The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-06-20
CHAPTER Xxx.

After more than two weeks Of raving
in the madness of fever paroxysms the
crisis in Ralph'S sickness had come, and
be returned to consciousness
The first view that met his eye was
Hattie, sitting by his bedside
He threw one long glance at her, then
closed his eyes.
1t could not be real! He must be
dreaming still! He has dreamed long,
long time. How could Hattie be here?
As he opened his eyes again he saw
her still sitting before him, with those
mild, beautiful eyes resting upon his
face and an encouraging smile on her
lips.
aHattie-is that you?" he asked, with
his feeble voice. How strange that
voice sounded! II must have been very
sick.
ayes, Ralph, it is l." he heard the
answer, in the sweetest tones the world
ever knew. "And I am going to stay
here till you are quite we'll again! But
now don't talk! It will hurt you'll" She
laid her finger on her lips, cautioning
him to be silent. What pretty finger 1t
was, and what beautiful, red lips she
had!
He would not talk, if she said so. He
would do anything she told him. 1t was
really cousin Hattie, not hallucinatioh.
How strange! He remembered now he
had had hallucinations.
He closed his eyes. How tired he was.
Soon he slept. A quiet, sound slum.
Der it was-the sure sign of approaching
recovery.
With happy smile, she listened to the
regular, deep breathing Of the sleeper.
But by and by that smile died away, and
her features assumed sad expression.
Soon he would have recovered, thank
God. But then she could be by his side
no longer For he loved not her-he
loved another better than her.
The door opened noiselessly, and Lucy
slipped in. Hattie turned and motioned
her to be quiet She crept to the bed
side on tiptoe,
"Does he sleep?" she whispered, and
found the answer with her own eyes.
Noiselessly as she had come she left the
room.
Now was the time when she must
make that terrible sacrifice on which
she was resolved.
1t was fearful struggle. Give up
eyerything-give up. life itself! And
she was so young, and life was so beau.
tiful, Notwithstanding all its sins and
sorrows!
But what remained in life for her?
He whom she loved was dead, and if he
lived she dared not think Of him, for
every thought was crime. And he
whom she had so ignominiously deceived
loved her no longer as he had once loved
her. He preferred the beautiful, the
pure maiden whose whole being was de-
voted to him. Should she, the guilty
one. stand between these two and happi-
ness? What was short hour OF pain
compared with a lifetime Of despair and
agony? And If there was beyond,
would not such self-sacrifce be accepted
asGn atonement.of her crime?
Yes, she would dare the deed.
With firm hand, without the trace
seized small glass bottle and drained
it's contents.
Wonderful liquid. a few drops OF which
give sweet slumber to the wearied brain;
but a teaspoonful stops the anguish
riven heart forever.
Beautiful as O statue, with heavenly
contentment on her features, Lucy was
found lying on her bed the following
morning.
Her spirit had gone where there is
no more guilt, no more sorrow.
Five years after all these events, a
handsome man, in the full strength OF
his years, stood by the grave where the
weary soul of Lucy Warringham had
found rest. On his arm leaned a beauti-
full young woman, with mild blue eyes
and wonderful golden hair. At their
feet played lovely child that showed at
once the blue eyes of the mother and
the chestnut curls of the father.
They gazed long and silently. At last
he said:
"She rests in peace. Not gufltless was
her soul, but whose heart Is free from
the stain. Love is the power that rules
the universe, beautifully and benei-
Gently. Not love it is that leads us into
sorrow and sin, but the perverseness and
stubbornness of our own hearts that
would fain rebel against the soft sway Of
the omnipotent power. But into whose
heart the faintest ray Of love has en-
tered, he will finally triumph. Such
triumph was hers who rests here.
Whoever conquered over the guilt OF her
heart as she did, may rightly be said to
have turned from Sinner to Saint"