Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1888-12-06

uut tnev Coutu not IoFcS Ter 10 give
mp her dear old garden, with its tan
gled mass of shrubbery. But even
as she rejected their offer, the grim,
sad thought came into her head, that,
some day, she would be compelled to
leave il.
How she shrank from the thought
Of going among strangers aud Raj
ston never went to live with rich
relation. They might live il proud
poverty, but they kept house, and
paid their way, independent to the
last.
Her income was small; so very
small that she knew exactly where
every penny was to 60. long before
her dividends came due; and how could
repairs be made without money
Somehow, the broken gate has Ia
ken MISS Rslston back to the days Of
long ago. and a mist comes over her
eyes. The eyes were blue and spark
ling then, but sorrow and sickness and
death will dim the brightest; and all
these three have entered her home.
She did not need to spend much on
clothing. The dark-green satin cloak,
lined with fur, and smelling Of cam
phor, that, every winter, Is carefully
taken out of the cedar chest, was given
to her by brother Fred. brought from
over the seas. The first Sunday she
wore it was to the christening Of
Cousin Dorothy's baby. What if the
baby was grown up now, and had
children of her own going to school :?
Why. the cloak was good yet; far bet
ter than the bran new black satin,
loaded with cheap beads, that the
pretty little bride wore, who lived
opposite, in one Of the new brick
houses.
Before two years, that satin would
all be frayed and dingy, while hers
was bright. even yet. Satin was sat-
in IN those old days.
How proud she was, the day she
wore it for the first time, walking by
John Griscom's side. He was her
lover.
One look into that face, even now,
wonld CONVINCE any one, that she could
not have gone through life, without
being loved.
How did it happen then, that, long
years afterwards. the fair, sweet face
is alone in the old house? Surely,
her lover must have died, and she is
carrying in her heart the precious
memory of unaying devotion.
: Not at all. He simply married
someone else. No dire misfortune
overlook him. and his children enjoy
life quite as much as anyone. Not a
particle of romance in it, for almost
,v,ry day Miss Ralston bows quietly
10 his snowy. well preserved wife.
How. Elizabeth Ralston ever took
f.rcy to John Griscom, in the years
gone by, nobody could tell; indeed,
she hardly knew herself, unless it wa.
his hot, passionate wooing that won
her heart.
H. was young, no older than her
self; and yet he did love her dearly,
10 those days, or thought he did. How
we'll she could remember the night he
told her he would have her, in spite
Of father, or brother, or anyone else.
He would compass sea and land, he
vowed, to accomplish bis ends, How
hard he would work for her OF
course, it was all mp hill to young
professional man; and they would
have to wait awhile, he said. He
would be glad to marry her, the next
dsy. if he could; but he had no mon
ey. as yet. :
How her brother Fred stormed.
'Whstin the world do you see in
that little, Insignificant, homely fel-
low - he demanded. when you
kiow You have only to say the word,
and you can marry Paul Brsith-
waite"
Il; is only because be has more
money than John. Griscom, replied
E'z .be,h, hastily, that you want me
to marry him"
IT is nothing of the kind" an
swered Fred. Indignantly. John
Gri>corn would not be worth having,
even if be had million; while Braith.
waite is pure and true as steel. /
doH I know better man, and I'll new.
er ike the other one"
Even her father, with whom she US
ualI had her own way, was bitterly
opposed 10 her lover.
Il don't like him, Beth, dear, he
said. He belongs to a nice family.
I know; but Paul Braithwaits is a
king in comparison; and besides, it
wilI be a long while before Griscem