Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-05-09
Opening the door that hung by one hing

4
they entered the room of death.
One tallow- candle lighted the room. bu
after the darkness OF the hall it beemet
! quite bright. and Showed plainly the straw
bed in the corner, on which lay gaspin!
the little girls father.
1t seemed impossible that the faded sal
low face and attenuated form could eve
have been the dashing and fun-lovine
| James
"Oh, Thsnia, I knew you would come
I felt you must" said he feebly, as he helt
out thin hand to each of tnein. :" God i:
| good, when / least deserve it
Tut, tut, boy; why haven't you seit tc
us; nay, come to us. instead Of suffering
like this, spoke out good Mr.. Elleston.
ooh, uncle, could not until life was
| despai1ed OF, come to those have SO deeply
injured !"
Hush, hush, James you were wild.
but you never hurt us, and it is folly to talk
so. You must go home with US now"
Uncle-Anthine, your kindness over
| powers me. Don't you see-can't you see
that l am dying? And oh, must tell you
while life lasts"
Tell us what. James " asked Anthine
softly, as she put her cool, soft hand over
his fevered forehead.
q" Thenia, do you remember your we'd
ding night, seven years ago? And did you
ever wonder why Paul never came to you ?"
Yes, yes, indeed. Tell me, do YOU
know why? and unconsciously she drew
nearer.
"Oh, Thenia, it was some of my ac-
cursed folly. loved you and hated Paul,
apd was envious OF him for having won
what l was unworthy of. And the morn
ing before he expected to start for you, he
received letter telling him you We're mar
Tied to your cousin, James Holmes, and
were TO start Immediately on your bridal
tour bidding him to forget you and seek
some one more worthy. To that letter
your name was signed, Thenia, and it was
posted here. You know Paurs proud heart,
how such blow was death to him, and
how he sailed on the first vessel that left
the harbor. | thought to win you then,
Thenia, but in your proud eyes ! saw no
hope of ever taking Paul's place, so | went
away and found a sOft-voiced little girl.
who loved me only too well, and only
lived long enough after | called her wife 10
give me little Velvet-cheeled baby. whom
we christened Anthine, after YOU; and
then, with that innocent baby looking into
my eyes, | wrote again to Paul. and con-
feSsed my wickedness. Directly, with new
hopes, he came 70 you, but you refused to
see him. He wrote TO you, but you re-
turned his letter unopened, and with a
saddened heart he began anew. striving
for fame and honor, that YOU might
know he was incapable of the base act of
which you believed him guilty When he
sought me he could not find me, until
few days ago. 1t was very wicked. Thenia,
but oh, forgive me-" pleaded the dying
man.
1T was wicked. James. but we were
taught to forgive, spoke up her clear,
pure voice, though her eyes were full of
tears.
Poor James Holmes was weeping, too
as he gathered his little girl closer, but he
was failing, as they could see.
Suddenly his eyes frightened, and he
said feebly:
There is his step on the stairs now.
Thank heaven he has not come too late.
can see the hands clasped that | once sep
arated"
A moment more and Paul Wellington.
III all his noble manhood stood before
them.
One clasp of the sick mans hand, one
look in Anthine's eyes, and the estranged
ones were weeping in each others arms.
Out of the darkness has come light
Henceforth when they wcpt they would
weep together.
Mr.. Ellcston grasped Pauls hand warmly
and they turned 10 him whose troubled
look still told that LIES care was not yet
ended. He was pointing at his little daugh
ter.
She shall be cherished and cared for,"
was Paurs solemn answer, as he put his
hand on her curly head, while her little
eyes looked from one 70 another in childish
wonder
All care was over. lie had sinned much,
and much had been forgiven.
The film of death was gathering now,
but a settled peace came over his face, as
his uncle prayed that heaven would be
mercifui. and then his soul was borne from
earth away,
Months after this, when the little one had
grown accustomed 10 her new home and
her new relatives, there was a joyous we'd
ding. Anthine is as queen-like and beau-
tiful as ever, bnt her greatest JOY is in her
own home with her father, and husband,
and children.
Her little namesake is tenderly cherished,
and little pleading voices that say, a
penny-only one, are never turned away
empty-handed, for the little dark-eyed child
that haunted Mr.. Elleston so was poor
James little Anthine.