Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-03-14

Miss Pink" he added, turning to the faithful girl, and the two went out, leaving Peyton and Mary Amman alone.
 Poor Mary Annan, how thin and pale and haggard she looked, her white face framed in the rich brown curls flowing over the pillow; how wasted from her long illness, from the shocks she had undergone, from the bereavements she had suffered, the heartbreaks that had come upon her! How different she was from the gay, ightsome, cheerful young girl of those days before the aw- full war had come! And yet he loved her more. He could not tell her how or why. He neither argued nor justified nor explained. He was simply cog nizant of the fact. His heart yearned toward her. He did not say anything at first, nor did she. She lay staring up at him out of her great black eyes how they shone out of her pale face then-with such look of utter thank fitness and gratitude in her face as sinner might show in being admitted to heaven. He bent forward in the chair and with his own thin hands clasped her thinner and slenderer one.
 Mary Annan," he whispered, "how i'll you have beenw
 T shall get well now, Boyd, since you are here with me. If-if-you can for give me-all our troubles will be over."
 Forgive you, dearv he answered, CT hav nothing to forgive. only love you, love you, love youv' The sound of his voice, and not even his physical weakness could quench the passion in it, was like an elixir of life to her. It even brought faint flicker of color to her pale cheek. q know,'' she murmured. 'I know. I have your letter."
 From over her heart she held it forth in trembling hand.y
 "Your letter written before the bat tie. I think I should have died when you were brought here had it not been for this."
 Mary Annan," he said presently. s'I
 am a United States officer. I am the enemy of your of your government. have done my best against your cause. I have given myself to the Union with all my heart. I stood with Admiral
 Farragut ons the Hartford ready to lead the fleet into Mobile bay if I
 should be asked or needed. This is the
 uniform in which I was driven away. In this I have come back to you. Do you love me? Will you take me? Will
 you go with me in spite of all these things?"
 There was long silence in the room. The girl lying there covered her face
 with her hahd. As for Peyton, his heart almost stopped it's beating. Would | she rise to this test? Was her love
 great enoughtfo this sacrifice? She had repudiated him because of these things. Would she give herself to him
 in spite of them now? He leaned for
 ward under the impulse of his emotion and then slowly rose to his feet and
 stood holding the arms of the chair tremblingly, looking down at her.
 Speak to me-" he whispered. 'For Gods sake, answer!
 q am yours, Boyd,' she murmured, taking away her hand at last. There is no north nor south nor east nor west,
 now that you are here and alive. Love l is all to me. There are none of us left l now but Tempe and myself. I have only you. If you will forgive me-and | take me back. You kissed me once, "
 she said, lon the porch that night. 1 Will you''--
 "Thank God! Thank Godv' he whis- 1 pered.
 When they found him, he was kneels ing by the bedside, his bowed head resting upon her outstretched hand, and there was such look of peace and
 rest upon the girls face that they knew
 she had indeed passed from death into life