The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1892-01-09
WESTMINSTER MD, SATURDAY, JANUARY 8, 1892

herself again in an instant. "Mr. Conrad ,
she says with energy, "I am neither child
nor coward, have you seen my husband 2
''There has been trouble up at the mill
tonight, large majority of the hands have
struck, and crazed by drink have tried to
force the firm to terms. | tried to talk to
the leader--and," as he paused at is
Dudley I know. Oh! he will be killed"
she cries. At the sight of her grief for
her husband his face flushes for he is only
mortal and she very young and very beau
tiful. He has desire to give her more
pain, and tell of the wound he had re-
ceived and borne for her names sake from
her drunken husband, but his better nature
asserts itself.
''Are they still there ?" she says, start
ing up, Il must go to him." "But you
must not, you shall not, Mabel" says Paul
as he holds her firmly with his strong
hands. ''Let me go she says, for at the
touch of his hands and the sound of his
voice as he calls her name she feels her
strength leaving, "my place is by his side.
He turns away quickly, and, as he does so,
she sees for the first time the wound on
his temple "Has there been any blood
shed? Paul, Paul who has done that ?''
No doubt any longer of her love, it rings
out hundred fold. With the cry that
has betrayed her, she fees from the cottage
into the blackness of the night.
Meanwhile before the door of the mill a
battle between the strikers and police has
taken place and Dudley Mayhugh has
been wounded.
As Mabel in her flight from the cottage
opens the gates, she meets what at first
sight seems lifeless burden, carried by
some men. sit is the poor missus, they
mutter in kindly pity, and Mabel in heI
unnatural calm opens the gate for them tC
enter. Before another day dawns pretty
Mabel Mayhugh is a widow.
A year has passed since all that was
earthly of poor, reckless Dudley Mayhugh
was laid to rest in the marrow palace Of
the City of the Dead"
In a quiet cottage on the coast of Vir
ginia, where the blue waves of the Atlantic
roll up almost to the foot of the lawn, in {
richly furnished room, we find Mabel May
hugh, whittier she has come with Mrs
Nash, in whose family she has been EN-
ployed as governess.
1t is different Mable from the one VIZ
last saw on that stormy night year ago
Owing to a recent attack of fever her hail
has been cut short and is falling in short
raven curls on her neck and gives thu
fair white face a black background. Th'
cheeks are rosy and healthy looking. Onlj
in the sad, blue eyes and around the firm
red lips is there any trace of the sorrow
almost greater than she could bear Die
you ever think of it, that more of us dit
of pleasure or the effects of it rather thai
of pain2 How easy and natural for us t.
say, when we expect some calamity t.
befall us, that we'll never live through it
but we all struggle along as God meant u!
to do.
"a year and day, muses. Mabel, ani
again the scene of that night comes befort
her and with it the bright morning thai
followed a few days afterward, when witt
her heart torn and bleeding she yet haC
womanly strength and purity enough tt
resist the strong entreaties of Paul ConraC
in the old cottage garden when he begged
to stay and comfort her
II would not have the strength to bic
him stay away a year and day now; tho
time is up and he will not come" She
turns to the window and looks out at the
fast gathering darkness, and in the old
childish fashion presses her face against
the pane. Not breath of air stirs the
hot stiffness, the ocean is calm and peaceful
the far-away notes of mocking bird min
gle with the cheerful chirp of neighbor
ing cricket How long she stands there
she does not know
The mocking bird has grown tired o.
singing, the friendly cricket has also ceased
All is silent, calm beautiful. With a weary
sigh she turns to the bright room inside
and encounters, as she encountered once
before, year ago, the dark, wistful eye:
of Paul Conrad fixed upon her A wave
of such keen joy that it is almost pair
passes over hera she feels the warm pressure
of his hand and hears as in dream the
words: at has been year and day
darling. | have obeyed you well. Car
you once more say Paul, Paul, as you die
so long ago or have l waited in vain 2
For answer she lifts her eyes to his anC
whispers-"Paul,P Paul
Be in Time.