The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1897-06-10
Why my engagement to ELLA should


"'What's the matter?' said |.
"'Why haven't you beard that Miss
York is dead? No! Oh, dear Poor
thing had q fit in the night, doctor
says was quite unconscious when Miss
Ella got there, and died at 8 o'clock
this morning.
My heart sank I felt faint and
giddy. 1t was some minutes before
could move. You will never know how
it feels, Howson, unless you should
have such a blow, which i hope you
never will. But | am bound to say
that my one thought was My poor,
lonely darling, ella
"Tbere were no more details to be
learned about Miss Yorks death. She
was buried in Lowmarket churchyard.
see even mo. When she was we'll
enough to attend to business it was
found that she had inherited all her
aunts money and as she had already
accepted me, we were married u
twclvcmonth aftcrward. She had been
awfully lonely, she said, since Miss
40rk's death, but no couple had ever
lived happier and been nearer and
dearer to each other than Ella and I.
May God bless her! J"
" Amen.' said | solemnly and re-
vcrcntly.
ELLA and l." pursued Jim, "cond
never give tho rcmOtest guess as to
her Nunt's objection TO our engagement,
and it would probably have remained
a mystery to me, as it has to Ella even
now, had it not been for the following
circumstances. Some time ago | was
sent for at the prison to sec u rather
desperate character, whose end was
very near. He had been sent TO seven
years penal servitudc some three
years before for forgery, and after
serving two years at Portland had been
transferred to Lowmarkct. His ap-
praranCc was superior to that OF the
ordinary convict, oven when a fOrger.
Although ] had seen him several
times, and certainly been struck with
his face and appearance. we could not
be said 10 be friendly, rs he had been
Indifferent to all my advances.
" found him lying in tho hospital,
and soon saw that he would not live
very long.
:" You seem pleased to see mop |
said.
"'Ycs, sir replied No. l52 4 am
glad you've come; | hardly expected
you would, considering how standollish
l'vc been. But | wanted to see you,
rs tho doctor says Pm not likely to
| last much lonSGr-pcrhaps not till to-
! morrow
"'Thcrc, we'll, never mind Keep
your courage up, and you'll probably
deceive the doctor
talked to him about his soul and
spiritual things. That wc may PASS
ny, llowson; believe he was thorough
| ly pcnitent. | asked him if there was
anything could do for him.
"'Ies, sir, there is one thing, if yo,
will. It's such curious ono h rdl
like to ask YOU His eyes looked
eagerly at me.
"'Go on said |, IN do it If pos
= siblc'
"'Ivc had q queer life, sir, said tn
y convict Il might have been some
/ body and done some good but | &c
II led astray aftcr marriage, and brok
T. the heart OF my wife, who died 500
afterward. Yes, Eve led Il bad lif,
T. and it's precious few friends I've hu
, lately, anyhow. bat hope may b
! forgiven. rs you say God will pardo
, even the worst OF us. And if YOU
promise me to do one thing whom II
dead, shall die happy"
'Ill promise rs far It's | can,' sui
|. What is it,?
"'lt's to take care of your wife
answered No. l52. Amp said he
smiling, i thought that would astonis
you!
Take caro- Of my wifo' | gaze
at him in amazcmcnt. Why, of cours
| shall. but what is that to you?'
| "'A good deal said he.
, "'Why?'
2 "'naCauso sho'6-iny daughter,
. ~ looked at him in terror an
AZ astoni shmcnt and wis about to sci
q for the NURSE and for tho doctor, foe
d ing sure that he was rambling, VIII,
Z he said, slowly:
Q Sit down, sir, please; can't ta
4 much longer. You need not send (
q DR.. Darton, Pm all right. feared
+ would give you shock, sir, as it ga
:. mo one the first time | saw her he
Il with you. Ella IOrk--you sec | kno
her name all right--was taken wht
' quite Il child by her aunt, who di
} owned me, and never told the Chill
5 what her father was. In that she ",
quite right. She changed her nam
from Wilson TO her mothers namo
YORK, and completed tho disguis,
whenever dcsired-and oh, sir, | di
often dcs src-to SEQ Ella, my darlins
Miss York has always threatened m
with the police, and | knew bette
| ''oh I" 'aNS U1clH Oh NY track, III
could help it. Yes, sir, | see you can
realize it. yet, but you'll find ELLA Wi
sons birth and baptism in the register
OF Northticld, and give you my wor
it's true
sat in dumb silonce. What coul
say? Ella, my ella, convict
daughter!
Please, sir, don't tell hor,' sal
he. She has never known; don't lie
hor know. But felt must tell you
sir, and you not think any worse c
her" and his eyes looked pleadingl
and wistfully at me.
MY senses had somewhat returned
mo, said of course not, ain ba!
dazzrd, but feel what you say is true
But Ella, is my own now, and alwav
shall be- while live. wish | had no
heard thi is, but it cannot alter my low
! for Ella
"'rhank God ? he said, And, sir
there's one thing more. The doctor
says | shall sleep myself away. d.
you think 1T could be managed for m,
darling To Uiye mo npo kiCu oro T 4 1. -,