The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1894-06-23

, blows; less, indeed, for it brings r,
freshing air and fragrance fror
. myriads of flower. I hope never I
sec his face again, since his name La
/. only brought me fresh insult, but b
!. at least Is man, and would scorn Z
strike woman to the core who plead
ed to him for forgiveness. Go. MI
: Maynard. We are quits now. l trus
In time Imay forgive you"
IL was over then-all over. And To-
my wicked folly was punished. Ever
Clarence. thought, with curling lin
would have been satisfied. 1 trust hi.
wooing with Miss Brooks was some
what smoother than had been this OF
mine. Why did think of him? What
cared l whether it were smooth OF
rough? Our paths lay widely apart
The world was broad enough for both.
| Was it? All. tell-tale heart that beat
with such strange, choking throbs,
then stood still for moment, whilst
the blood receded from its channels.
leaving me icy as death when they told
me, two short weeks after, Clarence
Withers was not expected to live.
he had been stricken with a fever
then prevalent in our midst, and on nc.
count OF which only that day l was to
have gone into purer air. And now
the physicians said there was no hope
OF MS recovery. Ill, dying Well,
what did 1t matter to me? Did / not
say the world was broad enough for
both, and. il our paths diverged so
widely, what was death but the medium
which severed them still further apart?
All, no! At last knew he lived At
least sometimes caught the music of
his voice. the sunshine of his smile.
But where was his betrotbed? By his
side? No; she had gone, too, leaving
kindly message. That was all. Sure
~ she could not have been his promised
wife. else she would have stayed. Oh.
my poor heartt At last I knew the
truth, and scarce knowing what did /
drew sheet of paper toward me, and
with binding tears wrote:
Before you die. Clarence-beforc YOU leave
me desolate-at least send me one little word
one token of forgiveness. Ny pride has all
gone. dear know how wrong was with you.
but you win forgive me. viii you nots And
tnou2n In Heaven you must remember another
a. your betrothed you will sometimes think
lovingly. If We can think there. of ALICE"
There came no answer to nv note.
and when ! heard Clarence Withers
was not going to die, that hopes were
entertained of his recovery, and slowly
nope gave place to certainty. my first
glad. unreasonable happiness was sue
ceeded by agony of shame and by the
breathless query: "What have done?
Oh. II could bury myself anywhere so
that 1 might never see his look
Of whitening scornl Oh, wish l had
iied!' was my thought one afternoon
lew weeks later as l sat alone, and,
burying my head in my hands, the
tears, which had for so long refused to
some. burst forth in bitter, choking
'obA / had not heard a sound until a
hand was laid upon my shoulder, a
ender. plying voice said:
Poor little girl! Have you really
,rieved so. Alice?"
Springng to my feet, confronted
ne man OF whom had been thinking;
,ut even through my tears saw how
II and worn he looked.
Have you come to triumph over nv |
Mr.. Withers? l have suf-
cred sufficiently, ] can assure you, over :
~ poor folly, without you adding to
~ misery. l wish, l wish that you
ad diedw
Listen. Alicel Be calm, darliner'
e said, as he drew me down in the old.
snder. willful way. which made his
cry mastery sweet 81 wanted to die.
%. until. one day, little, white '
'inged messenger of peace and hope
ame and nestled in my breast Twas q
70 i'll to answer it, but kept it there:
I'D when the fever ragged its highest a
I'd almost let go my hold of life. IL c
hispered Of the sweetness the future f
lid for me. And so battled on. And q
hen l grew stronger and knew I b
lould once again look into your eyes. a
would not let impotence master me- a
feared to trust my own great JOY. and a
aited, darling. until, face to face. n
could tell You this All has been b
mistake between US. No other fl
oman has ever touched my heart. it
enc and ! were only friends. and I &,
Id her of my troubles in all that
cary time. Alice, have I found nv nj
fe at last?' 81
could not answer. but he kissed ia
FAY the tears, and sobbed out INV IL
ufession on his breast; but when / NJ
hnis he'd he only drew me closer. to
'ispering sweet words of glad, for. I'll
ing love, while was well content. pa
lie nestled in the strong arms of INV w,
ar. Jenny Wren, in N. Y. Ledger. st;
" &C
LEFT 1T TO THE nn0