Mexico weekly ledger., 1883-04-05
have just taken, and of all the un-
speaksbie Voc you have brought upon
- ,.,,,rofon4od fafhovaosa ,;rl

have just taken, and of all the un-
Voc you have brought upon
IN unprotected, fathericss GIRL"
Zone kiss, fair Madge, .. q seal Of
your forgiveness ss@exelaimea he, APP
hst, ssbefore I leave you,
most probably psver to see you
I fain wonids carry with me
some token. slight as it may be, TO
cast one pleasant reelection upon our
last interview.
Away, Ralph Mofeland, awsyl
If you would not have me hate you,
leave my presence quickly, and pois-
on not my sonl with vain, delusive
words. have siready listened too,
too long,
The last word6rwere utteredsin two
broken sobs, and as the street door
closed heavily upon the forna Of DR..
Moreland, and the sound of his re-
treating footsteps died away upon the
sidewalk, Madge Robertson again
sank upon her knees and long and
earnestly did she raise her hollow
voice in suppliance to the throne of
grace for strength to bear her fiery
trial but, at the same time, with
thanks that she had escaped a union
with one who seemed 30 wholly de-
void of noble principle and honor.
Then, as if In recollection of some
forgotten, duty, she rose up quickly,
and, brushing the tears away that
rested lightly upon her pale cheek,
she sought, with forced cheerfulness,
the bedside of her aged, invalid
mother.
The last red rays of sunlight with
their attendant CLEANS were rapidly
disappearing below the horizon as il
ashamed to let their glistening sprays
rest thus brightly on the angelic
countenance Of the fair young maiden
who had been SO. cruelty abandoned,
and twilight, in their stead, had en-.
tered the apartment in which poor,
old, helpless Mrs. Robertson lay.
casting fitfully an ashen paleness upor
her careworn face. In a moment
Madge was by her side, and in a start
led voice she exclaimed:
"Dear. mamma, I have left yor
alone too long this evening; will yor
forgive? and henceforth, no one shall
draw me from your side" e
Mrs. Robertson smiled family ant
welcom.ly at the sound of her daugh
tors voice; and as she raised he
eyes to her face, Madge discovered
that they sparkled with an unusua
brilliancy, and her nerves more I'm
strung.
"The sun is down, is it not, daugh
ter"' spoke the old lady in a veal
and tremulous voice.
eyes, mamma, 1t has just set," re
piled Madge.
The old lady paused a moment il
~reverie. then said:
"And my sun of life must soon g,
down, too, Madge."
''Do not speak SO, dear mamma
sobbed she, with new grief filing tn
already over-burdened bosom. 90
trust you shall live to see many gu
sets yet, each far more beautiful tina
this" said she tenderlY.
"Not many-not many!' her mott
er replied falteringly; land my oil
eyes grow dim when / think of it
think of leaving my darling here alon
all alone! But 1 have somethin
to speak to you tonight, Madge, an
now while l have strength. Go clos
the shutters, daughter, and light tt
lamp; now draw your little writin
desk beside my bed, and let me tai
to you.',
Madge obeyed her mothers dire
lions and was DON seated by her be-
side, clasping one of the small, pare
ing, whitening hands, within her ow.
"God bless you,my cherished one.
spoke Mrs. Robertson in a feeb
!. voice. 81 would I could speak som
thing sweeter and more cheering
= your ears, instead of the fearful lie
acy 1 leave my guiltless child A
, turning her face from Madge's tie:
1 full gaze, something like a smother
l sob burst from her pale lips. Aft
a lapse of several moments she p,
f ceeded:
81 was a hayward, self-willed gi
1 Madge, the eldest of my fathers ia
r lily, and being petted and spoiled
my parents, 1 seldom submitted
e their commands. When my engas
ment to Harry Robertson beca1
d known to my father his grief KIN
d no bounds. He entreated, he begg
and prayed that l would listen to
r advice, to hearken to his counsel a
e~ntreaties and refuse to see the you
+ man again. To this mandate Up
lively and steadily refused, and m
+ openly affirmed that death alone Sc,
the engagement. My mother, "
tears in her eyes, gently remonst,
d ed with me and urged me to cons
K er the misery-the grief was abb
to bring upon myself and her fan
a by my marriage with the sailor,
l. such was the vocation of Harry R
d ~ertson. Finding all e~ntreaties va
i; and my determination more fully
k my father commanded that l sho