Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1890-07-03
Mchagbwn Frederick County, Maryland Thursday July 1890 NO 4

rhrea,h.
Smiles, fears ofnll my life and if God choose,
| shall but love thee better after death.
"And yet sometimes think, even up
there, waiting will b. hard.
"Iorgivc ne, dear, that complaining
speech, but | am SO weak to. day-so
weak
This lettc. came one day to Il man
sitting in dingv Office in far away
western town.
lie was writing at his desk when the
tram whisrled that brought in the mail.
His face was thin and worn, but
strangely illuminated yust now by some
warm ray frola within.
What happy message was his cunning
hand stamping Oh that smooth, white
page?
"Oh Margaret, at last after SO many
years, life has been good to me. My
California scheme has proved success,
and today am - rich man
J % you hear, sweetheart, u rich man,
and 10 you know all that means to me,
if you still love me?
1T means freedom --trecdom to- the
Iovtug Words, imprisoned so long in the
dark chambors ol silence, with honor,
stern seminal ever keeping guard
Can YOU forgive AL these years OF
seeming rcs!ect: God and | know 1t
was ,niy Sssming g--and may come now
come At last to my home, my kindred,
my inheritance Of loye to YOU ?
1 know do not deserve it, but when
God iorbets and blesscs us beyond our
worth, will not you .
do you remember the first time
met you; Yon ha,t on some sort of
white, ganzy dress. and | thought you
would meyer e farer, even in heaven.
Your yellow h;ur h,d such pretty
way Of waving up from the nape Of the
neck, and there was always one lock
that would fall down and curl IN u soft
little ring.
Have you forgotten how surprised
was to find your eyes were brown
Such shy eyes they were. never saw
them well but once
Now will gaze into them until
learn every tone and tint by heart
until catch and hold fast the lovely
soul mrrored there and make It's every
throb my own.
"Will you smile when you meet me? 2
I dream and dream of the look your
> face will wear
) "Not cold. Oh! no. it will never be
cold but, bnt what if should find
te~rs on your check-tears that had
, caused?
"Ir the dust, at your feet, dear Mar.
saret, would | pledge forgiveness, and
then kiss ard kiss them away uutll the
very source OF tears were dry. All !
well. What does it n&tter II the sweet
face meet me grave or gay, so | but see
1t IN the flesh, alive and warm !
"AnI yet, even We're you dead (what
made ne lhink OF thate) | believe that
love like mine could call back the red
Of life to lips Il century cold, and rekln-
die into flame the very ashes OF the
) divine fire Wher see you '------
The door opened and the office boy
handed in the evening mail.
1t was o'clock. He glanced over
two Of the letters, which proved to be
business notes, and then picked up the
= third, little fretted ut the interruption.
It was a small, white envelope with
,IurrrA postmark, addressed ina strange
, feminine hand.
Lighting the lamp--thc dusk Of the
, jane night was gathering outslde-he
= laid IL paper weight On his unfinished
page, and slightly curious, broke the
seal.
1t took hlm long time to master t he
: faint, iIlrsibIe lines Cher trembling fin
y .ers had tried IN VAN to make the
' strokes steaAyy but the few words OF
= explanation, added by her mother,
made it all cruelty plain so plain that
= il WAS but breath before Hope shifted
places with Despair, and groan, such
) as we hear when spirit parts from flesh,
b burst from his yrItt-strichen soul.
He laid lis head on the table in front
of him, and morning, with its camor
5 and It's claims, found him there.
The lamp bvrnel wan and dln and
tl. i,,tniv summer sun sent its boldly
challenging rays, us if to say "W hat do
YOU here ?' but 1t Was not until the
gong sounded from The hotel next door
that tlen Kent raised himself up, and
then the radiant light Of the Young day
showed face old and bleached with
,,lita q