The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1889-05-10

to comfort her now.
A faint voice stolo to her ear as size stood
there. She started and looked toward the
bed. He was sitting up, his eyes fixed on her
face in q wonder that seemed incredulous-
in Joy that thrilled her with its own rap.
ture of recognition and delight. scarlet
flush burnt her cheek. She trembled in
every limb, then passed swiftly across the
space between them, and throw herself at his
side.
"Gennap' he said, SO family that ears less
keen than love had made hers could not have
caught tho word; "Genna, is it your
She could not speak, she only caught his
hands and bathed them with hcr grateful,
tears, and kissed them with her trembling
lips, and quivered there before him with an
exceeding Joy that almost terrified herself.
Itmust be you, he went on dreamily. "Who
else2 You were my good angel once, Genna,
You are by my side again. You will make
death easy for me. dear, will you not2"
Her sobs choked her. Speech failed she
could only answer him by o pressure OF the
feeble hands that cung 80 fondly to her own.
He sank back on his pillow, exhausted by
those few words. Helooked upat her CRATE.
fully. "How good you are!" he said; "but
you are always good. How did you come
here? Have you heard? Do you know?"
"Yos," she said, softly. 81 know all. Do
not trouble to think of it. will nurse you
back to health, and when you are well and
strong"
He laid his hand on her lips. "Do not do
ceive yourself, DEAR" he said; "I shall never
be well and strong again. My life is over.
am only sorry that it bears no record on Its
pages for the world to read, save failure"
Her tears fell fast and thick. She could not
speak IL denial Of his words, for her heart
told her only too we'll how terribly near the
truth they were. She was silent in the breath
less hush of an unspeakable awe; her heart
stood still. as if some cold hand had seized
and chilled its warmth and lifo. "Tell me"
he said again, in feeble, broken accents. fare
you welded. Was it true what she said?"
NO." she answered, while her face flushed
with shame for the falsity OF her sister, and
then grew pale beneath his longing gaze, that
was at once so sad, and tender, and earnest.
SIT is too late now," he said, with slow and
gladdened me once-would have given me
hope and energy, but now"
"Do not despair" she entreated, kneelin2
there and clasping his hands as they moved
restlessly to and fro. "God is good-there is
still hope-you may recover"
A wan, pitiful smile crossed his lips. His
eyes turned to the painting on the easel by
the window; turned sadly, caressingly, as
though the lifeless things of his own crea-
ton were still dear above all else.
81 was so proud OF it" he said simply. II
spent all my thoughts, hopes. time in per-
fecting and creating it. and then, at the very
moment of success, found it--so!"
She followed his gaze to the painted daub
that had ruthlessly destroyed all the beauty
and completeness OF his brush, and shud-
dered as she looked.
"It was my death blow" he said sadly,
while the slow hot tears rolled down his
sunken cheeks. Somehow I never had the
heart to work again. 1t was weak, foolish Of
mel know it-but I could not help it. My
heart died then-with thatp
Sobs were her only answer. perhaps it Is
best so, after ALL he said, at length. II am
glad to see you once more, Genna; glad, even
though think Of the wasted years that
might have been SO happy for us-had been
more trustful. for you do care for me little,
Genna, do you notp
ooh my love my dcarl" she sobbed in her
great anguish, "more than for life, more than
for anything on the whole wide earthl"
His eyes turned on her with gadnoss be-
yond all words. He stretched out his weak
arms toward her. "Kiss me, DEAR" he MUIR
INJURED family. "See, am too weak even to
touch your lips"
She stopped down, her face radiant with
the great pure love that thrilled her heart
now. Her arms stole about his throat, her
lips sought his. "Live, oh live" she cried
"Live for me, my Lowell my love"
He sighed like tired child, while, with
his head on her breast and her lips upon his
own, he rested in the sweetness OF q great
content.
Then suddenly she felt his lips grow cold
his eyes closed-he trembled and was still.
Her lover had passed from her arms to the
arms of death!
She rose and staggered to her feet, while
the cold still form lay there on the narrow
bed. Her brain seemed on fire. her lips
moved without sound, Her life seemed over.
Her eyes turned wistfully to the marble face
that looked SO calm and peaceful now.
Slowly she covered the wasted limbs; softly
she stroked the dark rich curls from his
brow; then bent and kissed the closed lids,
the mute cold lips, that no caress could
warm to life or love again.
She did not weep now. She could not. A
stone seemed in her breast instead of the
beating heart that had throbbed with the
rapture of love but a few moments before.
She covered his face and left him.
SIS he dead2" asked the child wistfully, as
he met her on the stairs.
She bowed her head and passed on,
SIS he dead? Have you money to pay for
decent burial2" said the old wrinkled crone
who lived in the house and let the rooms to
tenants poor and wretched as herself.
Gennas hand sought for the few remain
ing coins that We're still In her possession i.
''Is that enough1" she asked.
"Enough2 Nop exclaimed the woman,
scornfully "But no matter, tho students
will give me silver coin for that corpse of
his. He was q handsome youth when he
came here first"
The girl shivered at the horrible words.
"For Gods sake spare HIM that indignity"
she cried "His life has been one long sor-
row; let him rest in peace now."
"He shall il you give me tho money"
Her hand went to the necklet of pearls
around her throat. 1t was her one orpa-
ment. 1t had been her mothers and her