The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1894-10-25

the memory of which had come into
Charles Arthur'a heart and softened it
just now. She had pat her arms about
his neck, and told MIN she loved him
better for his hurt, and she had meant
IL from her soul.
1t came to her that this new emotion
vas, perhaps, fleeting passion; that
the long, olci-time home tenderness
was all Arthur's, and she listened to
what Ben Barton said very quietly.
"I've been looking for you, Sarah"
he said. II have something want to
tell you. can't rest until you know
it, like you SO much want you to
like me. want you to be my wife,
my dear viii your"
Sarah's heart gave one great leap.
Then, to her Joy, she felt that it was
true to its love, after all. The words
came to her;
"Oh, l do like you, Mr.. Barton, very
much, but only AS a friend. | am en-
gagged to be married, and, of course,
could not like anyone else in any
other way"
The blood rushed into the young
mans face
Il can't say You have acted much
like an engaged girl" he said.
"Well, perhaps I've been wrong"
said Sarah, mildly, feeling the re-
proach just one; but thought
every one knew. 1t is Charles Arthur.
We are to be married very soon now.
We've been engaged ever since was
sixteen. He is very fond of me-"
That's no reason you should marry
him if you like me hest" said Ben;
land, really, l can't see, since it is
Charles Arthur, why you shouldn't; he
is about the last person | should fancy
a girl could like"
You see" said Sarah, people can't
tell about that" And she had scarce
ly ever felt so lovingly TO her betrothed
husband before.
Little he knew 1t, as he watched her
through the crevice in the boards, his
face growing crimson with wrath; all
forgotten, but the sight he saw. He
could not hear what Sarah said and
the attitude of the young man was
very lover-like.
The engine was throbbing like a
mad thing, like his own heart. A
shrewd little boy, with all a little
boys observing power, stopped at the
door, feeling that something was
wrong
"There'll be a bust up" he said.
Then he called: "Mister{ Mister" and
at last went in and pulled him by the
coat.
But tho engineer was an engineer no
longer-only a jealous lover, Furious
to he spied on, he turned and gave the
boy a kick.
Meanwhile Ben had risen.
well, I'm not one to stand in anoth-
er fellows way" he said. "Good-bye,
Sarah; | shant see you again very
soon, | suppose, and I've liked you SO
much. viii you kiss me once-just
once, to say it is over, you know?"
II think there can be no harm in
that" said Sarah.
Charles Arthur's eyes were at the
crevjce again, in time to see that kiss.
lies got her. he yelled.
And then, what was 1.-THE noise,
the beating pulse, that SHOOK the build
ing? He turned-a memory of that
past scene of horror and destruction
rushing over him.
Again! again! again" he shrieked,
and flew to his engine.
1t vas too late!
What had happened? Sarah did not
know. Bewildered, shaken, Mortified.
she stood among fallen beams and
burning boards, and found herself I'M
| hurt.
Ben held her tight. Neither was in
jured, but at their feet, :cast there
| it seemed, through the broken wall,
| lay dead man, torn, mutilated, ter
rible to see, with that look of horror
frozen or his face, but she knew him.
| The engineer was the only man
| killed by the explosion, though others
escaped only as it seemed by miracle
| At the inquest the boy VINO called him
| gave his evidence.
81 saw something was goipS to burst
and called him, but he was peepin'
through a crack. l peeped then-he
was watchin' another Teller kiss
Sarah. | suppose that made him SO
angry he didn't care what bust"
| 1t was the week after Charles Ar
thurs funeral that Ben Barton met
Sarah RaWdon near her fathers house
and offered his hand.
Sarah did not take it; she turned
away.
Il could not touch your hand" she
said. 81 hate you. Never, never
speak to me again! Oh, Charley, my
Charley"
But fate had not yet completed
! its work. Grief soon shattered the
girls constitution, and she was at last
compelled to lie down upon bed of
pain. Long and patient did her aged
mother watch and pray over her, but
in vain.
The prospect of death grows sweet
er every day." said Sarah, just before
the final scene, for l may meet Char
| ley hereafter"
And she died with his name upon her
| ips.-N. Y. Journal.
Touching Gratitude.
A wealthy man spent summer in
his native town, a quiet, almost I'M
heard-of little village in New England.