Saint Mary's beacon., 1897-01-21

- " hC Sa@eu iOug anu tend
eriy into my face, clasping me in
his arms, holding me to his beating
heart, then putting me gently from
him. walking quickly away, never
looking back to where stood dazed
and faint. crushing some flowers
under my feet. l watched him,
until the swaying branches OF the
trees came between us, then the
lights faded from before my eyes.
q hand of ice seemed to grin NV
heart, there was a spasm of pain. q
Wild fluttering, then q nnmbness
crept over ne, pat ms hands ont,
and tottering towards garden seat
fell upon it.
Years go by and in my quiet life
| feel as if | am growing better.
At times there is a suffocation.
wild beating of my heart, but the
pain grows less.
| never told Mural of il. |
would not throw even the faintest
shadow on my darling's life, for
her l only want sunshine. Oh,
how love her, as time goes on she
becomes like part of myself, and
save those letters which come to
me from India, she gives me all my
happiness.
More than sixteen years have
passed since Cuthbert left me, and
eighteen since my sister died, and
1t is New Years eve again and |
am sitting in my room, with the
memories of the past about me,
while | write the story of my life.
A worthless empty life it seems
to me, thinking of what it might
have been, certainly of itself not
the perusal, but | give this record
Of the past, hoping that it might in
some way warn the vain, heartless
sinfully proud women of the world
who throw away their opportunities
as have done. To stay a girl on
her downward course, to save a
heart that might have been broken.
Then indeed my life will not have
utterly failed, and God may yet al
low my regretted sin to reap har-
vest of good.
How the ghostly visions Of the
past crowd around me. Again
hear the moaning of the wind, feel
the chill. and darkness of that des-
olate tenement house. Listen to
the midnight chimes, but above it
all, rise the blessed words God
bless you Marjorie,' and peace
comes stealing over my soul.
The CLEAN of my diamond comes
between me and the light, and
think of Cuthbert in the far distant
land. Strange how near he seems
to me tonight. Some tears fall
on the glittering pledge of our love,
but they are not all unhappy tears,
for in the coming year there seems
to be a food of sunlight, and Cuth-
bert is leading me through flower
strewn world.
Have been dreaming I wonder,
thon my eyes rest upon letter ly-
ing among some papers on a table
near by. The mail has been
brought in hours before, but | had
never overlooked it. The letter is
turned face downward, but the for
eign envelope is s'familiar to me, and
/ know il is a message from the
East. When my work is over |
shall read it, and carry the memory
Of it to the New Years morn.
sAre you very busy Aunt Mar
jorie" and as a sweet voice echoes
through the stiffness, a little white
clad figure comes softly n the
room.
/ start. so entirely engrossed was
| with thoughts of the past, that
for a moment l feel il am living
over that New Years eve long ago,
which brought my sistsr to me with
her hearts secret, so like her
mother my little Murial looks to-
night in shimmeriag silken robe,
her golden curls brushed back irom
her fair face.
Not too busy to speak with you
my darling
She comes closer, aud kneels be-
side my chair, and as | notice a
heightened color on her cheeks, an
unwonted brilliancy in the deep
blue eyes, as though born Of ex-
element, lay my hand tenderly
upon her head.
We'll dear /; what is il. ! ask.
The head droops lower. and low
er. the color grows brighter.