Waterbury evening Democrat., 1892-05-25
SISTER MARTHA.
By AUGUSTA HARMED

Copyright, 1893. by American Preas AssOcdA
 He carried her GVSi Swiftly through tho dark street to his own door, which he pushed open with his foot, then groped his way with his burden through the un. lighted passage, and turned in at the living room, where the glare of the ex- piring flames still fitfully illuminated the windows. He laid her down on an old couch in one corner of the room, then felt for 0 match and 8 candle, and when he had kindled light he timidly approached the place where she lay. Her eyes were still sealed, but the shawl had fallen away, showing the white hair still in thick dresses and softly curled at the ends; the thin, delicate cheek, with it's refined contour, pale as marble; the blue veining of the lids, the sunken temples, the forehead that seemed touched with sanctity, as if 8 martyrs crown rested upon it; the sensitive mouth drawn slightly with pain, but still bearing the trace of infinite sweet ness and patience.
 The beauty of that face so far trans cending the loveliness of the young girl of whom he had been dreaming that after noon seemed to press George Bligh to his knees. and hard, dry soEs shook his breast. It was long time before she opened her eyes and then they rested on his face, apparently without seeing any thing or being conscious of where she was. He had taken one of her slender, chilly hands, and was softly chafng it between his own.
 "Don't you know me, VinieF" he whispered, bending toward her ear.
 Puzzled lines ran in her forehead and then suddenly the light sprang into her eyes. "Why yes, of course know you you are George Bligh." Then she paused, as if trying to frame question for which the words would not come, and said at last:
 "Where am I, GeorgeP'
 "You are here in my house, Vinie; I brought you here in my arms away from the fire."
 "Oh, yes," said she, growing brighter. "I remember now. I was alone in the house; Ann had gone to meeting. Then saw the people all running and heard them calling, 'Firer And don't seem to remember what happened after that. !"
 Her gaze was wistful and questioning now as it rested on the captains face. There seemed so many things she wished to ask, but for which she could not frame sentences.
 "You are not afraid to trust me, Vii nieP'
 "Oh, no, George" with little smile about her pale lips. "Why should I be afraid? have always trusted you"
 ''I guess, Vinie, I've been most crazy with love and remorse all day. Ever since your Sister Martha came here this morning; seems as though had slipped my anchor and was going right out of my senses"
 "Sister Martha?' she repeated with 8 | questful look. q don't know what she said, but I've been thinking of you George for fifteen years, and yet was like one paralyzed that couldn't put out a hand to beckon. They tried to make me distrust you, but never did. They told me strange stories of perfidy and a absolute life, but always believed you were true to me until they came between us. l thought you might go wrong at times, George, because you are quick and passionate man, but I knew your heart. saw your real self. It makes me glad to tell you the simple truth at last. It is just as if we were both dead and in heaven talking over the past, and clearing up old misunderstanding with the light of eternity on our faces. I am s poor, broken winged creature, George, a miserable little bit of seaweed that the tide has left high and dry on tho shore. But to speak with you once more to tell you that l always believed 1T your better nature is 8 precious priv ilege."
 He put down his dark head on the edgC of the couch, as if ashamed to let her SCI his emotion.
 "It was a damnable conspiracy to sep arate us, Vinie. never can tell you th' whole story, as it has been told to me because my lips are sealed by promisl made with my hand on the Testament But 1t was all made up of fraud and lies And they made me think you believed the lies, and thought I had been triflil with you to lead you to ruin, and tha you hated me like poison, but now
 knowI was all out in my reckonin, Vinie It's as if I'd been to sea years and year without seein the sun. No notion wher I the north star was, either, compass varie, SO. Kept driftin hither and yon, hk D an old abandoned hulk on the current :, Tried to go by dead reckonin, but wa e all wrong. Tried to clutch things tha
 hadn't no comfort in them"- s "But when you saw the old hous
 blazing, George, you forgot all that ha
 come and gone"
 "Vinie," said he, solemnly, q felt a
 if could snatch you right out of tn
 clutches of death."
 = But wasn't worth saving, George
 such a poor creature, all broken an
 spent, tied to the chair or to the bed
 George, you might as we'll think of IF dead woman as of me-"
 ,o At that moment the old parrot awoA
 on his perch, shook himself, dabbe
 fiercely at his breast feathers and pipe 2 out, George, kiss Polly"
 Vinie burst into a little, weak, hyster