Wichita eagle., 1888-11-06
"a, ,,s,n came I'm and eave me a noea

nv cousin came in and gave me note
"Mr. Gerard received news that compelled
him to leave here at ones, and he left this
note. as be did not wish to disturb you to say
good-by. am sorry be has gone; No shall
miss him very much"
trembled as took tho note; my cousin
noticed it and said:
'Aa.ey, dear. fear you are not well
Why, you are trembling all Overt"
II am chilly, that is all; it will soon pass {"
She left me after little, and when was
alore again l opened the letter; q ring
dropped out-the one that Felix had always
worn on his little fpger. This Is what read:
Matey, dear little one, know ought to go
away without writing to You, but feel thxt
must say some words Of comfort know, dea-
that the burden you are called upon to bear is
very bard for one so young; but God win tighten
It, and In bis own good time send relef-as hope
he may to me. have told your aunt all; she
was very kind to me- The inclosed ring belonged
10 my mother, and have worn it since her death
had meant it to be the pledge of our love Will
you wear it for my sake, darlings need not ask
you to sometimes think Of me, knowing well you
viii never forget Would to God had the right
to comfort you'll God bless you, Mateyl can
write no more. FELIX.
l put the ring he sent me on my finger,
kissing it passionately as / did so; then
knew no more. When my aunt came to me
she found me lying on the floor in a swoon.
Five years had passed since that October
day when my love and parted, and was
Margaret Douglas still. had never heard
Of Felix, but he was seldom absent from my
thoughts.
l was sitting alone one afternoon when
Aunt Janet came in and gave me letter
AS soon as saw the writing knew it was
from Felix:
DEAREsT-I am dying: the doctors give me
few hours to live at most. Come as quickly as
you can to the inclossd address. must see you
once more FELIX
Two hours later found me by the bedside
OF my first and last love-now surely dying,
A faint smile parted his lips as he took my
hand in his and looked lovingly in my face
you have changed, darling" he whis
pered, "but it is the same sweet face still"
1 could not speak; lump was rising in my
throat.
you wear my ring" taking my hand in
his, $50 you have not forgotten, dear. But,
Matey, what's thiss Tears! and for me?'
Ny tears were falling fast; tried to sup
press them, but could not.
Don't weep for me, darling; it you knew
how happy l am to go, you would rejoice
but it will not be long. Matey, before you
come, too; then you will find me waiting for
you. Try and think, dear, that this is not
goodby, for we shall meet again, and it will
not be in the gloaming-day will have
dawned for US both"
He put his hand gently on my bowed head,
and when, a few minutes later, the doctor
came, it did not need the look on his face to
tell me that my darling was at rest.
His wife is an inmate of an insane asylum;
her reason left her when she heard of his
death, for, with all her faults, she loved him
as much as q woman like her could love any
one. For his dear sake do all can to make
her wretched life comfortable; if she has
sinned, God has assuredly punished her.
Ny darling's presence seems nearer to me
when the cleaning draws near. and I am
waiting patiently for that day when we will
meet again in better world.
And as / walk by the vast, calm river.
The awful river so dread to see,
say, THY breadth and thy depth forever
Are bridged by his thoughts that cross to me-"
-Waverley Magazine.