first she had sat there since that mem
orable evening with her ill-fated lover
There she remained thinking and |
dreaming. They could not persuade |
her to come in, and so wrapped her in
a warm shawl.
Sunset came on, and was almost as
beautiful, curious, perhaps, that it |
should be so, as the one he and she had |
watched together more than six months |
before. The brilliant beams shone like |
molten gold in the glowing west, the
blue sky around was hecked with pink
and amethyst. Alison's eyes were
fixed on the lovely scene with an en-
raptured gaze, her lips slightly parting
with emotion.
"Of him, mother OF his happiness
/ think there must have been an I'M
conscious provision in his mind by
what he said that evening as we
watched it, that he should soon be
there. Oh, mother, / wish was going
to him wish I could be with him
tomorrow"
The mother paused; she felt inclined
to say something, but she feared the
agitation it might cause.
swell. well, child, you are getting
better" she presently answered.
eyes, do get better" sighed the
girl. Il suppose it pleased God that
1 should"
f'Time smoothes all things, Alison.
In time you will be strong again and
able to fulfill life's various duties with
a zest. Trials are good-oh so very
goodi for the soul. But for meeting
with them we might never learn the
way to heaven"
Alison did not answer Her feeble
hands were clasped in silent prayer,
her face was lifted to the glories of
the evening sky.
It was at the same sunset hour, an
evening or two later, that Alison, who
was picking up strength daily, strolled
away to the churchyard. She wanted
10 look for a newly-made grave in that
corner where so many of the Watkyns
lay buried.
She could not see it; the same grave
stones that were there before were there
low; there was no fresh one.
Perhaps they opened the old vault
,or him." thought Alison, as she sat
lown on bench just inside the gate,
or she was too weak to walk back
again without rest.
The sun was going down tonight
uifI1Or1f orv 10x-o1inacc i11cf q oT-iros,oY1
oall, which seemed to give red light to !
he atmosphere, and to light up redly
he face of O pale, tottering man who
vas coming up to the gate by the help
If stick. He halted when he reached
t.. Alison turned sick. and faint with
IL manner of emotions as she gazed at
lim, fright being uppermost. !
Alisonp :
Thomasp !
He held out his hand; he came in 9
ide; his pale, sad face wore for her its :
Id sweet expression. !
Oh, Thomas, thought you were ::
lead, she burst out in storm of sobs.
: 1 came here to look for your grave.
hought4 had killed you" l
They thought was dead at first. :
they thought for long time that 1 +
hould die" he answered, as he sat 9
own beside her, keeping her hand in :
is. &c But the skillful medical men :
ave raised me up, under God. L hope
a time to be strong and well again"
"Can you ever forgive me?" she
-ailed, bitter, painful tears falling
own her cheeks like rain. "I shall
ever forgive myself" ?
mol Then you must atone to me .
lstead, Alison. Be all the more loving =
, me during our future lives We :
lust pass them together, my dear" I
do you mean it still ?" she gasped. :
Oh, Thomas. how good and true you :
re. If can only be a little bit worthy a
T you" {
They walked home slowly, arm in e
rm. Neither could walk fast yet. Mrs.
ieece came to the porch to meet them. 7
iod is full of mercy, she thought. /
81 did not tell her, Thomas" she (
aid; ''she was so dreadfully low when q
he came out of the fever. I meant to I
FL her tonight" \
ST have told her myself; it was best = :
0" answered Thomas Watkyn. 4