The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1892-09-10

pnere JOOk something lrOul hcT
strength.
It was in October that the quiet
happy routine of my life was bro
ken. My dear father, who had
never dropped his active business
interests, while out riding, had
been thrown from his horse and
was severely. perhaps fatally inju-
red. Day after day he lay upon
his bed, suffering Intensely, and l
would not leave him.
1t was in one of the long night
watches when he was free from
pain, but wakeful, that I noticed q
marrow band of gold upon his arm,
about half way between the wrist
and elbow.
"Why, father" 1 said, "what q
pretty bracelet. You ought to have
given it to me years ago"
He smiled as he said: at will
not come off. You must bury it
with me-"
/ shuddered at the idea sugges-
ted, but he spoke again presently:
at is forty years, Myrtle, since
this bracelet and it's companion
were locked and the key thrown in
to the river. 1t was put on my arm
by your namesake, my little Myrtle
with vows of eternal constancy. 1
had bought the two with gift of
betrothal, and when mine was
clasped l took the key to fasten the
one on Myrtle's arm. My dear lit
| tie love! How sweet her face was
as she looked up at me, promising
to wear my gift till death"
"Did she die, papa?"
"No, darling. Circumstances sep
arated us, and / never saw her
after that day. 1 lived lonely
life for her sake for many years,
but l loved your mother, and she
knew the story ofmy locked brace
let when she married me. Yet,
after she died / tried to find Myrtle
Carpenter, but in vain. She must
be perhaps she has been dead
for years. know nothing of her."
/ examined the bracelet with all
II girls interest. 1t was band OF
gold, chased with pretty design,
with the word "Constancy" upon a
scroll, surrounded by leaves and
flowers. The tiny key hole was
delicately chased and h eld the
band firmly.
1t was the eighth day of such
watching, when every hope was
gone, and we only looked for the
end, when Miss Smith came in the
room just before the night-watch.
"You-you know" 1 said.
81 know, dear, that probably be-
fore morning there will be releas-
ed spirit, and the peaceful end of
all suffering for your dear father.
The doctor tells me there will be
no pain"
"Will he be conscious" Oh" l
cried, "he has not known me for d
week. Will he speak to me tonight.
Darling, we cannot tell. But
you must rest now; let me watch"
81 cannot rest" said, and you
ought to be nursed yourself"
For looking into her face, was
shocked to see how she had chan
ged in the trying time that l had
been shut up in my fathers room
"Tomorrow will rest" she said
gently" "But you will need your
strength. If you will lie down here
upon the sofa, promise to call you
if your father wakens, or moves.'
"You promise?"
"Yes, dear, if there is any change.
So unconscious of how unfit ]
was to bear added sorrow, l lay
down and slept soundly in sheer
exhaustion.
When | wakened, it was dawn
and the gray light was creeping in
to the room. Frightened at my
long sleep, 1 hastened to the bed
side.
My father was dead, and upor
his lips rested the sweetest smile
had ever seen there. Close beside
him, her head thrown back a little
upon the easy chair, was my dea
old friend, sleeping the last, Ions
sleep that knows no waking, while
, thrown across my fathers breast
was her arm, barred to the elbow
and cleaning upon it was the com
panion to my fathers bracelet.
Cedar Falls
Threshing is over and the katy
dds have begun to sing.