The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-01-12
LAURA
BY MARBgL u. ROWE.

rested on her face, although there wM
an uRdercurrent Of earnestness in hi
light tones,
Eyes, John, / have told you before
that 1t can not be-" she said, in a sweet
womSuly way.
"But, Laura, you know that l really
love you, and when you are onCe my
wife l will turn over u new leaf and
you will not regret your choice of hus-
band"
mo, no, 1t can not be, it can not bO,"
He scarcely heard her, and went on;
"But when lam away from you the boys
urge me to go out with them aud l fall
into bad company, tell you it would
be different II We were married"
II could never marry a drunkard to
reform him." Laurasaid in alow, panied
voice, pressing her hand lightly against
her breast and paling even to the very
lips
The handsome, fair face Of her COM
panion flushed and he shifted uneasily
from ono foot TO the other.
snow Laura, do not Use such harsh
Language toward mel love you, darling,
SO well, the thought that you will not DO
my wife sometimes drives me to 1t, and
in utter desperation | seek TO drown the
voice within me in drink. When you
arc my wife Ipromise never 10 touch n
drop ever again"
at would only DO for u few months,
then the old habit would return to you
and ruin both our lives. No, ! can not
and will not marry you to reform you; II
you raj not become u better man now
you never will, john"
He stood leaning against a tree for soy.
eral moments, his eyes bent on the
ground. Laura looked at imand sighed
a deep, heart drawn sigh that was forced
from out the very WEAKNESS Of her soul.
Presently she went upto him aud timid.
ly laid her hand on his own. Ee bent
his head and laid his lips with a fierce,
passionate movement OF pain upon her
slender fingers, then he put out both his
arms, saying triEle brokenly:
Laura, you are the only woman who
has ever stirred the good Qualities in me
to q sense Of their duty and | am going
to try and lead a better life for your
sake. Good.by, darling, will you come
TO me only once more for the last time
perhaps in many long years2"
Laura crept into his outstretched arms,
aud laid her head against his breast,
looking up at him out OF her soft dark
eyes, She loved this wild young Haw-
tL.orne with all her warm, innocent
young heart, and the greatest boon this
world could offer her was to be his wife,
People said Of him, "That young good
for nothing s%CapegraCc, see how wild
and wicked hc is growing" Then look
ing at Laura they would say in accents
Of pity: "Poor thing, poor young girll'
""JOhn, for my sake, dearest, do not be
so bad. BE- u good man, and / will mar.
ry you, and consider myself blessed be.
You'd the average lot Of woman. You
have 1t in you, John" and 30 On and SO
on, she argued tho point with sweet
pity and love making more divine her
fair face, pointing out his good points
and begging him to make the best oil
them. He promised and they parted.
Many long months rolled by, vel
Laura heard nothing from her lovel
since they had parted that morning Will
such sweet hopes Of II happiness near
by. She waited patiently for the letter
that never came.
Every morning found her at the gate
awaiting the sight Of tho letter.Carrler.
Every morning she came away with q
gesture of despair, n sauder, paler face
Il more faltering step.
Had John been hurt-or even worse
killed on bis long journey? Az the
end Of which he had promised faithfully
TO write.
She turned away from the gate this
morning with u low, passionate cry o.
rebellion at this horrible, maddenine
suffering which threatened to slap hel
life strings in twain.
ooh, John, john Why do you mol
write to me?" she moaned, falling IN {
heap upon the soft, green grass Of the
lawn. ~ was 80 sure that you loved
the, and yet-not d word for nine long
months to break this awful, ~tortutini
silence and suspense, which Is killing
me. | love him. Oh, John, my dar
ling, my king Why are you so strange
ly silent2"
She arose ~unsteadily to her feet, ant
staggered to the house, dizzy and bllnt
with her pain and despair. When shl
at last sank upon the sofa In her owl
room, she lay there quite white an
strange, looking Us II her eyes w6r
closed, yet she had not tainted. Their
'she wept the fountain Of her tears dry
and as the shadows were deepening Il
her room, and the last glory OF the sci
ting sun WIS hidden from Wow benin
the hills, she rang for tho servant an,
sent q message to John;
"Why do you not writer AmanxiouS
answer"
That was all, In an agony o. suspens
she awaited the reply. II came In hal
an honr; d telegraphlc formula OF eleye
wOrdsi
IAN well, will write tonight, NJ
hearts best love 10 you."
IWill write tonight she gobbet
thank God-thatk GOdl"
The next day came o long, closel,
written letter Of ten pages. She IL
youfUd IL with eager, burning eyes, II
called her his darling wife, and slgne
himself your own John. How | h
biushes chased each other over her iaI
checks. He would DO home soon b
told her, and Tor her 10 answer AZ one
which she gladly, and with ttetnblln
fingers, did.
Two years passed, bringing man
changes, A wealthy relative OF Iaura
Mad died and loft all his money 10 HI
beloved niece, She was wealthy loy
but kept this fact from her lover,
Ati6st the day Of his arrival came, AZ
abe stood before tho long, truthful mi
foF In one Cornef. Of her room, and gaze
AZ herself with O little smile oil pride
lho bright vision reflected therein, III
sweet, patient face which no one hl
ever seen wear a itown oil. imtatiDhI
was lighted Up with Q holy Joy fro
within, Her slender white fingers We
locked tightly together "a she stoI
EmillhR back into the eyes reflected
the mirror. A ray. Of Sunlight Btrayil
IN al her open window fell upon !
sparkling ring on her finger, and o.