Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1895-06-21
CHAPTER Xxx.
SELF-cACRIFICE.

sELF-sACRIFICE
After more than two weeks of raving
IN the madness of fever paroxysmS the
crisis in Ralph's sickness had come, ana
lie returned to consciousness.
The first view that met his eye was
Hattie, sitting by his beds de
He threw one .ong glance at her, then
closed his eyes.
It could not he 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
hcr sti sitting before him, with those
mild. beautiful eyes resting upon his
face and an encouraging smile on hcr
lips IA.
@Uattie-is that you?" he asked, with
his feeble voice. How strange that
voice sounded He must have been very
sick.
ayes. Ralph, it is l." he heard the
answer, in the sweetest tones tho worid
over knew. "And l am going to stay
here till you are quite we'll again! But
now don't talk! 1t will hurt youl" She
laid her finger on her lips, cautioning
him to be ST ent. What a pretty finger IL
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 hallucinat Oh.
How strangel He remembered now he
had had halu nations.
He closed his eyes. How tired he was.
Soon he slept A quiet, sound slum-
her il was-the sure sign of approaching
recovery.
With happy smile, she listened to the
regular, deep breathing of the scepcr;
! But by and by that smile died away ana
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 noiselessy, and Lucy
slipped in. Hattie turned and motioned
her to be quiet She crept to the bed
side on tiptoe,
"Does he sIeep?" she whispered, and
found the answer with her own eyes
Noiselessly as she had come she LETT the
room.
Now was the time when she must
make that terrible sacrifice on whlcn
she was resolved
II was q fearful struggle Give up
evervthing-give up life itself! Ana
she was so young, and life was so beau.
tiful. Notwithstanding all its sins and
sorrows!
Rut what remained in life for her?
He whom she loved was dead, and II he
lived she dared not think of him, for
every thought was crime. And he
whom she had so ANONYMOUSLY 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
nesso What was short hour of air
comnarcd with lifetime OF despair anc
agony? And If there was beyond
would not such self-sacrifce be accepted
as an atoncment Of her crime?
Yes. she would dare the deed.
With a firm hand, without the trace
of n tremor showing her excitement, she
seized a small glass bott.e and drained
its contents.
Wonderful LIQUID. few drops of which
rive sweet slumber to the wearled brain
but p teaspoonfui stops the anguish
riven heart forever.
beautiful as a statue, with hcavenl!
contentment on her features, Lucy wa
found lying on her bed the following
morning.
Her spirit had gone whore there j
no more guilt, DO moro sorrow.
Five years after all these events,
handsome Il an, in tic full strength o
his wears. stood by the grave where th
weary soul of Lucy Warrlpgham ha
fonnd rest. On his arm leaned beautl
mI Young woman, with mild blue eye
and wonderful golden hair. At thei
feet playcd lovely child that showed
once the blue eyes of the mother an
tho chestnut curls of the father.
They gazed long and silently. At las
he sail: .
"Sho rests in peace. Not gult'ess wa
her soul, but whose heart is free froi
the stain. Love is the power that rule
the universe. beautifully and benct
Gently. Not love it is that leads lis int
sorrow and sin, but the pervcrSeness an
, stuhbornncss of our own hearts ths
would fain rebel against the soft sway
the omnipotent power But into who:
t heart the faintest ray of love has el
te ed. he will finally triumph. sue
I triumph was hers who rests her
Whoever conquered over the guilt of he
heart as she did, may rightly be said
have turned from Sinner to Saint"
THE END.