Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-03-18

Dufuen OF neF poverty upon you, III Sne
had struggled until she had tainted and
fell sick. and was gaining health slowly,
hopelessly. with no future before her but
a future OF poverty and toll; il Barbara
came so to you, Cyrus, what would you
say?'
But only palid face with great beads
of perspiration upon the broad brow, was
lifted in speechless agony to meet her
eyes. Only large, brown eyes. wistful
and suffering, appealed to her womanly
heart.
There was deep silence in the room
for long time. Then hoarse voice
said
You have seen Barbara?''
Eyes | have seen her.
As you described
Yes"
"And you despise me as faithless to her
and to you ?"
mo, do not despise you! am sorry
that you did not know your own heart
better, when you came to ask me to be
your WIFE"
All her pain and love was we'll hidden
in the cold. proud voice which Fannie
Pleasanton assumed to cover her breaking
heart. But after moment she said, more
gently:
Barbara has been very ill, and is still
too weak to bear any great agitation.
You must be patient and leave her to me.
When she is well enough YOU shall see
her"
Fannie, you will break our engage
ment? You will dare the gossip that will
be the result OF any change now? You
will not trust me to tear out this old love
and be ever true and faithful to you2 |
am not so weak but can do so, if you
will trust me-"
But | will not!' was the quiet reply
81 will marry no man whose heart is not
all mine. | will have no memory of
another love for my constant rival. We
can still be friends, Cyrus. but never again
lovers"
He had no words to meet the steady
resolution of her voice. but yet he took no
towards plea for shelter. He would not
say. even to his own heart, 'She never
loved me; she is glad to throw me off,"
He knew she had loved him, being too
purely womanly to give her hand where
she had not already given her heart. He
knew the sacrifice she was making. He
took both her little cold hands in his,
lifted them reverently to his lips, saving
MAY God bless you for your goodness
to her. will come again when you send
for me-"
So he left her, carrying the dream of
future happiness she had carried six
months next her heart with him.
She could not trust herself to think
Obtaining the doctors permission, she
brought Barbara to her own stately home
and nursed her back to health, restoring
her to her lover. but telling her nothing Of
her own sacrifice.
Before the winter SHOWS came there
was quiet wedding, tor the doctor had
strongly urged a warmer climate for the
invalid.
She was very happy, this pale, little
Barbara, when sheltered BY her husbands
love, she took leave of her kind friend.
and went away to seek the soft air of Flor
ida, to court health in balmy southern
breezes. She was very happy in her hus-
bands tender care. his caressing affection
in the winter months when even the
warmth and fragrance of Florida air would
not bring back the lost strength. Little
by little she faded away. always gentle
and loving, always happy, even when she
!
never guessing any divided love or duty
had ever threatened tc separate them.
| Gently and painlessly, as a babe sinks to
slumber. little Barbara sank into the last
earthly sleep. her head upon her husbands
breast. his tender words soothing her. his
loving touch caressing her.
Softly they laid her under the ever
green verdure OF the southern grass. and
I a
owed and sorrowful.
Two years later Fannie Pleasanton re-
turned from her European trip. taken i'm.
medistelv after Barbara's wedding. Her
old home was unchanged. her aunt glad
to come back to her housekeeping and
friends
little paler. little graver. CYRUS
found her when he came t., call. but slill
the gentle. dgniied woman he remem.
bered, the true companion his soul
craved
Never to living ears did he tell the
secret he learned in his brief married life,
the secret thai Barbara. sweet. gentle
Barbara. whose girlish beauty had won
his love. whose deepest pity had stirred
his deepest pity, was not the soul wife he
hoped to find. Gentle. loving. suffering,
she appealed to his protection. his pity.
and he gave her both in full measure.
But he knew only too soon that she
could never meet him heart TO heart as
Fannie could could never be his true life
companion. He was Loyalty true to her
memory. speaking no word OF his secret
disappointment
But he sought Fannie with lovers