The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1886-01-23

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"afd It seemed to him that the yerxllp
4 Va tS~
stiffness of death hung oyer every
thing. There was no light in the
little home far up among the hills,
no CLEAN of a white dress through
the deepening gloom-no one to greet
him at the door. And when he en-.
tered there was only brief note to
tell him of that which his heart had
feared and dreaded ard fought
against through the long hours just
ended.
II am going away" she wrote.
"When left you this morning. full
of anger and bitterness, 1 little
thought should so soon obtain my
hearts great wish. found my
brother at the house waiting for me,
waiting to take me away from this
wretched place, back 10 the dear old
home and the dear old sweet life 1
long for SO. 1 cannot wait to bid you
goodbye. dare not wait. The
sight of your sorrowful face might
cause me to alter my decision, and
Richard, l wish to go back.
Besides. after what passed between
US this morning, life could never be the
same to either of us again. And
If it has given you pain to know that
have been miserable, will it max @
you less unhappy to know that am
leaving this life willing, gladly. and
with no regret save that you will be
alone and wretched? You will for
get me in time you must forget me.
1t is better So"
He read it over and over again,
every letter stamping itself on heart
and brain in lines of fire. Could it
! i,lye.rsaf be risaaffi,iss.nd i,is bad penned to-.
words? Had she feigned happines.
while she secretly longed for free.
dom? Was love but mockery after
all? Yet what did it matter if his
own hopes were lost since she had
gained her wish. Had he not told
her that his only desire was to make
her happy.
"The past year has been but q
dream. dream too fair and sweet to
last" he told himself in the first bit
terness Of his despair.
And then he took up the burden OF
life again not with the gIadness of
hopeful youth, but with the strange,
mad unrest that follows despair, the
feverish energy that sometimes
serves as a shield against other
memories.
He had not counted the days or
even the months that had passed
since she left him. He only knew
that the days ad heen long and
lonely, and that somehow he had
managed to live them. He remem-
bered in a vague, dim way. that twice
the spring had come and gone since
she went away, for twice he had
counted the buds on her lilac tree and
watched them burst into fragrant
blooms. Twice he'd the roses bloom
ed and faded in her little garden, and
now they were fading again, yet to
him all seasons were the same. be-
cause for many months he had known
but One-the cold, cherries winter of
the heart.
Outside a gray sky overhead and
the steady fall of winter rain; inside
the glow of cheerful fire, before
which he sat oblivious alike to wind
and storm and cold. He had been
reading. but the book had fallen at
his feet. and he was sIeeping-a deep.
yet troubled sleep.
He had been dreaming, too, for
tear had trickled down and lay on,
his haggard cheek.
He stirred uneasiIy, and murmur.
ed something in his sleep, but did
not wake. when the sudden opening
OF the door let in gust OF wind that
scattered the ashes over the hearth
and famed the fire into a brighter
fame. 1t was not until soft hand
was laid on his own and warm sweet
kisses fell on his face that he awoke
to find her kneeling by his chair. the
old remembered love-light shining in
her eyes, though it shone through
mist of tears.
II have come back" she said soft.
ly, not needing his bewildered luok,
and lifting her hand lovingly to lay
1t against her warm cheek. "Oh.