The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1885-12-25

and dismounting from his weary
horse at his door, found woman's
figure standing by his side, which
he knew even in that dim light. The
voice which addressed him was SO
stifed as to be almost inaudible. "For.
give me-" it said: II was insane
did not know; you are noble and good
They have the fever-Uncle Jake and
Nanny. Oh! for Gods sake, come. "
Kortlandt's heart throbbed SO violent
ly that 1T was q moment before he
| dared to trust his voice to speak. Then
he said quietly. II will 60 at once u
and remounting he rode away with as
much speed as he could get from his
jaded beast.
But she was at the cabin almost as
soon as he, eagerly and efficiently help
full despite the agony of sorrow and
helplessness which possessed her as she
saw how little science and love could
prevail against the relentless death
that was fighting for possession of the
poor old black bodies sheloved so we'll.
For it was in vain that he expended
all his knowledge, and she all her ten
der care; the second morning with a
last faithful, loving look from his dim
eyes and a last gentle murmur OF
"Good-by, little Missy; don yougo to
cry for me-" Uncle Jake had fallen
asleep, and few hours later old Nam
my too, had passed away"
That evening Ellen Everestt stood
before the four graves, two of them
freshly made; for she had laid the
bodies of the blacks here, "beside her
other parents" as she said. In the
utter stiffness which falls with the set.
ting of the sun she could hear, far
down the road, the departing foot
steps and voices of the men who had
borne her only friends to their resting
place at her feet. She listened to
them, until they had faded away, and
then stood listening still-for one
more sound. No; they were gone, and
she was alone, alone, alone forever.
So she cried wildly, but hands stron-
ger than her own took them and held
them in a close, steady grasp, and
in frightened glance she saw the
strong sympathy in the manly face
which she had learned to trust and
and turn to in the last few days. AS
naturally and thankfully as child
she accepted it, and laying her face
upon his arm wept out the first Bit
terness of her grief there. 1t was not
long before she had wept herself quiet,
but did not raise her head for some
time and when she did so perceived
that the night had almost fallen.
Gently disengaging her hands from
his she rose to her feet, then again ex-
tending them to him as he stood by
her side, Goodnight" she said.
"You cannot know how thank and
bless you. Goodnight"
"Oh! child" he cried, restraining her
as she would have turned away, 81
cannot let you go back to that lonely
cabin alone"
81 must" she said sadly; ri have
nowhere else that can go.''
"Nell," he said eagerly. eff you will
have it so you need never return there
you and Ineed never part, ifyou will
be my wife, Nell"
She uttered low cry, and drawing
her hands away buried her face in them
and turned from him. "Oh!" she
cried bitterly, ''you say that because
you pity me. You would never have
said it else"
II say it because I love you. 1
would never have said it else."
"But you are SO wise, and good, and
great
"And you are so brave, and beauti-
full, and true. You asked me the other
night to forgive you. How can I, if
you trample on my heart and make
it such wreck ofweeds and desolation
as the northern soldiers never made OF
that field there? How can I, if you
refuse the prayer that mans heart
never but once makes to a woman-a
prayer tor the complement to his being
which her love alone can give? Nell,
there is but one chance of happiness in
this world for me, and it is that which
am asking of you.'
He saw her face in the clear light OF
the rising moon as she turned it toward
him, and it gave him all the answer that
any mans heart could have required.
But he waited for the words.
"There is nothing ofwhich my life has
been deprived" she said slowly, "oi
which it is possible to read in those
wasted fields or in these graves before
rs, that your words have not repaid
to me a hundred fold. And IL give
you all I have to give: I love you"