Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1897-05-08

to my cousin.
In one short week the village church
bell tolled for Peter Gresham's son.
Two hours before the time get for the
funeral | went to my uncle, and,
though he had chung to me in those bit
ter days of mourning, asked for the
first time to see my cousin.
| have often questioned ths fatality
that led me to make that request, but
can only write here what | have often
told my own heart. Ihad to see him.
Already he was in his costly coffin,
with flowers about the bed upon which
il rested. entered the room alone, and
stood intently looking down upon the
still. cold face of my rival,
Dead! His words came back to me as
l looked at him. was my %uncle's heir.
| might yet hope in the future to win
Leonie.
Suddenly the blood rushed to my
heart, almost sutfocating me; my hands
grew cold. my legs shook under me. My
eyes, fixed upon Sidney Gresham's face,
grew dim, aud | should have fallen had
l not grasped the bed for support.
For, with my professional instincts
ever on the alert, | saw that ny cousin
was not dead. 1t was a case of suspend
cd animation, calling for instant care.
In a little Unexpectedly before the lid
was fastened over the cold form, II
would be too late to save the faint spark
CT life. l had only to hold back my
hand, only TO ignore the one faint sign
before me, and Gresham Place, my un.
cle's wealth-possible Leonie's love.
would all be mine, while no one living
would ever guess | was a murderer.
One moment the memory of the dy-
ing mans hatred and suspicion tugged
at my heart; one moment q fierce
temptation seemed tearing me in two,
and then. Heaven be thanked, l was
myself again.
Gently l lifted my cousin from his
CHASTITY resting place, and replaced his
shroud by his night dress. I would not
risk the shock of his waking to a con.
seriousness of bis surroundings, but
though staggered under his weight, I
took him to my uncle's room, next the
one where he had lain.
Then Iopened vein in his arm. Slug.
gishly, drop by drop, the life blood fol.
lowed my lancet, and knew had not
been deceived. Alone. unaided, | APP
| piled sure remedies, till pulsation re-
turned to the numbed heart, color to the
pallid lips, breath to the paralyzed
lungs.
Then, when the wondering eyes
opened, | gave n powerful opiate,
watched till it took effect, and, leav-
ing my patient in a profound slumber,
went downstairs. | found my uncle In
the pathetic apathy grief had made
habitual in those three dreadful days
and | said, gently:
Uncle, you have doubted my love
and my gratitude in these last few
months, You have thought the mar
who owed you every good of his life
for years had counted on your death tc
inherit your wealth."
"But | will not doubt you again" he
said, piteously. 'if you will come bach
to me. | have wronged you, but yol
will not desert me now!"
"You have wronged me-" I answered
"and | have come to prove to you MI
love and my gratitude. have come t
restore to YOU"
The aged face was lifted quickly
while a pallor like death, n breathles.
eagerness, warned me to speak quickly
Come" | said. And | led him gen
tly, yet quickly, to the bed where hi.
son lay, sleeping. l checked the CT.
upon his lips by whispering:
$40 not waken himl This sleep is hi
very life!"
"Not dead!" he whispered, shakin,
like one in an ague-"not dead? Sid
ney, my son!"
"Not Dead" l answered, NOR dying
He will recover, uncle!"
: Sand you have given him his life
You, whom he almost accused of wish
ing to murder him!"
"He was mistaken" | said, quietly
"Now, will you watch him while l sen,
, DR.. Farnell here?"
, "Yes--yes! And you will have
! those things taken away?" and h
pointed to the room where the coffin lay
i 81 will do ALL"
| l was glad to have employment.
sent away the funeral guests, careful
! ~ keeping the life-restoring quiet.
l had all funeral preparations removed
/ and I-ah, me, | told Leonie!
: 1t vas bitter, and yet sweet, to NEE
, her tears of gratitude and deep happi
: ness. 1t was my reward, and yet m,
sore pain, to see the despairing grie
leave her dear face, and a quiet rest re
place its anguish.
= Nobody quite understood but the oil
: doctor. He did, and gave me one hand
2 grasp that seems ever to linger in m.
t palm when / think Of that day of eX
element.
Sidney Gresham had the grace to dro
his active luminosity towards met
let my uncle keep his affection for me
! and, when he died, remember me in hi
, will. But he never cordially liked me
: When DR.. Farncll died l becam
: physician at Gresham Place, and IN
life Of sorrowful loneliness took tn
! added pang of knowing Lconie's pre-
t cious gift of love never met full return
= She has never complained, bearing
. patiently the sorrows of a neglecte,
, wife, the hours Of loneliness ever he
|, children c~annotfill, when her husband
seeking pleasure for weeks together il
the city. But she is pale and sad nov
the woman | loved and would hav
guarded from sorrow with my heart
blood.
We have been good friends, and
think when the incurable enemy l hav
carried in secret for years wrings GU
my life in a little time now, that Leoni
will drop a tear upon my dead face
though nc love, no duty, can snatch m
back from the grave to which ] m
hastening.--N. Y. Ledger.
THE total forest area Of the Unite
States is estimated at round 405, OOo,0 90
acres, or 20 per cent. of total are,