Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1884-03-05

for good"
MIS-. Reece drew In her thin lips stern
ly. She was thinking.
.And what does it mean about your
giving him a note for the dressmakerf
i do not understand. You had nothing
to write about"
The girl had got her hands free and
flung them before her face to deaden
the sobs. But Mrs. Reece was a reso-
Lutte mother at times, and she extorted
the confession. Alison had improvised
the note, and sent Thomas around the
long way to deliver it, and so keep him
from passing by the willow walk.
"Oh, child, child!" moaned the dis
mayed woman, If he has indeed fallen
over the Scar it is you who have given
himhis death" E-.rF
And it proved to be so. In taking the
two miles round between the cottage
and the farm high and perpendicular
precipice, called the Scar, had to be
passed. The tableland, or plateau on
the top, was wide and a perfectly safe
road by daylight, since traveller could
keep as far from the unprotected edge
as he pleased, but on dark night or IN
a thick fog it was most dangerous. De
ceiyed by the mist of the previous night,
Thomas Watkyn must have drawn near
the edge unwIttingly and fallen over it.
There he lay on the sharp rock, when
the poor father and Others went to looE
for him, his death-iike face upturned
toward the blue sky.
"Speak to me, Thomas, speak to
me!'' walled Alison, quite beside herself
with remorse and grief, as she knelt by
him. wringing her hands. "Oh, Thom-
as, speak to mel l loved you all the
WHILE"
But Thomas neither spoke nor moved.
The voice that had nothing but tender
words was silent now; the heart she had
grieved might never beat in SORROW or
joy again.
Noperson had seen or spoken with
him after quitting her the previous
night, save the dreSsmaker, little, IN
dustrious Miss Ford. She had answer
ed his knock herself, she related, and he
put the note into her hands, saying,
Miss Reece had asked him TO leave 1t IN
passing. "What thick mist it Is that
has come on" he remarked to her m his
Pleasant, cha ty way, Aye it is indeed,
SIR" she answered, and shut the 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 10y ell thepoor young man TO
Distraction; 10 one, save her mother,
knew it Sas the memory of her last in
terview with HIM, and the Scheming TO
send him on the route that led to his
accident, that had well-nigh killed her
But the young are strong i'll their tena-
city 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
She was very feeble yet. 1t was the
| first she had sat there since that memoir
able evening with her ill-fated lover.
There she remained thinking and dream
ing. 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 1t
should be so, as the one he and she had
watched together more than six months
before. The brilliant leans shone like
molten gold in the glowing west, the
blue sky around was tlecked with pink
and amethyst. Alison's eyes were fixed
on the lovely scene with an enraptured
gaze, her lips slightly parted with emo
tion.
Allison, what are you thinking Off"
"Of him, mother. Of his happiness.
He is living in all that glorious beauty.
| think there mnst have been an uncon-
scious provision in his mind by what he
said that evening as We watched it,
that he should soon be there. Oh, moth
er, L wish was going to him! L wish
| could be with him tomorrow"
The mother paused; she felt inclined
to say something, but she feared the
agitation it might cause.
"Well, well, child, you are getting
better" she presently answered.
"Yes, do get better" sighed the
girl. II supposed it pleased God that
| should"
Time soothes all things, Alison.
again In time you will be strong
and able to fulfill life's various
duties with zest. Trials are gOod-oh,
so very good!-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 listed to the glories of the
evening sky.
1t was at the same sunset hour, an
eveneng or two later, that Alison, who
was picking up strength daily, strolled
away to the churchyard. She wanted
to look for newly-made grave in that
corner where SO many of the Watkyns
lay buried.
She could not see 1t; the same grave
stones that were there now were there
before; there was no fresh one,
perhaps they opened the old vault
for him." thought Alison, as she sat
down ON bench just inside the gate,
for she was too weak to walk back again
without rest.
The sun was going down tonight
without any loveliness, just as crimson
ball, which seemed to give red light to
the atmosphere, and to light up redly
the face of pale, tottering man who
was coming up to the gate by the help
of a stick. He halted wnen he reached
it. Alison turned sick and faint with
all manner of emotions as she gazed at
him, fright being uppermost.
"Alison!''
''Thomas!"
He held out his hand; he came inside;
his pale, sad face wore for her its old,
sweet expression.
''Oh, Thomas, Thought you were
dead" she burst out in storm of sobs.
II came here to look for your grave. l
thought had killed you"
"They thought was dead at first.
They thought for long while that l
should die" he answered, as he sat
down beside her, keeping her hands in
his. "But the skillful medical men have
raised me up, under God. l hope
III time to De strong and well again"
''Can you ever forgive mep" she wall
ed, bitter, painful tears falling down
her cheeks like rain. 81 shall never