Telegram-herald., 1889-10-31

der the apple Tree II
I |. !. | l 4. 4: 4 !. 4. |. ]" /. 4. / .
7<E@txs<l the little patch Ot
F<4.ZXl ground that Was al
<slpfu,ksa "a the garden he
zIiGlItlE ~ ~ small house behind
kxx AIt1EHkEt her could boast.
49, - IL Pretty May Grierson
- -<TlN she was called: but
~ as she stood looking
~ out into the road.
and picking 20 pieces sprig OF apple
blossoms, there was that IN her beauty
20 make the heart ache.
She was hungry she was almost des-
perate. The large. brown eyes, whose
natural expression was all genJleness
and timidity, were bright and eager the
face was thin ana white, the lips parched
with fever.
Just a mile TO the river" she was
thinking little mile-and once un-
der the waves. rest, peace and oblivion
Out upon the soft summer air there
came from the window behind her hOl-
low cough. A she heard IT, her face
softened, ana a rush OF tears filed her
eyes.
Il could not die and leave him All
the way is hard, the cup is bitter, but l
will walk the one, and drain the other,
for his sake-only for his sake 1t will
Dc Oily lOI a llllr WIFE, anu LLlcl L1lcic
is still the river
She was not yet nineteen, and the way
before her was to lead TO the church
the cup TO be drained her marriage. and
for her wedding portion she was meditat-
ing suicide.
Does il seem exaggerated? / will toll
you her story, and you may judge. Her
father Paul GTiersOn. had been a sue
cessful artist.and May was his idol, after
his wife died, years agone. May had
been carefully educated, and upon
groundwork OF useful knowledge her
father had reared fairy palace OF mu-
sic, poetry and painting. Without being
rich, they had plenty, and they had trav-
elcd far and wide with a companion May
had loved from a baby, her fathers
pupil and namesake, Paul Grierson Hall,
distant cousin.
When May was II, and Paul FIVE years
older, the young artist joined an explor-
ing expedition to make sketches, and the
trio separated. That was the first heart
wrench. They were all in Paris when the
parting came, but a few months later
Mr.. GriersOn's health began 10 fail, and
he became homesick.
The tiny cottage in HamiltOn-smalles
OF villages-was his inheritance from
his mother, and he came back to it TO
die; for consumption grasped him in its
iron folds and when he struggled with
sickness, the bank in which were all his
savings failed, and save for the cottage
and its furniture, he was destitute.
Then began that fierce discipline OF life
that had robbed pretty May GriersOn's
cheek OF its bloom, and driven her step
by step over the rugged road Of poverty
and suffering TO the boundaries OF des-
peration.
She sewed for the villagers, at starva-
tiOn prices; she carried her fathers pic
tura5 TO the great city, nine miles away,
walking one way always, but rarely find
ing sale. She saved and starved to
give food and vino TO the invalid, and at
the last. in sheer despair, she resolved TO
marry Cuthbert Holmes. from whom her
soul shrank in positive horror.
1t was useless 10 write TO Paul, wan
dering In Central America, and whose
letters to Paris were forwarded; before
he could come they would DO dead from
hunger and starvation.
Cuthbert Holmes was rich. and had
fallen in love with May In the church
choir. He had deep bass voice and had
supported her clear soprano week after
week, till she woke in him a desire TO
keep her ever beside him, his wife and
mistress OF his large, handsome house.
He was q coarse, illterate man; and
there were rumOrs that s.dead wife died
OF an obsolete disease called decline by
the profession, broken heart by the sen
timental.
But he had sort Of clumsy tact. and
he woOed the girl through her father
talking OF what he would do II be had the
invalid In his care, sending flowers
and fruit 10 the cottage. and all the while
hating Paul Grierson "a coarse mind
hates a refined one, smarting under a
sense OF inferiOrity, though be called the
Griersons beggars in his heart.
/ think, had Paul Grierson known all
that was In his daughters heart. "a she
stood under the apple tree, he would have
hidden her 90 to the river. leave him for
tho suicides lot, rather than put her
I hand in that OF Cuthbert Holmes and
swear 70 love and honor him. But he
guessed nothing OF this GROWING act OF
self-sacriACe the girl meditated
He looked from the window and saw
her standing quietly alone. and he said.
gently.
"Shan We walk 90 the Grove. darling2T
"Do you feel strong euoughF ahe
asked coming quickly 20 his side.
"It is not far, and I sleep bettor after
Rvalk."
She wrapped him carefully IN a soft
+ travelling shawl. brought him n taste Of
. vine in tiny Flaea. and gave him her
arm. only stronger than himself Ia the
fact that there wac ~ disease in her
Young frame. only She weariness "A
+ hunger ard saTericc
They walked slowly 90 the Grovo. =
+ cluster ~ trees upon putIc common.
and where one bench az the foot ~ a
gigantic oak tree was favasfte resting
place. They were h.d en there m n,
passsrs-by upon tho narrow foot path.