The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1884-01-26
WAS IT PROVIDENCE.

WAS IT PROVIDENCE.
In the little hollow where they stood
she dead grass was covered with .
thick carpet of yellow and red leaves.
and above them the bare branches
moancd di5mally in the chill Novcm-
Der winds. The young girl shivcrcd as
colder blast swept down upon her,
and rs George touched her neck in
drawing her shawl closer around her.
she tremb lcd even more violently, and
in the upward glance she gave him, he
saw something he had never seen in
her eyes before.
us il possible that YOU love mc?' he
exclaimed, bending down and striving
10 raise the pretty, blushing face so
that he might again catch the express
ION that had so bcwildcrcd him.
Her eyes were full of tears when they
met his, and he knew his question was
answered.
but am married and | am poor,
while YOU are richr' he muttcrcd.
What can bridge the wide gulf be-
tween us?"
Her answer was q sob, for with him
she recognized the hopclcssness Of her
love and his.
And tho wild November winds
caught up tho dead leaves and whirlcd
them around in mad dance over the
fields and moors, but its shrillcst shricks
were not more mournful than the signs
and sobs with which the hcl plcss lovers
poured out The strains of their helpless
love.
1t was true he was poor but he was
rich in the capacity he owned for low
ing the timid, shrinking girl at his side.
And she was rich in money, but beg
CARED in hope, for her purity made the
chasm between them wider than it
seemed to him. For her there was
nothing but despair, for him nothing
but the sorrow that comes TO us when
u loved one suffers.
Alice shouted George, that night,
as he ranged up and down in front of
her house. Alice! Come quickly!
Miriam is DYING
Why did the sad message send n
thrill 20 the heart OF the grip Had she
prayed for this, and had her prayer
been answered. Whether in fear or
not she crcpt closer to him rs he hur-
ricd her through the silent village
streets, only her own swelling heart
could know. Miriam dying! His wife
se7ering the cord that held them apart.
At the bedside Of the sinking woman
Alice knclt IN IN agony of prayer that
this cup might pass from the lips of her
friend, but the shadows gathered thick
ly, and when the night light burned
out, Miriam passed away into the cold
dawn of breaking day and Alico's
hand touched GEORGE on her pale
forehead
1t had beer Miriam wish that sho
might be buried beside her mother, and
faithful 70 her diving request, George
made his preparations 10 carry her to
the little village from which nc had
taken her happy bride, only = short
year before.
"You thought | IVA, rich. whispered
Alice as she babe him goodbye at the
depot. "Lct not your heart be troubled.
have only five thousand dollars.
And George blessed her with y look.
He knew what she meant The clouds
between them were breaking. Miri.
ans death had brought her nearer TO
him, had made her happiness possible,
and now, could he accomplish an
amount equal to hers, life had all tho
colors OF bright promise for them
both.
Goodbye, darling!' he murmured.
and as the train bore him and his dead
away, he saw her smile through her
tears, and he knew she was his.
The train Numbered along its path
way, out through tho dead fields, past
whirling leaves, as yellow rs Miriam'S
hair, under a sunny sky rs blue rs Mi
RAMS eyes, through forest and glen,
past village and town, and once more
into the open country that Miriam had
loved SO well. And George in his lone
illness, thought of Miraim and Alice,
the one only privileged one TO take the
other angels place.
A long streak of Jagged fire flashed
IN his eyes, the sea seemed roaring in
his cars. Caught up and whirlcd !
around, he felt as il the earth had pass
ed away, and then came silence. blind
ness, unconscjousness.
II was long before he recovered his |
senses, and then they led him to a
broken coffin, and Miriam! Miriam, pill !
lowed upon q friendly breast, smiling
family upon hin.
IAN dreaming, or dead?" he asked.
still stunned and bewildered.
Dear Georger' she murmurcd.
'She must have been in trance"
said physician standing near. 1.-The
<hock restored her to consciousness |
but she cannot recover now. My poor |
boy, prepare for the worst Her inju- |
ries are fatal"