Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1886-03-17

both. She turned her haggard eye
towards the light, and said faintly-
Maggie, the end is very near; and
am glad. Heaven will pardon evel
such sins as mine; 1 shall have peac
now. Draw back the curtains: l Shout,
Ike to see the sun once more"
| obeyed and flood of glowing Grim
son light filled the room and illumina
ted the dying face on the pillow.
radiant smile lit up her features.
II am not afraid now, Maggie ,
she said, in clear full tones; and, al.
most as the words left her lips, he
head fell back, and, without struggle
Blanche Hilliard was dead.
After her daughters death, Mrs
billiard left the Chase, and the nous,
WAS shut up. No tidings have beel
received of its absent master. and peo
pie began to wonder what had become
of him, and il he ever intended to re
turn.
1t WIS now for the first time that
began 10 realise that 1 was utterly
separated from Hugh as when l be
lieyed lie loved the dead girl who ha(
come between us, and that lie mus
still think what he had heard of III,
was true. There was no way of unde
ceiying him, no way by which coult
d sc9ver him. | must only wait-anC
how hard it was to do thatl
do not know now, when look baci
upon them, how got through the day!
days that were like years to Inc
With what sickening dread read tht
daily history of blood and death in thu
newspapers, not knowing whether
should see the name that was so deal
TO me in the fatal listl And at last new:
came-but not in the way expected
a letter reached me, dated from Sedan
written by 4 French officer TO tel he
that Hugh Seymour was dying. He
had been fearfully wounded in the
fierce struggle that decided the fate OF
France. He had told his friend, who
wrote ior him, that he must see me be.
fore the end; and the writer implored
Inc to lose no time in gong out TO him.
II gave the letter to my mother.
Wont you come with me?" asked
anxiously.
MY poor darling. do you think ]
would let you go alone?" was LEI
answer.
| saw by the date of the letter that
it had been written some days before,
and even now all might be over, and
OUT Journey of no avail. But | would
not let myself think of that; felt i
should 70 mad if dill.
At last we were there, at the very
door of the hospital where Hugh was
lying. And now my strength broke
down. | dyaded letting my mother
make the NECESSARY inquiries, for fear
of hearing tle fatal words that would
tell me all hope was over. / clung to
her, helpless and trembling; darkness
came before my eyes, and her voice
sounded long way off when l heard
her speaking. aud then woman's voice
saying in answer
"He still lives. madam; but that is
all.n
The nurse--for 1t was she who spoke
led the way; and we followed her
ssssnslst = lsa's4'7.'--s - -z--sl -
1 remember entering large white
washed room, and passing by row of
beds, each occupied by wounded suf-
ferer, and one where sheet was drawn
over a figure that lay quite still. l heard
one golden-haired boy moan piteously
for his mother, as he tossed in the un-
rest of fever; and at last we stopped
beside 4 bed at the end of the room,
and once more l saw Hugh Seymour.
lie did not recognize us. he lay in
a heavy stupor, almost like one dead,
except for the labOred breathing that
was 50 painful to hear. 4 doctor was
bending over him, and nurse stood at
his side; but pushed them both away.
He was mine as long as he was on earth.
and l would let no one else be near
him. Iput my arm round his neck,
and drew his head close TO me.
Hugh" | said, my darling, have
come to you; only speak to me-only
one word my own lovei'
forgot everything else but him. He
and l seemed alone together in the
world ard he was dying. spoke to him
L prayed desperately for
the boon Of even conscious look from
him; and l think the very agony of my
entreaty hal some mysterious influ-
ence over him, for the heavy eyes slow
ly opened and met mine, faint smile
fitted over the wan face. making it
look almost as of old, and he softly
MY Maggie!''
1t was the day after my arrival, and
| was still at Hugh's bedside. His
had returned, and l had
been able to tell him all. The wretched
misunderstanding that had caused US
80 much misery was cleared up now,
and nothing could separate us any
more, except death, and that was COM
ing near; but, as long as there was life
| clung obstinately to hope, and refus-
ed to think of what was before me.
He lay very still, with closed eyes,
Tor he was fearfully wea-, and could
speak 10 me only occasionally in broken
whispers. AS l sat there, holding his
head IN perfect silence, he suddenly
opened his eyes. and, turning them
towards me, said quietly
"Maggie, will you marry me?r
Eyes, DEAR" said, smiling, while a
bitter pang shot through me, as / felt
low idle the words were.
''But / mean to-day" he said
eagerly. "My darling, / know that l
I'M dying. that the end ia very near
now; but it Will be comfort to me to
think that after am gone you will
bear my name and live In the dear old
aome where we have been so happy"
And so l married him. do not re-
my wedding distinctly; it was
ike dream. | stood beside his dying
bed, ard repeated the solemn words
ifter the clergyman, without realizing
hem. ! heard Hugh whisper his re-
'ponse, and felt him place the ring on
Dy hand while the doctor held his
steady. 1 heard him call me his wife.
md stretch out his arm feebly towards
ne; and then terrible change came
,ver his face. and his head fell bask ON
he pillow. With cry l sprang towards
lim; and then a great darkness came
,efore my eyes, and 1 remember moth
ng more.
| had written thus far when was
nv nv husband coming into