Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1883-03-01
"Oh, it is no errand. l am sorry to
trouble anybody"

The rain drove into their faces, and
the wind howled through the dark night
like the minister of thousand storms
hot for poor tisherwoman, perhaps,
but for one as good as fair Edith Will
loughby. he should not have hesitated
IL moment. When they came upon the
beach the waves fairly leaped into their
faces, and Edith shivered and clung
half terrified to her companion i'll spite
of herself,
Il believe you had better return now,
and leave it to me" he said.
mo, we are almost there. l should
never forgive myself if / did" she
answered, catching her breath as she
spoke. "It is only you l am worried
about" Il am glad to be able to help
you," he said. And 1 think he spoke
the truth.
Inside the cottage poor Grace Pooley
lay on her hard bed trying to breathe
on little longer, if so the good God
might send some good friend before she
died, to care for her orphan boy.
When the door opened her eyes
frightened, and she raised up little.
"The Lord bless We for coming. L
know He will, ;" she said as Edith threw
off her wet covering and went toward
her.
"This Is only one of the boarders who
same with me-" she said i'll reply to the
woman's questioning look. 81 should
have come to-day had ] known that you
were worse"
She sat down beside the bed, and
Anson Grey watched her as she spoke
in low, tender voice to the grateful
weman. Among the words which see
could distinguish was a promise to he
to jamie; and when the old woman
who seemed to be nurse came up to
administer som ething, and in half
whisper asked Edith to pray with them,
he began to think he was IN another
world. And il was another to him
truly. Surely she would never do that.
But she did. Kneeling upon the bare
floor, clasping her white hands, she
sent up such n prayer for help and
strength as Arson Grey had never
dreamed of hearing before.
After that night Anson Gaey knew
where his heart was, but for his life he
dared not approach Edith. She seemed
an immeasuIable distance from such as
he, but he cherished the memory of her
prayers as the one glimpse into heaven
for which he should thank God all his
life.
Edith's mother was gay woman,
and such she meant her daughter to be,
though for her life she could not keep
her from ferreting out and helping also,
an innumerable number of forlorn,
poverty stricken people who had no
earthly claim upon her. as they went
their fashionable rounds. 1t was NOR.
tifying, even exaspeHting, but she was
powerless to prevent it. They were to
be off again soon, Anson Grey heard;
but he would have missed seeing her
had he not accidently met her as she
was hurrying up the beach toward their
boarding house on the very day they
left. He could not let her go without
telling her what was in his heart.
"May speak to you moment?" he
said abruptly stopping her.
"Certainly."
AS the words left her lips she saw
what his speaking was going to be.
''Oh, not that, Mr.. Grey!"
Somehow he took courage from the
quick paling of her lips,
''Yes that love you and want you
for my wife"
81 am to be married Christmas"
He turned and was leaving her, when
something made her speak.
"Mr. Grey"
He faced her again and she saw how
white and stem he looked.
"Rad 1 been tree you would not have
asked in vain"
"For days and weeks afterward, An
son Grey hugged the memory of her
look, as she said those blessed words,
to his heart, caring more for that than
for the love and caresses of any other.
Christmas came, but death came with
it, and Edlth's lover went his long
journey, leaving his affianced bride and
her schem1ng mother to console them
selves as best they might.
In way mysterious to all save Will
lam Skinner, Edith heard of Anson
Grey's illness, and, as we have seen,
went to him ana had the courage to be-
come his wife.
The people of Burlingame learned to
love the gentle mistress of the old
stone mansion on the hill, and never a
suffering one called for help in VAIN, rs
long as my lady" as they called her,
was mistress there.
-.
In St. Petersburg was celebrated on