Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1899-05-19
DAMARIS.

AlcNr n v = a so1F sJFeGL4AA4IAN SaeEA -
s salary o. 500 year. His object at first
had been purely for his own amusement,
but Size wa.s not the kind Of woman fitted
- he a mans playJhing and the game
had ended in deadly earnest.
Therefore II vas with some trepidsti0n
that hc had written Confessing that which
he had cUuccaIlL from har and asking her
- marry him. lie was scarcely prepared,
however, for the curt reply that came-"l
am going away today. Goodby.'
Mechanically he opened the drawer of
the writing table hy which he stood. Il
was full of papers and little womanly
triles evidently the prOPc-ry Of the
former occupant Of the room. CncOn-
sci0usly he commenced 10 read the paper
in his hand-the writing was blurred and
irregular, a. though written by some one
in III health:
Dear, why DO think Of you today II
seems a though you must be near. Or Is
II because il Is spriRgtime and ny room Is
full Of yellow dAdodilss ! am writing
letter 10 you. one that you will never re-
cciye-for all I know you may Dc dead OF
even married Il DOES not seem 50 long
since we met, though know 1t Is years
NbLutE II VIZ NDAAAA x k-tASA -
know that today am thinking uf you;
that out OF the desolAte gray comes a
vague, sweet drexn that brings you near
to me Tomorrow it will De winter again
winter in my hCart-and shall tear up
this letter but today the dreariness has
faded. There is no touch Of scorn TO frecze
my heart, no kisses cold as death to chill
my lips, no silence that aches round me
with la worldlcss pain. - I hear the
whisper Of spring that breathes Of hope; l
feel the touch Of clinging hands-your
hair against my cheek. Dear -, whom
mi ght not know were l 20 meet you
now, do you doubt my love, that you let
me go out OF your life without word or
d sign that you cared''-
Here the writing terminated abruptly.
The reader stood as in dream staring :
straight before him into the dingy street
Her handwriting Il was as though a
ghost had risen TO confront him.
a knock at the door reused him from
his Stup0r and the lAndlady hustled in
with the tea tray. Her quick eyes caught
sight OF the open drawer. Good laws, I
meant 70 clear that out, sir she ex-
claimed But the poor young lady being
taken away 50 sJddenlike clean drove It
OUT Of my head
Isis she dead:' he faltered A dead
+ II fear had taken possession Of him and
his lace paled 10 IN asheI hue
Lor no, leaStyavs not yet, - said the
. good woman cheerfully. Il went 10 sce
her last week at the 'orspiral, but the doc
tors don give any hope OF her gegtin bet
ter
,-l, --,- L., zlo s--,--- .N,a ~ry,-s--- ~
the drawer into her apron. and he WINGED
at the sight To him it seemed ike des-
ec-ation, and his hand CLOSED coEvulsIyely
on the letter he held,
Which hospital was she taken to-" he
asked. stcadying his voice with an effort.
The one just round in the square, sir %
answered the woman; then in hurried
apology: You il be wantin your tea, sir.
You lJok quite tired. "
As the door closed on her portly form he
dropped his head in his hands Good
God he groaned. A whole week has
passed She may be dead -
1t WAS visiting day CT the hospital the
ward was bright with spring flowers and
brighter faces liz up by that pathetic,
wisLtuI expectancy characteristic Cf thc
sick There was an eager hum Of voices,
too, hushed occasionally by an admOniSh
ing word from the nurse IN charge. II
the same ward, rallied of by curraineG
screen from the other patients girl lay
asleep No visitor ever came for her save
the doctor and sometimes the woman
from where she had once lodged, but The
nurse, in kindly sympathy. had placed {
bowl Of. fresh dadodIls where her tircc
ewes could see them on awakening. The
doctor gave no hope Of the patients recov
cry. and so, with wOuanly pity, she triec
to make tHe girls last days as happy a!
possible. Before the afternoon was hal
over gentleman called and asked to se'
No 20. She is not expected TO live,
said the nurse, studying the white, anx
ious face before her. Arc you friend
She has 10 relatives, l think.
Yes, friend-that IS, knew he
years ago, he said hcsiratirgly. Per
haps you had better break it TO her first
Ii might st;lrtle her"
A. the nurse went hack the girl OpenCt
her great brown eyes, her cars caught tn
sound OF merry laughter. and hcr gaz
wandered to the daffodlls. 4 longing lool
crept into her eyes. Who brought me III
flowers. nursc:" she asked in q kind o
br,-lthless wonder. and q sudden idea tool
possession OF the nurse. q" A gentleman
a friend who knew you years ago, 81
replied \ deep flush dyed the girl
white checks Is he here;' she SAT-
eagerly, and the white, wasted hand
openel and closed convulsively
.. Yes, dear, and if you II promise not I
; excite yourself you :. all see him for fey
minutes, " said the nurse soothinsly, an
forthwith ushered in the visitor.
With a stitled cry he fell on his knees b.
the bed Damarisr" he said and th
girl touched lis rough curls, You hay
come back. she whispered with half n
crcdulous Joy. The nurse dropped tn
curtain and left them together.
Il knew you had come when l saw Il
dafsodils she went on with trelncr c
eagerncss. Don't you rcnlelnber, dear
how we met in the time Of dafOdils an
how happy we were:'
He took the little trembling hands An
kissed thcnl pussiorAlely. You didn
receive my lc.-cr that ! wrote six ve,.-
ago asking you 10 marry me and tClltE
how l had deceived you. he said.
Did you deceive NE: 1t doeSn' t mat
ter, she smiled Nothing matters nov
: you have come back to me,
H kissed The small white face. "Yo
will got better. Duln;ris, he pleaded
'for my sake, sweetheart, though Go
knows don't deserve il.
She TOOK hi face in her two hands
: ''IIow could Idle and leave you all aloncs
i she asked fachetIca.ly.
r Thus after many years they took up I'll
severed thread # .heir lives, and love
"wAo will not be denied, sInoothcd oU
the tanCle and woye L its stead Lis golde
mesh buffalo News.