The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1892-02-10
A SACRIFICE
By ". l. R.

The fire burnt low in the CRATE, but the
little light it gave revealed all the grace
of Mrs. Wingdeld's slight form, in its
close-ftting robes Of black.
Tonight, for the first time in her two
years Of widowhood, she laid off the wild
ow's cap, which had for 50 long served TO
conceal the thick auburn braids so artist
ically coiled about the small head.
Perhaps for this same reason she had
dismissed the butler, when he entered,
according to custom, TO light the lamps,
or, perhaps, the slow ticking of the clock
upon the mantel revealed to her sulfi-
eiently the lapse Of time, without COM
pelIing her to distinguish the hands upon
the face Of the dial, drawing nearer and
nearer the hour whose close approach
dissipated the calmness she vainly strove
TO gain.
Eighteen years had passed since she
and Arthur Griffith had met. They had
been lovers in that far-of time, but he
was poor then, with no whisper in the
air of rich inheritance to which he alter
wards fell heir, just too late for it TO bring
happiness to either.
Not that they cared for wealth, either
Of them, but then there we're older, and
perhaps wiser minds to judge for both
and so, each vowing eternal VOWS, they
were torn apart forever.
SIX short months later she married Ed
ward Wingfeld. He was fortunately, not
the man TO look for love and sentimentin
his young wife-only wifely duty and
obedience.
In these she never failed him, and af-
ter his death the world found proof Of
his esteem in the fact that to his widow
reverted all his fortune, untrammeled by
single reservation.
She had married very young; she was
but thirty-five now. Would he ind her
changed, she wondered-he for whose
coming she waited here tonight
simultaneously with the thought came
the sound Of carriage wheels and horses
hoois on the graveled walk
She started to her feet, pressing both
hands upon her fast beating heart. Only
that morning she had received the tele-
gram announcing Arthur Grifiith's CON-
ing, and already he was there.
She was glad, oh, so glad, that the room
was dark when she heard the quick, firm
tread she had sometimes heard in her
dreams during these long yeArE of dutiful
living so glad that he could not see the
quick blush, which put her matronhood
10 shame, when the door was thrown
hastily open, and an instant more brought
him to her side.
Alice"
Oh, how his voice thrilled her-hslf
with pleasure, half with pain,
His tall form lowered far above her as
in the olden time but he held fas, in
his own firm, tender grasp her two little,
trembling hands.
Are yoo glad to see me ?" he asked
She strove to answer, but her lips quiv-
cred, and no words came.
Alice" he said then again, and he
bowed his head lower, 4" Is it too soon to
speak ?"
~Oh, Arthur" she answered, Can /
yet atone?"
And then the bridge ofyears was swept
away, and she sobbed out her happiness
upon his heart.
Let me see you, he said; at last. 81
have not yet se-n the face for which
have hungered all these years"
He struck light, and then turned and
looked at her
My darlingr' ~ he said. 1t is still my
beautiful Alice What have done to de-
serve this hour ?'
Mamma, where are your" called out
fresh, girlish voice at this instant.
The next moment a young girl Of
scarce seventeen summers sprang into
the room.
"This is my daughter, Arthur; my
only child. Dora, let me present you to
one of your mothers oldest friends"
The gentleman indicated looked from
one to the other-from the mother to the
daughter-then back again now he could
realize the lapse Of time now he could
appreciate the changes yearshad wrous ht
1t was though he had brought the past
and the present face to face, forcing him
to acknowledge the impossibility of ns-
ture's standing still.
The daughter was a fair counterpart Of
the mothers beauty. As she looked now
shyly, extending to him her hand, as if
in depreciation Of her uneeremonious en-
trance, SO had Alice looked, when sx-
tending her hand in farewell, as though
she would have said, am forced into
it by a stronger will than mine
An uncomfortable seasation rose up in
his breast dumb warring against the
inevitable, an unaeknovledged desire to
retrace life's pathway and conquer tine.
Meantime the young girl pouted the full,
red lips, as she thought her mothers
friend strangely absent; and when he
at last forced himself into few words of
greeting, they fell upon duh, unheeiing
ears.
Then she had gone. The lovers were
alone again, but he no longer opened
wide ais arms, bu: instead drew a chair
to her side, that they might discuss more
rationslly.
You must teach Dora to love you"
she said to him, next morning. want
first to reconcile her TO my second mar
risge before startling her with its proba-
bility. Tell NE, do you think her like
me-"
Your second self, Alice"
"0h, am so glad You win love her
then for my sake p