The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1897-06-08

aunt's money and Ms she had already
accepted mo, we were married a
twelvemontb afterward. She had been
awfuiiy iOueiy, sac said, since Miss
York's dcaCh, but no couple mad ever
lived happier and beer nearer and
uearer To each Other than Ella and l..
May God bless her -
Amen - said | solomnly and re-
vereutly.
Ella and l." pursued jim, could
give the remOtest guess AS TO
her aunt's objection to our engagement,
and it woulu probably have remained
a mystery to me, as it has to E la even
nov, had II rot heeu for the following
circumstances. Some time ago | was
g Il Tor at the prison to see Il rather
desperate character, whose end was
very "a He had been sent to seven
years penal survitudo some three
years before for forgery, and after
serving two years az Portland had been
transferred TO Lowmarkut. HI, APP
peararCe was superior to that of the
ordinary convict. even when Il furger.
Although / had seen him several
times, and certainly been struck with
bis lace ana appearances. we could not
be said to be friendly, as he had been
indifferent to al my advances.
II found him lying in the hospital,
n | sOOu saw that he would not live
very long.
You seem pleased to see me p |
said.
Yes, sir replied No. 1872. 4 am
glad you've come: | hardly expected
you would. considering how standofish
I've been. But | wantcd to see you,
AS tho doctor says Pm not likely to
last much ionger-perhaps not till to-
morrow
""TAc:g, wei, acver mind Keep
your courage up, and you'll probably
deceive the doctor
:" talked To him about his soul and
sp'rltuit lhii rs. That We may pass
". hio"sN Deiieva he was thorough.
" p niyent. / asked ulm # there was
anything | could do for ltm.
"'Yrs, ST., there is one thing, il You
will. It's such u curious one | b rdly
like to ask YOU His eyes looked
eagerly 81 me.
Go on said I, En do it if pos.
sible'
1--WE had a queer life, sir said the
convict. L might have been some
body and done some good but | got
led astray after marriage, and broke
the heart Of my wife, who died soou
afterward. Yes, I've led u bad life,
and it's precious few friends I've had
lately, anyhow. But hope | may be
forgiven. as you say God will pardon
even the worst OF US. And # you'll.
promise me to do n thing when l'u
dead, | shall die happy"
III promlsu as far as ] can said
/. What is it?'
"'lt's to take care Of your wife,
answered No. 152. 'Ah," said he
smiling, 1 thought that would astonisi
you =
Take care of my wife, l gazst
at him in Amusement WAY, Of cours,
| shall. But what is that to you?'
"'Why"
"'Becausc she's-my daughter y
~ looked at him in terror ant
establishment, and was about to sent
for the nurse and for the doctor, feel
ing sure that he was rambling, whel
he said, slowly:
Isl down, sir, please; l cant tall
much longer. You need not send 70
DR.. Darton, Pm ali right | feared i
would give you a shock, sir, as it CAV,
me one the first time [ saw her her,
with GU. Ella York-you see [ know
her name AL right-was taken whel
, quite Il child by her aunt. who dis
owned me, and never told the chile
what her father was. In that she wa
; quite right. She changed her nam,
from Wilson TO her mothers name O
York, and completed the disguise
Whenever deSireu-and OH, sir, di,
: often dcsire-io see Ella, NY darling
Miss York has always threatened m,
with the police, and | knew bette
than TO have them on my track, if
could help it. Yes, sir, [ see YOU can
, sons birth and baptism in the register
| OF Ndrthtield, and | give you my wor,
; it's rue
Il sat in dumb silence. What coul,
| say? Ella, roy Ella, u convict
/ daughter!
"'Picase, sir, don't tell her. sal,
. he. She has never known; don't lie
her know. But | felt | must tell YOU
sir, and you'll not think any worse o
her? and his eyes locked pieadingl
} and wistfully at me.
My senses had somewhat returned
mo- said ! of course not, | am hal
: dazzed, but | feel what you say is true
y But Ella, L. my own now, and alwav
snail be while ! live. | wish | had no
heard this, but it cannot alter my low,
for Ella
' THANK God! he said, And, sir
( there's one thing more. The docto
says | shall sleep myself away D,
| you think it could be managed for m,
earning 10 give me one KISS ere | die
just one"
, I'm try. Yes said |, she shall
If you'll leave it To me-
| ~ will. God bless you, Mr.. Bourn.
81 left him. When | got home Ell,
) thought vas i'll, and indeed | was
| Overwork, pleaded. In another h0uI
they came to tell me he was asleep
l and would not wake in this world.
~ took Ella with me to the hospi
tai. Ella said |, "a prisoner who il
dying. and who has no-few- friends
told me to-day how he had seen you
and would like you to kiss him ere be
} died, as his oWn daughter would have
Gone. Will you p
"'Certainly, my darling
And with eyes full Of tears she did
) The unconscious form arose, the eve,
lids half opened, the face smiled. She
didn't know, did he?
II led her away, weeping, my owI
heart full. | afterward verified his
story. But Ella has never known any
more, Howson, and never will. There
Is sometimes a secret which should
not be shared between husband and
wife, H0wson, isn't there 2"
You're right, dear old jim" said
|, as he grasped my hand in silence,
but with tear-dimmed. eyes. You're
right. old fellow, and God bless you
both !"
oThTC QhMVo 0C IooIIC DrMrnv