Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1897-01-14

forget the darkness of these years Then
he left me to join his regiment in India
and I was alone.
One year, two and almost three passed
and still had found no trace Of Mural.
/ was almost in despair, while great
feeling of fear was filing my heart.
What II / should never find her. If she
were indeed beyond my reach and I
would never be able TO plead for her for
givenessl
Il il almost Eve years since I drove
her from home. and BOW IL is New Years
eve. am sitting alone in ny room, but
there is no little white clad figure COM
ing up TO me, no sweet voice to break the
silence. Oh, Mural, my little sister,
have lost you forever,
A little later a card was brought up to
me; Rev. Oswald Dacre was engraved
upon It, I knew that the clergyman in
whose parish had been lately nursing
was awaiting me- went at once into
my parlor, which adjoined my bed cham.
Der. He arose as / entered and came
forward.
Miss Dean he said, Il am afraid / am
imposing upon you, but very much
need some help tonight. There is poor
widow who may die before morning; in
deed, do not think she can last many
hours. Her baby is only few days old,
and both may require assistance which /
could not render Would il be possible
for you to come with me y Butbefore he
finished speaking had commenced ma
king my preparations.
Ten minutes later we started on our
mission, stopping only to prepare bas-
ket with some things thought might be
needed. II was bitter, stariess night,
and the clouds were weeping deluge of
tears over the earth when we emerged
into the streets. 4 cab was waiting for
US, and when Mr.. Dacre had handed me
in and drawn my cloak more closely
about me he sat for some minutes in deep
thought.
"A sad story he said, as if thinking
aloud, for he seemed to have forgotten
my presence. Then, suddenly looking
up and becoming aware of it, he repeat
ed: "A sad story, Miss Dean. The lady
to whose bedside we are Fastening was
married only little more than year
ago and has been widowed three months.
Her husband was a frieEd of mine-a
noble character, and know he gave the
love of his Life to his young wife. She
was only shop girl, as the world would
term it, but to me she was one of Gods
gentle, loving women, and feel sure
she must have seen better days. Such a
sad, beautiful face she had. When first
! saw her / thought that once it must
have been full of Gods sunshine, for al
though young the sun of happiness had
set in her heart, leaving the faint glim-
mer of what had been on the face, the
mirror of her pure soul. She had buried
the love of her youth-so she told my
friend when he first urged his suit-she
had no more love to give. So three years
went by; he grew weary with longing
and begged that she would come to him
as she was and allow him to care for heI
in her lonely unprotected life. She
yielded and frightened the last ten
months of his life. About eight months
after theft marriage, a Factory in
which all of Mr.. Dunbar's money was
invested was burned, and the circum-
stances were such that not even the in
surance could be recovered. In few
hours they were reduced from comfort
even luxury to extreme poverty. But
this was not all, my friend had been in
jured by piece of falling timber, and
never left his bed from that time, his
| death occurring two months later. II
was then that the beautiful soul of the
woman shone forth. How faithfully
she nursed him, how she frightened him
by cheering, hopeful words, even while
her heart was bowed down with sorrow
and he died blessing her, and praying
God to protect his darling. The day af-
ter his funeral was called Unexpectedly
away, and when / returned a week or
two later, and called upon her, found
she had moved, and although searched
diligently, not until this evening have
found a trace of her. During the after
noon boy brought message to me she
sent begging that should come to her
went at once, and found her dying
~ n
ing while my eyes were full of tears,
and when DIR. Dacre assisted me to
alight before dimly lighted tenement
/ was saying over to myself. A face
full of Gods sunshine;' strange how the
words haunted me. The rain had ceased
falling, but the wind was blowing in
heavy gusts. The air was cold, damp
and piercing. The old year was dying
fast, its life ebbiifg out among the dark
ness crying and moaning as it went.
Was that human life in yonder room
batting SO aercely with the VIII OF God
/ wondered. Then followed my CON-
banion up the narrow rickety steps to
where light burned dimly and a woman
was stretched white and still upon a
bed.
BY her side one of the dodgers stood,
with her rough hand stroking the gold
en- hair away from the pale face She
moved aside as we entered. Too late,
sir she whispered, and a SILVER comes
over me as l go forward, then a cry
pierces the stiffness. Mural MURAL /!