Johnstown weekly Democrat. (Johnstown, Cambria County, Pa.) 1889-1916, 1889-09-27

deepest devotion i owe him everything;
almost my life"
.'But You, with your talent, cannot
live on infarm drudgery all your life !
amrich. i can take you abroad. You
will see Italy study under great artists:
far surpass the little / have taught you.
And you.,lo not love Robert Strong You
love me. IBettrue to your OWL heart
II llhaye never said i loved you" was
the reply, In q calm voice. ''And am
true TO my own heart when l keep faith
with Robert Strong"
In va4n he pleaded. White as death,
cold in the hot August air, Lizzie was
firm In her refusal of all he offered to
tempt her. Robert Strong loved her.
With passionate gratitude filling her
heart, Lizzie had caught eagerly at the
hope of repaying him, by a wife's devo-
ttion, for all he had done for her. When
Charles Arnold, asummer boarder on the
next farm, discovered and developed
decided taste for painting the girl pos
-sessed, when he opened to her the world
of poetry, art and literature, lent her
books, talked with her, the new life
seemed only return to something she
had known before and half forgotten.
There was no doubt that Lizzie had been
the child Of parents OF culture and refine
ment. Her speech, her movements, ali
betrayed it and she impressed the young
artist at once, as a lady. AS she lett
childhood behind her, his interest deep
ened into love, but not until he spoke
and asked her to be his wife, did Lizzie
know that her heart had been traitor to
her promise, and that she loved Charles
Arnold as she had never loved Robert.
NotfoF one second did she wayer; and
her lover left her convinced at last tha'
his hope had deceived him, while LizZ.e
turned to her homo, exhausted by the
constraint she had put upon herself; her
heart torn b. the separation, but con
slant to her betrothed never doubtipc
her ability to mako him happy Sac
knew, and she eXulted in the knowledge,
that she was the sunlight of the farm
house. Mrs. Strong was old, and in frail
health, depending greatly upon her
adopted child, who gave her back in
fullest measures the loving care be-
slowed upon her own forlorn childhood;
and to Robert she was the very cen'cr
OF hope, love, happiness-everything
that made life OF value.
And never had his love met such quick
recognition, never had Lizzie been so
tender, go careful of his comfort and
pleasure, as in tho week that followed
Charles ATnold's departure from the
neighbours farm. 1t was dear
precious recollection to the grateful girl,
for there came a day-ah so soon after
when Robert Strong was brought TO his
own door dying Of Injuries received by IL
fall in his barn. The trap of the loft had
given way and thrown him violently to
the floor beneath.
A few hours of suffering and then he
said, family:
Mother who will care for mother?'
II will Lizzie said, quietly, though
il was only an iron will that held baca
ar schs. You will trust her to M,
R0bert?
.Vuly a look answered her. Speech was
SOLE, bu. Lizzie Will carry that lou
warm in her heart until the grave open
for her. She knew hat Robert did trus.
her, and over the still, white face, that
was all her weeping eyes saw an hour
later, she vowed to be faithful to hri
trust.
She soon found 1t was no slight burden
she had assumed. Mrs Strong broke
down, utterly prostrated by this last soI-
row in a life that had been one of part
ING from all she loved-husband and
ehildren-until this last prop and COM
fort Of her old age was taken. The far
was given up, neither woman having "''
knowledge or strength to take Robert
place. a tiny cottage was purchased
nd the money still left from tho sale o.
the farm gave the old lady an income
barely sufiicientfor necessary food
Then there came back to her the re-.
ward for the deed Of charity that ter
years before had taken the almshouss
Waif into her home and heart. WithuW
any wonderful talent, Lizzie had taste
for art, and Charles Arnold had given he
valuable instructions.
After many failures in attempts to sci
her pictures she succeeded in obtaininl
steady work for large fancy good.
house, who sold tho hand-painted orna-
mental work, then first coming into
fashion. Easter banners, pincushioua
bottle-eovers, plush tides. satin and vel
vet in a hundred forms did Lizzie orna-
ment with flowers, birds, butterllies.
and pretty devices OF all kinds. The
price would have scarcely supported her
city, but in her modest homo i.
was an addition to the small income
that gave Mrs. Strong every comfort,
and enabled both TO live well in their
quiet, unpretentious way.
Ayear after Robert Strong died Charles
SAll4}AAA OllNb lAlOAb UNA W h4l lAlALlt LOT
his wife, and once moro failed. 1t was
q hard struggle between love and graft
tude; but one sentence the lover used
made il easier. He said
"There is an almshouse provided for
destitute old women"
And Lizzie answered
And for orphaned children. Never
will l send to its cold charity the tender,
loving old woman who rescued me-"
Aad few months afterwurd, Charles
Arnold married. But Lizzles labor Of
love lasted many years. Mrs. Strong
lived TO be Il very old woman, losing in
the last years of her life all her knowl-
edge Of what surrounded her, a para
lyzed, imbecile weight. But a weight
upon hands that never faltered-a heart
that never turned away.
When she died Lizzie inheTitedthe cot
Lage and what income she left, by a will
made soon after Roberts death. There
She lives, doing what good she can, a
useful "old maid" IA she terms herself.
though but little past 30. Love may
come into her life again. but she is happy
without it, regrettng nothing of what
he has sacrificed TO duty and graft
Ide.-N. Y. Ledger