Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1899-02-25

the words and tremhlcd oh. how
was torn in TWO. The one pride of my
life had been To tell the trnth 10 every
one. and here was my mistress making
that II burden for the first time II was
struggle. and somehow habit won
The minutes passed and announced
il in n Choked Old voice. but she did moi
seem to know that: only sigh of pleas
ure and tear of regret mingled and
with pathetic gesture she threw hel
hands in the air, rs if throwing all car,
10 the winds and accepting fate Thcr
she came and stood before me. as she
had done 50 often as tiny one. anC
looked up III me.
AT half past 10. old friend. don
fail to tell me shall be listening Will
all my heart You need not strike very
loudly shall hear shall he sure tc
heart And She had gone slowly up tn.
stairs. Tine felt weight upon me n.
tolled the minutes ont am only tn.
servant Of time. Just to speak the word.
he tells me. to keep IA straight. fair rec
ord of how he flies.
Tick took. tick took, felt as if
should smother At 10 | struck the
number out. Never before had known
how loud was my voice. We are all oi
us what we are made Each one in thi.
world has 81 much To do, no more. uC
less. Tick tock The very heaviness OF
my trouble was making me dim and
uncertain
II heard the master of the house and
his friend and guest the man liked
the elder. quiet nan-clOse their doors
and everything was still except my
voice Would that conld crush it ont
They say that things like myself
can neither feel nor suffer but the bur
den Of my thought was. Could | save
my mistress The wish was so great
that ii overpowered everything. II wa.
near the half hour. when suddenly
everything seemed To come tn stand
still All power of movement was taker
from me. could go Eo longer
For the first time in my existence
failed to toll the time
MY little mistress was above. wait
ing waiting. hut did not dare to stil
until the appointed horr.
Il don know how late il was when
found her standing in the hall. pale
as the ghosts that are said to haunt ths
woods mt midnight
- 'Iou have failed me-failcd mei
was all she said And her slender fin
gers worked 1T the big holt that barred
the door 1t was nj length forced bac d
to its rest. aud he mait:'n. all muflled
gone.
What toll yen now heard from
the whisrerin.; towers. The guest wa.
learned man who Thought Il great
deal. then gathered the best of thess
heaven sent gifts and. setting his hand
to paper. told them Ia the world. On
that night he had opened the window
of his room and was watching the clouds
as they chased each other in the old
moon : light. and somehow the noise oi
the hail door closing aroused him. He
looked and saw slender figure hurry
ing across the lawn.
I'm moment he was ont In the
sweet scented garden where the high
wall IiseS Against the banks of the river.
and where little boat rocked upon the
tide he found the maiden ON the grass
with the vurnG lovers head upon hei
knee. The yoGng man had waited fol
her to come with the key to unlock the
door. which was half hidden by the
vines which covered all the wall. I'm.
patiently h.. had paced to and fro then
tried to climb in order to hasten to hi:
ladv's window and give signal He
had slipped aud fallen and i'll some way
turned his fo0t
AT glance the elder man took in
all the scene, and touch of pain tight
ened The firm month as he said You
heard cry nf distress ana came 10 FIND
the cause - did l. Let me help you
my child. for this is no place for you.
And the yourg man was as brave il
that moment rs the elder and replied
1T is my fault. | was going home late
and tried to shorten my road across tn,
garden.
" 'Trespassing. said his senior. i,
not the worst of sins Sir. | will helI
you. and being very strong h. lifted
up the young man and made him lean
all his weight upon his shoulder. and
half carrying him. drew him from the
garden.
The young man left the village in d
few days alone The boat drifted out
toward the ocean and was lost. The
story was never known.
Folks wondered the next day Il
find me silent. had 10 power to ticl
for many days. hut when was myself
again saw with joy MY little mistres.
had been awakened from an illusio n
and. though Tor time she seemed shy
and afraid to look the good man in TN,
face. il passed and the next year. with
the coming / the r"Ses. h" won her II
was the promo, Il day Of my life when
struck the h1rr cf their wedding
NO doubt vnu have gue sed. little
one the good man was the grandfather
you loved :" VI IT,
| sat silent in the window. the shad
ows had dcepcned and Gu..; filed all the
hall Had dreamed OF really heard al
my old friend saiiy can never tell
Only n slipped mp stairs smiled al
the old clock who had known ard saved
ny gran';am 20 years ago Ethel Bar
'inGton in Philadelphia Press.
Too Rapid For the sultan.
Hiram Maxiia. the inventor OF tn,
Maxim gun. tells an amusing story oi
nn expericnc" with the sul,an of Tur
key. Tho sT:!:in Ind witnessed Il test OF
the womb shooting of the rapid fir,
arm aud was d'iiy impressed with see
ing the small weapon deliver itself OF