The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1884-11-08

fore him. The darkness and the wavy
masses of hair hid her face, else he
surely would have seen the white lips
and burning, fearless eyes.
81 do not blame you, Margie," he
said, gently, but sadly. 81 only won.
der that you can bear me here at all
81 crave your forgiveness, and | pray
God that l may not utterly blight your
happy life"
Arthur waited a moment as if tc
hear one word of farewell, but the fig
ure before him never moved or spoke
Then, gazing intently at his wife, tc
imprint upon his mind a picture that
he never forgot, he turned and left the
room.
All night long Margaret sat in the
little, low chair where Arthur had left
her. Only once she stopped to pick
up crushed flower, with which he had
been playing, and pressed it passion
ately to her lips.
y
Two years now passed away, and the
following winter found Judge Thurstor
and his daughter under the gentle skies
of Florence. The judge was suffering
in health, which, some said, was due
to Margaret's unlucky marriage. How
ever that was, the two were very deal
to each other and were rarely seen
apart.
Several days after their arrival in
Florence Margaret met her landlady in
the hall, who, with a tray in her hand
was just coming out of the room OPP
posite. Stopping to inquire if anyone
were i'll the kind but gossipy little land
lady began to tell in broken Italian Of
the young foreigner who had come tC
her few weeks before, and who
shortly after had been taken i'll with d
fever, and now was very i'll indeed
She said the young man had no friends
and that the good doctor often came
away looking very grave indeed. After
that day many a dainty bouquet OF
basket of luscious fruit found its way
to the sick man, while the landlady
often told the young gentleman of the
tall, san-faced lady who hal sent the
gifts. One day as this same lady step,
ped out of her room prepared for d
drive she met the doctor returning
from visit to his patient. The doc
tor advanced toward her hesitatingly
"You are an American, Miss" he
said at last.
"Yes, sir"
Margaret answered SO pleasantly tina
the doctor continued with more assur,
ance, at the same time waving witt
his hand to the room ne had just left
"Ihere is young gentleman il
there, miss, who is not long for thi:
world. He is an American, also. L
is very hard to die so, miss-so grea
distance from ones people, and will
no kind friends"
"You are right" Margaret answered
gravely. 1t is, indeed, hard. Ny
father spoke yesterday of going in t(
see the gentleman. He is out just a
present, but if may l will go in now.
After moments absence the doCto
returned and conducted Margaret into
the room. The curtains were closel,
drawn, and coming from the light into
the darkness she was blinded for
moment. Not so with the sick man
Looking up to greet his visitor, he
uttered a sharp cry and the one wore
"NIargie p
Margaret stood as if stunned, anc
then, advancing rapidly to the bed, sh,
kneeled down beside it and buried he
face in the pillows. The poor docto
with a confused look turned and hastily
left the room. There was moment
stiffness, broken only by Margaret's low
sobbing. The form before her seemed
to be the wreck OF a once strong an(
beautiful manhood. The sick man wa
Arthur Carlson. He raised his thin
wasted hand and tenderly stroked tn
bright locks ON the pillow beside hin,
poor little Margie," he said faintl
you will soon be free now.'
Then, Margaret never knew how, sh
forgot everything connected with tn
past, she only remembered that tn
man lying there, sick unto death, wa
her husband. At last the proud spiri
was humbled, and she confessed wha
she had kept SO jealousy guarded i
her own breast for SO long. 80
Arthur y she cried in her agony, 80
my husband, only forget the past an
try to live for the future God helpin
me, l will yet win your love-
The white face on the pillow lit u
like the countenance of the dying VIII
see heavenly visions. The excitemer
of the moment gave Arthur back HI
strength. Raising himself on his elbo'
he lifted the bright head beside hir
until he could look into the Lowell
eyes. In one moment they read tn
mistake of those years in each other
face. Each had loved, each had mis-
understood. Great God is it poss
bic" but the momentary strength fol
sock the frame of the sick man and h
fell back on his pillow like one dead.
The doctor, still much confused ha
waited in the hall, from which he wa
now swiftly summoned to the sick
room.