The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1884-10-23
A Woman's Fault.

lney WerC lovers. All tho romance
and sentiment of the world was theirs.
There is something unfathomable in
this thing called love. 1t tyrannizes
over body and soul as no other feeling
can. 1t creates happiness from tho
greatest sorrow, light from tho deepest
darkness.
Through her tears as they parted
shono such light of love that he al
most dared call her wife. She knew
that she was loved in return, and that
knowledge created faith in her heart
which was to endure, oven to the gates
of Heaven and beyond.
"ln ycar!" ho whispered as ho loft
her.
And sho answered.:
~ will wait 4 yoar-a lifetimer'
% When u year had passed and no
! word camo from him they tried to
snake her faith by creating doubts.
Men had no constancy, thew snoered.
men would wiring q woman's heart and
havo no pity. Tears came to her brown
eyes, but again she answered:
''1c will como back to mel"
When tho ono yoar had become five
the old sailors in tho tavcrns and lofts
shook their heads and said to each
other that tho ship had surely been
lost and that her young captain would
never be hoard of moro. Wives felt q
pity Tor the heart longing and waiting
through such uncertainty, and they
whispered that it would bo no sin to
love again.
II shall SEQ him again-ho will surely
roturn! was tho answer Of Faith, with
her sorrowful facc and aching heart
Tho live years became ten. Tho
brown hair was strcakcd with gray,
and the girls fair face had become tho
lace Oh woman who carries asobbinp,
Walllng misery in her heart. Men
showed their cruelty by seeking to
awaken new love; women exhibited
their bitterness of heart towards their
own sex by ridiculing her faith. But
tho light OF y ncvcr.dying hcroisn,
burned Ill her eyes rs she answered
them:
"Iie gave me his promisc-I am
watching for his shipr'
And the ten years became twenty.
Men and women had gone to their last
rest until scarcely one was left who re-
mcmborcu when the lOSt shin sailed or
who was her captain. But thcre were
children who had heard the story, and
rs they smoOthed down the gray hairs
with their soft hands they WHISPERED:
ut is SO sad! And hc was lost at
sca?"
LOST" shc answered. ave! even
though the whole world told me so /
should wait and watch for himr'
And the twenty years became thirty.
| One night when the storm-veXed sen
lashcd the shore in fury and mon utter
ed brief prayers to God IS they turned
| their faces upon the ships making Il
brave fight for life, Faith lay dying.
The end had come. A human heart.
| troubled md bruised aud Scared bv
waiting in vain-by hoping, to be ever
| disappointed-was about to be stillcd.
For moment the storm lullcd, Just as
man draws long breath before dash
ing into some great peril AS it
screamed and roarcd again in its ven
| geancc Faith lifted her thin hand and
whispcrod:
clio is coming back to me! shall
SEQ him again and hear his voice once
| morc!'
Tho Nurse moved nearer and whis-
pcred kind words, but Faith waved her
aside and cried out:
'Do not como between us! hear
his footstcps--hc is here! Ilovcd him,
and my reward has come Mt last! Let
me clasp his hand-lct mo look into his
oyosn
And again the storm lullcd, until tho
gallo died to sobs ana whispers. and tho
roar of the surf sounded miles away.
! Before tho fury gathered itsolf for
fresh attack two spirits passed out of
the old house hand in hand and wero
afar on the path TO Heaven. Sho had
listened, and his footballs had at last
echoed in her ears. Shc had watched,
and her glazed eyes had at last been
gladdcned. She had waited, and he
had come to be with her through tho
pcris of the dark valley.