The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1893-12-28

HkkAS<sSH2N~ W WIZ Wy W.
XlxH@g4S1I/+ man. The flicker
XN4~ ing light of sin
gle candle shed a
pale CLEAN over
the pallid face, and
accentuated the darksome gloom of
the death-cha amber where Mary Ches-
ter lay dying. The sands of life-a
brief, sad life-were nearly run, and
soon she would be at rest. The pale
moon was slowly rising over the
mountains, covered with an icy shroud;
and the snow lay in deep drifts over
the roads, impassa BILE now, which led
to the picturesque Yellowstone
Joe Chester sat beside her couch,
holding her white hand, with sort of
desperation. as though he could hold
her back from the grasp Of death.
Joe's hard blue eyes rested upon the
bit Of hand. and he thought how
pretty the pink-tinted fingers had
been How fair and sweet she had
seemed to him only twelve months
ago that very night, when she had be-
come his wife. The hard look deep
ened in his eyes; he suppressed a sob.
and turned aside, that she might not
observe his suffering.
''Prhaps twas meant for a judg-
ment on me!' he muttered, harshly,
look Of terror creeping over his beard
ed face. fur twas wrong thing
artur all, to do a fel]er-creetur. 1
stole her, that S sar tain-for she would
a married him sure! Well, Dave Nc
Cutcheon allus he'd the best O. every
thing, and it seemed a leetle hard
that he should get Mary, too, and l.
I'd loved her all her lifc!''
Sobs cholled his utterances.
The dying woman turned uneasily
upon the pillow. and her sad dark
eyes sought his face with Il look of
eager entreaty.
Joe" in weak. quivering voice,
don't cry, dear-its all for the best.
Where--where is--baby?"
He started. as with a sudden shock,
the swift blood rushing to his bearded
cheeks, then receding, leaving him as
CHASTITY pale as the white face upon
the pillow before him.
'I--forgot." he muttered. half
alphabetically. He arose and went
over to the other side of the bed
Safe, hidden away under warm blank
cts, lay tiny infant, only a few
hours old. He lifted it with awkward
care, and placed it beside it's mother
Her weak hand rested tenderly upon
the little downy head, and all the
grand self bnega ton Of holy mother
hood flashed into the fading eyes
'Poor little creature! Poor little
mother ess lamb she whispered. in a
quHvcring voice: 'soon to be alone!
Joe, is this Il punishment for our sin.
1t was a sin, dear, and all sin brings
It's own punishment sooner or later.
had promised Dave to be his wife,
you knoW-and'
land bad promise is better broke
than kept, Mary he interrupted her
vehemently.
She sighed.
maybe so. But I was wrong in
letting the preparations go on for the
wedding-my wedding with Dave Nc.
Cutcheon, when all the time NV heart
was yours, Joe, truly yours lie had
been driver for the Yellowstone Park
stage for SO long, aud he was hand
some aud dashing enough to please
any woman's eyes; but he never
touched my heart Joe, never No
man ever made me feel IL thrill of love
but you; | have loved you always,
dear. and you have been good and
kind to me. Heaven bless you for It,
Only, lying here on my deathbed. |
see more clearly now than ever be-
fore; anu see. dear, that no sin ever
prospers long, and ptlnish1ne Mt follows
closely in the footsteps of wrong
doing. You and l loved each other
dearly passionasely; but ! loved nv
father, tco-poor old fathcr:-and his
heart WAS set upon my marrying Dave.
50 l weakly let things drift along,
until the very night before my we'd
ding arrived,
Then you came to mo- looking so
wild and haggard, so sad and full of
suffering, that all my heart went out
to you with one mad leap. and said
that could not marry Dave McCutch-
con. for loved You loo we'll Maybe
was right-maybe vroag!'
"fou was right, Mary--dead right, ~
1nterposed Joe Chester, hastily. Its
a sin and Il crime to marry les to
please your father, and you all the
time a-longin for another mans love
s'pose YOU married Dave, and all this
year You wanted me--mc-thc man
who'd lay down and die for YOU to-
night eff SO 'twould save you, Mary"
II know know!'
How feeble this weak voice had
grown. The fading eyes closed
YEARLY.
I'm nearly gone, Joe" she gasped,
In broken accents, land it's agony to
me, for l keep asking what's to be-
come Of you and-and baby? We are
shut up here in this Wilderness
showed in; here we've been prisoners
for weeks with no hope of rescue
Then. my trial came u pom me. and
here, alone with you, baby was born
and heaven bless her-she is still
alive! How will you keep her-what
will you feed her with dear, when |
am gone, and you, too. are aloney'
He turned away with Il heart broken
cry. But Joe Chester was brave and
strong to endure; he stopped and
kissed the white face.
"Don't worry. darlin'," he said,
gently, ''thar's plenty to eat in this
old house Thar's cans o condensed
milk in the storeroom You know
this place is used for a hotel in sum-
mer, and SO you need fear nothing
no harm will come to baby and me-
while We wait for spring to come
but-but-'
His voice died away into 4 embling
whisper.
Loud and shrilI, borne on the hitter