The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1911-02-25

patiently I'LL come ouI.
of you can cure her he said sol
EMMY, Il pledge my soul that will
guard and protect her for the whole
of my life and hers.
Then / went In. had half feared
that my absence would have driven
Marion away. But she sat there, she
smiled up at me radiantly, and all
my soul went out in a wild tumult OF
desire and anguish.
g T may stay with you forever, she
whispered, raising her lips to mine.
You will not drive me away, back into
the darkness agar? For after all,
she is not really THAT girl-you
know.
Even then, with all my soul given
to hers, heard the rapid tramp.
tramp of the young man in the next
room # I yielded to her appeal; II
we enjoyed the brief remaining span
Of life togethe then? What
would be the fruits of such stolen
happiness2 And Wept binding,
hopeless tears. For I knew what
must do. Marion knew too. She
read it in my eyes. Her own took on
an anguished appeal that Wrlr1g my
heart.
Listen, Marion, I said. We have
had our own lives to spend and we
have ruined them. This life is his.
He is waiting here for her to come
back to him. It is his right
Even then she did not plead; that
was Marion's way If she had plead
ed I could not have resisted.
Z And if i must go, she. murmured,
what then? What will become of us
when the weary travail Of this life
81 is spent 2
Why I replied, God has been SO
good to us. Suppose we trust him
little longer. Suppose we do right
and leave to him the judgment 2
She closed her eyes in resigna-
ton; she leaned closer to me, in hope
less resignation Another moment
and I must lose her forever.
How shall / be certain afterWard
that / have. really had you with me?'
cried How shall i be sure that this
was not some frenzied dream? Give
me some sign or token to remember.
Once again she opened her eyes
and smiled at me. Do you remember
the rose garden?' she asked softly.
BE there tomorrow at noon and I
will give you what you ask for.
Once I kissed her upon the fore
head in eternal farewell. Then I
recalled the sleeping soul of the girl
And when she opened her eyes they
Were Marion's no longer. She started
up, but restrained her.
Miss Strickland, you are safe with
me-Doctor Brodsky & i said reassur-
ing1y. And have cured you of your
attack You will never have another
SO long as you live. Your fanee is
in the next room, waiting for you.
Do you want to see him y
Il saw girlish blush steal over
her cheeks There was no need OF
answer Wait for me and will bring
him to you,' n said. Then 4 went Id
to him.
am gong to give you back the
thing that you most desire in all the
world, I said, placing my hand upon
his shoulder. But before + do So
have you forgotten your promise to
guard and care for her always
"I will! he cried; and knew by
his tone that his was no promise
vainly made or to be kept lightly.
= Forgive an older man for preach
ing said to him. Remembe love
is the noblest and the greatest gift
that God has given US. 1t is not
lightly to be esteemed or easily to be
thrown away. Many have spoken one
harsh word and atoned for it through
| years of suffering. Comet
| Then / led him in. And when
they met i knew that / had not acted
wrongly when I made my sacrifice.
4 Next day at noon I was in the rose
4 garden that adjoins the common il
was July, but few blossoms still
fingered upon the trees Deep IN the
shadiest walk, her arm linked through
/ his 4 would have stepped aside, but
/ she saw and beckoned to me.
Doctor she said. II can neve,
even try to thank you enough fol
/ what you have done for me. know
last night must have come to yol
i during my attack; / do not remember
that, but i know you cured me. Ant
\ i feel that this cure will last, for
J. have something to live fol and to re
1 main well for. She glanced at hel
fance shyly. So, as no words car
thank you want to give you a little
memento of my gratitude, she said
From the bosom of her gown she
pulled a solitary flower. Wear this
for my sake and in token of my
thanks, she said.
II took the flower and fastened Il
to my coat. Then, feeling that hel
gaze was bent upon mine, looked
up. For one feetfng moment i coult
see the soft tenderness Of Marion:
eyes. Then they were gone, and thos,
Of the young girl shone forth happily
4 turned and went across the common
leaving them there. She married hin
soon after, I believe; but / have neYe
i seen them since.'
Maitfpr Of 11s had sfirrpd mhfl,