Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-11-30

off Mary Thorp's address, he placed the
letter in the Liverpool mail bag, and it re-
turned to its writer by the next steamer.
After Mary had waited for three weeks,
and had received no tidings from her lover,
she began to get anxious. Hope did moi
entirely fail her, however, even when four
and five weeks passed without letter.
Perhaps the mails had been delayed some.
where, or the letter had got lost She had
heard of such things. At last she could nc
| longer blame the non-arriVal of letter on
dilatory mails She knew not what to make
oft. Her lover was true to her; she was as
sured, if
If what? The dreadful thought would
obtrude itself th6t he had perhaps died al
sea, and had been committed to the waves.
All sorts of suggestion came into hel
mind, but the fact remained that she had nc
news from Kelsey, and the suspense was
telling upon her health.
After Kelsey had been gone about si1
weeks Abbott asked Mary if she ever heard
from her lover in America. 1t was a cruel
question. The poor girl, pale and thin with
anxiety, burst into tears
But Abbott continued, relentlessly: "a
friend Of mine has just returned from New
York. He saw him there"
20, tell me about himP she pleaded.
"Why doesn't he writer"
81 am sorry to tell you that he was taken
sick as soon as he landed. He was sent to 9
hospital, and after tossing in delirium-'
SIS he dead?" shrieked Mary.
The circumstantial recital was too slow,
and she jumped at the conclusion she intui.
lively knew was coming, though it Wrung
her heart strings.
"Yes, he died." replied Abbott. Then,
after very short pause he unblushlngly
| asked:
"Can not take his place in your affec.
| tions?"
Whatever chance Abbott might have had
of winning Mary's hand, had he been more
circumspect or more feeling, was utterly
I ruined by this appeal Villains are apt tc
overreach themselves, and SO did Abbott in
so hastily following up his bad news with
his heartless proposal.
Many shrank from him as from venom
Gus reptile, and took refuge in her room
where she spent a sleepless and fearful
night.
Alter this her life went on in the same
way TO all appearances, except that she wa.
| quieter than ever. The impress of her great
sorrow was never absent from her once
bright face. All hope seemed gone out ol
her life.
Still Abbott did not despair Of winning
her. He was importunate still, though hel
coldness would have chilled the ardor of any
less persistent lover, for she never gave him
the slightest encouragement, and scarcel J
spoke to him, though, for that matter, she
spoke to no one.
A month after Mary received the news o.
Kelsey's death, she was summoned hurried
ly from the dressmaker's, where she still
worked, to her boarding house. Mr.. Abbott
was badly hurt, she was told, and he wanted
to say something to her.
While returning from his nights work al
the postofice, just as other men we're begin
ming their daily labor, Abbott passed 6
building in process of erection. A hod
carrier made misstep and his load oi
brick fell 80 feet upon the telegraphe.':
head. He was carried home, which was moi
far, and doctors were summoned. An ex,
| animation disclosed fatal wounds, from
which death might ensue at any minute.
Abbott's conscience troubled him about
his deception of Mary, and he wanted to see
her Immediately, and as soon as she entered
the darkened room he said pite0usly:
Forgive me, Miss Thorp; forgive mel"
Forgive you for what?" asked Mary,
wonderingly; but even as he put the ques-
/ ton she OWNED what he craved forgiveness
for, ana the light which came into her
countenance seemed to emphasize by con-
| trast the darkness on that of the suppliant.
1t was lie. explained Abbott, speak
ing with difficulty, what / told you
about your friend-iR America-you-"