The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1897-10-13
ALEXANDRIA, La, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 10, 1897.

back so. Now he cannot know; ha cam
not understand that would suffer any
pain tor moment Of consciousness to
tell him I am sorry. God will not grant
me even that-not even that"
why will you think Of ell these
thingsI" he asked. presently. rs tho!
human to be little unkind sometimesi
Then look at the other eide also
What you have done for Brian. We
must not bewail the past, but 80 on
bravely to meet the future, promising
ourselves always to do better and bet
ter. You want to go in now2" !
"Yes, Doctor, I feel stronger, ana
thank you"
The days passed. bringing but little
perceptible change in Brian's condi'
ton. But the crisis came at last
Gradually the fever spent itself, ane
the tired frame, wearied with its long
struggle, sank into stupor so death
like that only the faint heart beats
told that life was still there.
Margaret knew that ne would either
waken with new lease Of life or pasa
into that deeper sleep that knows nc
waking on this side OF eternity: She
watched and waited, and prayed for the
long hours to pass.
The shadows Of night, which seemed
to have held the anguish OF years, gave
place to the light Of dawn. The lines
Of blue grew deeper and deeper IN the
east, the rim Of the rlsing sun rested
upon the brow Of the hills, and the dis
tant growing of cock, welcoming the
opening day, came like clarion note
through the silence.
It reached Brians ear. He turned
uneaslly. Margaret was on her knees
in a second, a feeling half Joy, halt feat
clutching at her heart. She bent hel
face close to his.
Perhaps he realized her presence, tol
he turned again and moaned slightly.
His waking mind was struggling for
comprehension, his eyelids trying to
throw off the heaviness that held them
down. At last they opened snyntly
then wider, and their slow wandering
gaze fell upon Marguerite face, face
white and drawn from long and anxious
watching, but revealing story OF love
Those eyes were not slow to read.
Thank God" murmured Brian, with
an effort to overcome his intense weak
} ness Margaret, you love me-a
last?"
With cry of passionate Joy she buriet
her face upon his breast.
: "Oh, Brian, so much! so much that
, could not live without you.
THANK Col" he said again, In
t voice scarcely above whisper, yee
l vibrating with such inexpressible happl
. ness that it reached Wilson, as he stol
3 silently from the room.
you have found your true place at las
r my darling ny wife. Your true restin
r place. It Is weak defense now"
: 1T is my chosen rest and support
: she answered, with trimming eye'
catching and holding in its place tn
70 weak arm that had tried to clasp her
Q lovingly. 1T Is weak now, but 1t WI
l. be strong soon. Let me lean upoa II
strength always. Let me have yos
6 heart, as you have mine, fully and o.
tirely. Oh, if you could know how
/. tried to tell you this, as sat by ye
t during those hours when you could n
3 understand; how often laid my hea
upon yours, hoping you might hear
% beating, and maybe realize that 1t W
Of full of love foc you! You did not knc
m then. but YOU know now, and-yOu m
or kiss your wife"
Is Brian could not speak. but his ey
er filled with something strangely IL
in tears, as size held her loving. blushil
n. face for the long. tender kiss he II
re upon her lips.
n Neither spoke again. With his ha
in Margaret's, Brian was content to
r. still until overcome by weakness
10 slept.