The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1903-06-05

her newfound happiness she would the
less regret the change. Why should they
make ii? she thought; they would struggle
on here until Darling found Il home on
her own.
Our young doctor reached his board
ing place like one in dream, mounted his
horse and rode out to see a patient. He
had much to think about, and probably
spent half hour in as deep meditation as
ever filled his volatile mind. Over and
over again the question presented ITSELF
cam glad or sorry" He laid his head
upon the pillow that night with it still
unsolvcd. From being a confidant of
the brother. he knew something of their
family affairs, and felt that it would be
his duty now to come forward and take
charge of his affianced An early mar
riage was to be desired; but how could he
ask her to share his poverty? Practice
was coming in very slowly, and his slender
resources were we'll nigh exhausted. Then,
manlike, he enjoyed freedom, and had no
special wish to be encountered with the
care of a family without adequate means
But ah. the dear heart that reflected
his image like a mirror, and the sweet
young life in its budding loneliness, were
alike his to mar or make happy. At this
thought wave of tenderness flooded his
SOUL and the ennobling and elevating in
fuence of a woman's pure and holy love
began that hour its perfect work within
human heart.
Well, the time of the marriage drew
near; the cousins were invited, and all
things were ready. 1t was not a time
for scenes of festivity, for this was a
house of mourning, and the land was
rent with civil strife
Late in the afternoon before the bridal,
the lovers took stroll over the spacious
grounds that Darling now knew would
soon pass into the hands of strangers.
The sun hid its face behind the western
hills, yet they were 10th to leave the sweet
trysting- place benath the old oak, night
crept stealthily along, and gathered up
each reluctant shadow that hid in the
edges of the forest or fingered in the
bosom of the lake. The maiden was
exchanging the last sweet condolences
with her lover, and the barriers of reserve
were fast melting away in the light of
the new and sacred relation into which
they were so soon to enter. The hours
seemed all too short, though they could
not chide their fight. Doubtless their
talk would have seemed foolish to any
except lovers.
How sad," said Darling, the thought
that we shall ever be parted"
But" he answered, that can never
be, either i'll this world or the world to
come; heaven was made for such as you,
and l shall seek you there, Darling"
but we will not go together, it is not |
likely that both of us should leave the
world at the same time. How could l
live without you? How much less could
bear to leave you here alone"
Then he answered tenderly. II will
pray God to let me live to shield yourlif |
be it long or short, from all SORROW"
And l shall die in your arms, my head
upon your breast-promisc me this
II do" he answered solemnly 1--WE |
will make covenant together; the one
who dies first shall, if possible, draw the
last breath in the others arms; but we
will try and live long time, dear, and be
happy"
$50 be it." said Darling, and they sealed
their covenant with kiss.
Fond. foolish young hearts. Silly
lovers, gay and careless as birds in Eden.
Was it not we'll that they could not draw
aside the curtain that hid the future?
The bridal pair entered the room; he
constrained and awkward, conscious
that the eyes of the little assembly were
upon them; she with n look of heaven
upon her, as she clearly and with rapture
made the responses Il do" and Il will"
No human being could have convinced
Darling that the man at her side was not
as near perfection as it was possible to be
in this world, and there is no doubt but |
that sublime faith helped to make him
nobler and better.
In short time they moved away into |
an adjoining county, where rich farms
stretched along the rivers bank for many
miles. The village proper consisted of a
store and postoffice. In this neighbor.
hood the young doctor and his bride were |
great favorites, and he began immediate
ly to build up good practice; but they
were poor, and had to struggle and |
economic at first. The dainty creature
who had worn lace rutfles at her wrists |
plunged her bare arms into the wasl-tub
she knew life of toll.
But were they happy? Yes, more than
happy. The old proverb that when pow
erty comes i'll at the door, love flies out
of the window, did not prove true in this
case. When they buried their first child
a little boy who had not lived long
enough to look upon his mothers face,
there was joy i'll sorrow because they
shared it together
This is prosy tale, and Their, is no
need to spin it out to an endless length
They lived as other people, and had the
cares and perplexities that fall to the
commonlot. But the strife was an unequal
one with Darling; after the birth of the
third child a tiny pattern of herself, the
family knew that the frail little life had
cost Darling her own. They gathered
around the bedside-mother brother and