The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1884-04-25


shield of roses. .......
Gervaise was leaning sadly against
the door, listening abstractedly to the
music, when Elsie laid her boquet of
roses lightly on his arm.
"Gervaise !"
He started
"Miss Miller !"
"Miss Miller" she repeated, bitterly.
"Oh Gervaise--you used to call me
Elsie once Why are you so cold-so
changed What have done to lose
your friendship9"
Nothing he answered, strangely
embarrassed
"Gervaise j.
"Will you excuse me, he said, hur-
riedly. see friend TO whom ] must
speak"
Elsie stood with her cheeks flaming
like the roses in her hand, and her blue
eyes humid with tears Had she hu-
inflated herself in vain
And this was the night she went
home and declared for at least the hun
dred aud ninety-ninth time, that "she
didn't care "
81 cannot endure this" thought
Gervaise Cotton. 81 shall forget dig
nifty, manhood, resolution and every
thing else if she looks me in the eyes
like that once again. Oh, Miss Bird
get Merriam's fifty thousand dollars
could be thrown into the sea! y
4 Al. -,
packing his valise, burning old letters,
and setting his affairs in order for
journey. - wv tf 7
81 may as well go out West he
thought. ''lt's wild place and
lonely place, and / shall be safe from
the besetiing demand of temptation
only there. | may surely keep this
bunch Of dried violets that she gave
me the day of the picnic she will never
know
Alas, there was little of consolation
in that last reflection.
"Ought to write and bid her good
by ?" he pondered, with an indescriba-
BILE yearning, for the one last link to
bridge over the dividing currents of
their lives. mo, | must leave her
free, unfettered even by fancy
Gervaise Cotton sat underneath the
swinging lamp of the express train as
it thuudered. through the midnight sol
itudes, with folded arms, and sleepless
staring eyes. He was leaving hope,
happiness, Sunshine, behind him for
ever.
Oh, why had Providence made the
path of duty so narrow, and SO beset
by prickly thorns Why must he
fight such perpetual battle with him
self ? Would it not be better to die at
once? rf - rs4l5~- ~--.syr
As the vague, repinihg aspiration
after the peace and oblivion of death
came across his mind, there was a
crash-a jar--a noise like the render
ing of beams and splintering Of arches
land Gervaise Cotton was thrown
Violently against the side OF the car,
with conclusion that for few mo.
ments deprived him of sense of con-
sciousness Then he struggled up,
|
and became aware that he was sur
rounded by dead and dying
The train had run off the track, and
the three foremost ears were precipita
ted into sort of gorge or declvity
some seven or eight feet deep, just be-
yond. Gervaise Cotton had wished
for death-here it was, face to face
with him. No wonder that he shrank
appalled, from the gastly sight.
.Steadying himself by the broken
seat, he rose to his feet, convincing
himself that he was not seriously hurt
beyond bruise or two, and began tc
assist his less fortunate fellow travel.
ers.
Almost directly behind him had sa,
a man in slouohed hat aud muffled
face he lay now beneath a mass Of
splintered woodwork and shivered
glass.
! ''It's no use,' be groaned feebly, as
Gervase dragged away the super in-
cumbent weight, aud tried to lift him
up; "Im dying fast there's an ugly
cash on the back of my head that all
the surgeons in creation couldn't close
up again. Let me die in peace
"Why, it is Jonathan Peck T. ex,
claimed Gervaise, recognizing the law,
yer's voice, husky and faint though il
was.
"Yes, Gervaise Cotton, it is H. fal
tered the dying man, $50 back to
Elsie Miller and tell her she is penni-
less once more. | have risked her for
tune in railroad shares, and lost it but
if had succeeded--and they looked
promisng-I should have doubled il
for her. was on my way to Europe
dared not look her in the face, anG
tell her what | am telling you. But il
is all over now God will Judge me
more charitable than man would have
done; and | meant well indeed-in
deed-indeed, | meant we'll For
| There was choking sort of gurgl'
| in his thrOat-a rush of crimson BLOOD
over his lips-and the next momen
Gervaise Cotton was holding deaC
mans head upon his knee.
Lost! My fortune all lost! Stop
moment, Gervaise, and let me collec
my thong hts-my head is growing diz
zy, think.
Elsie Miller had cared as little 70
the money glitter of wealth as woma
, could, and yet this shock came to he
sharp and sudden, No more luxury
no more indolent indulgences, no NOR
} day dreams. She must turn once NOR
to the hard, dusty high-road of work
day life aud oh how lonely and de,
= olate she felt in the contemplation c
g that new existence.
\ "Oh, Gervaise, Gervaise, what sha
| do7"
= The words broke almost involuntar
t ly from her parched lips there was a
+ imploring CLEAN in her blue eyes
0 Il will tell you, Elsie he sal,
! gently taking both of her cold, flute
/ ing hands in his. "Trust yourself I
me-give your future into my car,
a And may Heaven be my Judge if ev,
: | fail in the charge il has committed