The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1892-12-29

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"coULD YoU NOT THINK OF SOME ONE
EEsE?''
right away, just to let Kitty know you
did not care?'
1.-The next minute could have bitten
my tongue off for saying those silly,
foolish words, for he cast such look
OF bitter contempt on me that l was
glad to beat a basty retreat.
"Nearly an hour passed before
heard him leave the house and pass
slowly down the gravel walk. The
cruel work was doce now, and what
had gained? had committed an act
that should live long years to bitterly
repent. Early the next morning we
were startled by messenger galloping
up the walk and hastily handing my
mother a telegram. For a minute my
heart seemed to stand still as my moth
er, with trembling fingers, tore open
the envelope. With a face pale as death
she read aloud the few terrible words:
Kitty is dead; horse threw her; she
NA~u s%AAAAOSO AAAoVnuV1ys SOA1C dt OllCc.
Il stood rooted to the spot, horror
stricken. saw my mothers pale
face, heard her give orders con.
corning the preparations to be
made, knew she kissed me good.
by and told me not to grieve SO.
l saw her depart upon her sorrowful
journey; yet did not realize anything.
All I could hear were those awful
words my mother had just read. Sud
denly my great crime dawned upon
me. 1t seemed as if was her murder
with my own hand. Had it not been
for me she would not have gone away,
and now she would have been well and
happy, instead of being so stiff and
cold in deaths embrace. Then
thought of Harry, poor, deceived Harry.
All could do was to go to him, confess
all and receive the curses l deserved.
How my heart ached for him now.
With my head almost bursting with
pain started madly off to tell him
what sinful creature had been. As
l drew near the house l saw Harry
seated under cool, shady tree, his
dark, curly head bowed sorrowfully in
his hands. AS approached he raised
his head; I noticed how changed his
handsome, boyish face was.
''How told him l never knew. Ire.
member he madly cursed me. l de.
served it. knew it, yet they seemed
to fall all unheeded by me. My brain
seemed to be a burning mass. longed
to lie down on the cool, green grass
and die. l started homeward, but
only staggered on few steps
and fell senseless by the dusty
roadside. I knew no more for weeks.
When I came to myself again, my
mother was seated at my bedside.
thought it very strange and started up
thinking had only oversight. But my
mother gently forced me back upon the
pillow, telling me had been very i'll
with brain fever and must be very
quiet. Then a wave of recollection
swept back over my poor bewildered
brain and remembered all. I wept as
if my poor, sinful he:st would break.
My mother tried in vain to comfort me.
At last my violent sobs ceased and
fell asleep, only to awaken much bet.
ter. Why are we never allowed to die
when we so earnestly long for death?
''Ihey told me afterwards how they
had brought poor KITTY home. No
mark of violence was seen excepting a
small dark spot on one white temple.
They robed her in white, such as she
had always worn in life. beautiful
she looked, even in death. A smile was
frozen on the marble face. In death
all must have been peace. They told
me how madly Harry had grieved, call.
ing upon her to forgive him for think
ing her false. And to think she died
believing me falser he moaned. I did
not know; you will forgive me, darling.
You, in your bright home above, can
see and know all. If l could only die
and go to herr was his cry day and
night.
They did not know what he meant,
and thought his brain must be turned
by his awful sorrow. After the funeral
he went away and we never saw him
again; -..--
He will wander over the earth a
heartcbroken man. said my mother.
Little did she dream her own daughter
was the means of bring about that aw-
full tragedy. l never told her, for it
would only have made her sorrow
greater to bear. All could do was to
pray that Kitty might look down from
Heaven and forgive the cruel deed I
committed. For long,: long years I
used to see her in my dreams, her sad,
reproacbful eyes full upon me, one lit
tie finger always pointing sorrowfully
to her little grave, as if mutely Gliding
me for placing it there. But now it APP
pears always smiling brightly and her
hand beckons me to come. sometimes
think perhaps poor Harry is dead and
has joined her above and now she can
forgive me. ..--.......- ..t. ....
'fNow, girls, do you wonder am
sad? All these years l have been re-
penting my sinful act.''
The tears had gathered in our eyes
and were fast falling down our cheeks.
Little Mary, always gentle and tender
hearted, was fpbbing softly. AS she
finished, we withdrew one by one, un.
til ct last she was alone It was long
time before she Joined US again, but we
knew she had been to visit little green
grave that we had often seen but never
knew the story connected with it. -
Many years have passed away now,
and poor Aunt Iris has gone to meet
Kitty above, but her story will remain
fresh in our memory as long as life re
mains in our heart.
nEll.E Hicks.