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

deepest devotion owo him eyefytbingi
almost my life
"Bus you, with your talent, eannot
Iive on In farm dfudgefy MI your llfei
afn rich. I can take you abfoad fou
will see italy, study under great artists:
faf sufpass The little have taught you
And you DO not love Robert Strong You
love me. 30 true 20 your OWL heart
~ have never said loved you" was
the reply In calm voice. "And I attn
true 10 my own heart whom keep faith
with Hobert Strong"
In vain he pleaded. White as denth,
cold In the hot August air, Lizzie was
firm in her refusal Of ell no offered TO
tempt nor. Robert Strong loved her.
WITH passionate gratitude filling her
heart. Lizzie had caught eagerly at the
hope of repaylng hin, by a wlfo's dsv0-
tiau, for oil he had dono for her. When
Charles Arnold, summer boarder on the
next farm. discovered and developed
decided taste for painting the girl pos
sessed, when no opened 10 her tho world
Of poetry, art and literature, lent her
books talked with her, tho now llfe
seemed only return to something she
had known before and half forgotten
There was no doubt that Lizzie had been
meut. Her speech, her movements, al
betrayed 10 and sho Impressed the young
artist at once, as lady As she lett
childhood behind her, his interest deep
ened into love, but not until he spoke
and asked her 60 bo his wife, did Lizzie
know that her heart had been traitor 10
ber promise, and that sho loved Charles
Arnold as sho had nOvor loved Robert.
Not for ono second did she wayer and
her lover loft her, convinced at last tna'
his hope had deceived him, while Llzz.e
turned to her homo, exhausted by the
cOnetralnt sho had put upon herself her
heart torn b. tho separation, but con
slant to her betrothed, nev6r doubtipg
her ability TO mako him happy. 81.
know, and she exulted In tho knowledge
thet she was the sunlight OF the farm
house. Mrs. Strong was old, and In ftai
health, depending greatly upon hcr
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'cl
OF hope, love, appiness-eYerythi
that made life OF value.
And never had his love met such quick
recognition, never had Lizzie been so
tender, SO careful Of hIs comfort and
pleasure, as In tho week that followed
Charles Arnold's departure from the
neighbours farm. 1t was a dear,
precious recollection TO the grateful girl,
for there came q day--ah so soon after
when Robert Strong was brought TO his
own door dying OF injuries received By d
fall in his barn. Tho trap Of the loft had
given way and thrown him violently to
the floor beneath.
4 fapy hpura ~ auffartnu and thau hn
eaid, family:
Mother who will care for mother?
II will, Lizzle said, quietly, though
lt was only an iron will that held bacA
be- schs. you will trust her to M.
RObertr'
Only look answered her. Speech was
gone bu. Lizzie will carry that loo
warm in her heart until the grave open
for her. She knew hat Robert did tru-
her, and over the still, white face, that
was all her weeping eyes saw an hour
later, she vowed TO be faithful to her
trust.
She soon found 1t was no slight burden
she had assumed. Mrs. Strong broke
down, utterly prostrated by this last soI.
row. In lifo that had been one OF par
ing from all she loved-husband and
children-until this last prop and com
fort Of her old age was taken. The far
was given up, neither woman having r."
knowledge or strength to take Robert
olace. A tiny cottage was purchased
nd the money still left from tho sale 0.
the farm gave the old lady an income
barely sufliclentfor necessary food.
Then there came back to her the re-.
ward for the deed Of charity that ter
years before had taken the almshoust
ha hap
anv wonderful talent, Lizzie had tastt
for art, and Charles Arnold had given he
valuable instructions.
After many failures in attempts to sei
her pictures she succeeded in obtalnlnl
steady work for largo fancy good
house, who sold tho hand-painted orna
mental work, then first coming into
fashion. Easter banners, pincushlona
bottle-covers, plush tides. satin and vel
vet In u hundred forms did Lizzie orna.
ment with flowers, birds, butternlaE.
and pretty devices OF all kinds. The
price would have scarcely supported her
In the city, but In hor modest homo /,
was an addition to tho small income
that gave Mrs. Strong every comfort
and enabled both TO live well In their
quiet, unpretcntlous way.
year after Robert Strong died Charles
Arnold once more tried TO win Lizzie for
his wife, and once moro failed. 1t was
Il hard struggle between love and graft
tude; but ono 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 send to its cold charity tho tender,
loving old woman who rescued mo-"
And few months afterwurd, Charles
Arnold married. But Liz2le's labor of
love lasted many years. Mrs, Strong
lived TO be u very old woman, losing IN
the last years OF her life all her knowl.
edge Of what surrounded her, para
lyzed, imbocilo weight. But weight
upon hands that never faltored--a heart
that never turned away.
When she died, Lizzie inheritedthe cot
tage and what Income she left, by will
made soon after Roberts death. There
she lives, doing what good she can. Il
useful "old maid," ns she terms herself.
though but little past 30. Love may
come into her life again, but she is happy
without 1t, regretting nothing of what
he has sacrificed TO duty and graft
lde.-N. Y. Ledger.
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