The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-09-27

Kissed that rosc from thy dear facc
Now York Advertiser.
AFTER FIVE, YEARS.
''Six years todayl What long tlmel'
sighed Maud Merlin, sinking into tho low
scat by tho window and pressing her sud
white faco against tho glass. "Ah, mo, how
happy was, but il is oil over. shnll
mover BIO happy again. :"
Her dark eyes ovcrflowed with tears,
-ssssiag shes4ssassl saals thas1
homo of her childhood, tho great, ram
bling country house, with its spacious
rooms and blazing fires md largo hearted
hospitality. She could SEQ tho old garden,
with its winding borders and cool retreats,
and catch tho sweet odor of the pinks, and
the drowsy murmur of tho bees, and there
was the woodbino arbor, beneath which sho
and Harry had sat so often together How
we'll she remembered one evening above
al! othcrs-an evening in royal June. The
air heavy with spicy odors and full
moon pouring down it's clarifying light
upon the snowy pillows of orchard bloom
and the long hedges of crimson roses
weighed down by their own intense per-
func. On that evening sho had listened to
the story that has been so often repeated,
but which never grows old. MAUD my
darling, love you. Will you be my wife,"
Shc recalled tho very words, she seemed to
hear his dear voice Gnd sec his tender
eyes. Tho bctrothal ring was still upon
her finger, just as ho put it there that
night and beside it another, even yet
moro sacred, her wedding ring.
And this stormy, dcsolatc night was the
anniversary. Six years ago and tho old
homestead had rung with music and rev
clry. Every window blazcd with light
and every broad hcarthstonc glowed with
flaming logs For OH that night robcd in
white and adorned in blossoms rs spotlcss
and sweet as her own virgin heart, Maud, |
sole daughter of house and heart, and
beauty and bcllo wherever she won't, be. |
camo bride.
Bidding farewell to the old homo and |
the old friends, Maud went forth with her |
husband, thcnccforth and forever to be
tho light of his home and the inspiration
of his lifo.
Ono ycar-ono short, sweet, happy year, \
that went by like some rare, rich, melody, I
without II single motto of discord to break |
Its divine perfection md then tho trouble |
came. Tho bnro remembrance of il |
tho wifo's checks and mado her |
breath como in quick, painful gasps At |
the close Of that. short happy year of her
wcddod lifo her husband received informa-
ton concerning tho illness of an onlyA
brother residing in California. Ho wal
dying of n slow but sure disease am
wished to see his broshcr's fnco oncc inoxa5
Harry Merlin did not hesitate an instan{
Tho path of duty was plain-ho must goS2
OIL In tod b.,
pany him, but no was incxorabIc. The
risks and hardships wcro too great
Left alone, Maud was not tho woman to |
give way to dependency. 1t WINS her M
turo to Keep her face to the sun. Sho kept |
herself busy with tho duties of her house
hold, and Mt last tho drcary days went by, |
and tidings from Harry came. He was |
safo Mt tho journeys end, but his brother
was dead, leaving Harry however tho in |
heritor of u considerable fortune Just us |
soon as his business matters could DO ar
ranged. Harry wrote, he would start for
home. Soon after, second mail came,
bringing intelligence that Harry, in COM
pany with quite party Of brother travel |
ers had set out, taking the overland route. |
Maud counted the days with throbbing
impaticncc Tho parting had been so long.
She pined to SEQ his dear face and hear
morn till night, filling tho rooms with lit
tie ornaments and getting up little sur
priscs against his return. Sho cultivated
the flowers he loved and sang tho ballads
he admired. Never did woman count tho
passing moments with such loving cxpcc-
tation. At last tho day camc She had
received no further intelligence, but shc
felt sure that hc would come
The evening was in spring, genial and
baEny, their littlo homo wilderness of
blossoms. She prepared his supper with
her own hands, she adorned tho rooms
with the flowers he loved and oven laid
out his gown and slippers and drew his
armchair beneath tho window. Then she
went to her chamber and put on tho dress
he liked to see her wcar-a mauvo silk
with dainty laccs Mt the throat and wrists,
and jet and gold ornaments, her fossy
brown hair held bacll by sprays of hello
tropo and sweet vcrbena. Surveying her.
SELF in tho mirror, she smiled and blushed,
remembering his words when she had first
worn tho dress.
"Oh, Maud, you are so beautiful! AL
wn3siwear this dress, darling, when you
Wish<to please mc''
The May sun wheeled lower and lower
and at last went down, leaving tho earth
wrapped in tho dusky mists of twilight.
L.
the lamps III tho parlor Ind then wont OF
to tho porch to wait lHe surely would
como; ho would NOT tliSubnojnt hcr, n,bn