The Portland daily press., 1894-10-01
AFTER FIVE YEARS.

s'Six years today What long timet"
sighed Maud Merlin, sinking into the low
seat by the window and pressing her sad
white face against the glass. "Ah, me, how
happy was but it is all over. shall
never be happy again.
Her dark eyes overlooked with tears,
and her memory went back to the old
home of her childhood, the great, ram
bling country house, with it's spacious
rooms and blazing fires and large hearted
hospitality. she could see the old garden,
with it's winding borders and cool retreats,
and catch the sweet odor of the pinks, and
the drowsy murmur of the bees, and there
was the woodbine arbor, beneath which she
and Harry had sat so often together. How
we'll she remembered one evening above
all others-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-
fume. Ca that evening she had listened to
the story that has been so often repeated
but which never grows old. 'tMaud my
darling love you. Will you be my wifeP"
She recalled the very words, she seemed to
hear his dear voice and see his tender
eyes,. The betrothal ring was still upon
her finger, just as he put it there that
night, and beside it another, even yet
more sacred, her wedding ring.
And this stormy, idesolate night was the
anniversary. Six years ago and, the old
homestead had rung with music and rev.
elry. Every window blazed with light
and every broad hearthstone glowed with
flaming logs. For on that night, robed in
white and adorned in blossoms as spotless
and sweet as her own virgin heart, Maud,
sole daughter of house and heart, and
beauty and belle wherever she went, be-
came a bride.
Bidding farewell to the old home and
the old friends, Maud went forth with her
husband, thenceforth and forever to be
the light of his home and the inspiration
of his life.
One year-one short, sweet, happy year,
that went by like some rare, rich, melody,
without single note of discord to break
it's divine perfection, and then the trouble
came The bare remembrance of it
blanched the wife's cheeks and made her
breath come in quick, painful gasps. At
lu0 ClOS6 VI tutSU SllCIu, Happy year VI LICE
welded life her husband received informa-
ton concerning the illness of an only
brother residing in California. He was
dying of slow but sure disease and
wished to see his brothers. face once more.
Harry Merlin did not hesitate an instant.
The path of duty was plain-he must go.
Maud entreated to be permitted to accom-
pany him, but he was inexorable. The
risks and hardships were too great.
Left alone, Maud was not the woman to
give way to dependency. 1t was her ma
ture to keep her face to the sun. She kept
herself busy with the duties of her house
hold, and at last the dreary days went by,
and tidings from Harry came. He was
safe at the journeys end, but his brother
was dead, leaving Harry, however, the in
heritor of considerable fortune. Just as
soon as his business matters could be 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 thrcbbine
impatience. The parting had been SO long.
She pinned to see his dear face and hear
his voice once more. She worked. from
morn till night, filing the rooms with lit
tie ornaments and getting up little sur
prises against his return. She cultivated
the flowers he loved and sang the ballads
he admired Never did woman count the