El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-03-19
Unfinished
A short story.


TENDER, a cab drove UP to a
- certain house IN Kensington
, Gardens. As the driver drew rein, a
grey haired lady, whose eyes were red
with weeping, ran down the steps and
took the hand Of the girl who de-
scended from the vehicle She was a
beautiful girl. tender eyed. and with
a sweet mobile mouth, but at the pres
ent moment her face was charged with
deep sorrow
Ny dear child" Mrs. Cray said with
trembling lips, ~Oh, I am glad you have
come! He is asking for you continu-
4 took the first train directly
got your telegram" Ella MarstOn an
sWered, her self possession giving way
at the sight of the widows grief How
how is he nORT'
My dear, we do not know He
ne was gO-gOtng on so we'll; but yes
terday morning he had a relapse-and
-and-Out come in
Ella followed her through the hall
and up the stairs, cropping her way
through a mist Of tears A minute
later she was standing by the bedside,
gazing down in infinite pity on the
white pain drawn face
Don't grieve," he said quietly Per
haps it is all for the best Only
wanted to see you once again before
oh, Edgar. you must not say that"
she cried, the tears streaming down
her cheeks You viii get better"
He shook his head.
7 shall never get better. Ella" he
replied I am dying-I know it-and
I could die contentedly. I could die
happy; If l only. knew-' Then he
looked at her wistfully.
FWin you he said, eagerly, his
eyes. shining with a new light his
cheeks flushing "Oh, but I dont want
YOU to do IL unless you wish
oh, Edgar, I do wishi'
No, no, but-ah. Ella. YOU do not
know what il is. have sent for YOU
on purpose. and now I am afraid"
" Come, EDGAR"
She held his chill fingers in her
warm little hand, and looked into his
eyes He mistOOk the tenderness in
her eyes for love, and his limbs shook
You shall know" he cried Ella
I love yOui I have always loved YOU
that IS what I wanted to say. Tiff
you could only tell me that yOu-care
for me in return, then I should die
happy"
She was silent She stood there.
her thoughts His words had par
aiyZed her Throughout their long
friendship she had never suspected
this, and now it wrung her heart
grieyously. For il was not as he
wished She did not love him. And
yet she did love. in the few short
weeks of her absence from home she
had met one who had become all in
all to her.
Ella, my darling. speak to me-" he
cried Tell me that you care for me.
IL am dying, tell me-"
She opened her lips but no words
came from, them. She could not tell
him It was impossible. Then a sud
den way out of the difficulty presented
his last moments the happiest of his
life He had done much for her, and
Ne was dying Surely she might do
this, and yet be Dardoned.
he rr-Hf
nd she pressed her warm red lips to
his cold cOlOrless ones.
Some hours later she sat in her
fathers drawing room with the man
she loved. He was a tall, good looking
young fellow. and nature had endowed
MN with all those attributes which
ma favor IN Women's eyes That he
mad found favor in her eyes was plain
~ apparent. and it was also apparent
that she had found favor in his They
sat on low couch and as he held her
nand she told him of her visit to the
dying man-not all of it, though, for
mere was one part she would never
Poor fellowi' he said in tone Of
sympathy. It's hard luck to be cut /
off al his time Of life Just in his
prime and with the world at his feet /
but there, he may not die
May not? Oh, Frank. il is useless /
clinging to that hope! The doctors
have given him up
DoCtoIS are wrong sometimes
Y es, know, but they are right in /
this case You would say so had you !
seen him"
am very sorry he said. speaking
after a short pause
FROM his sweetheart's lips he had I
heard many a story of Cary's good I
qualtles He had heard of him too I
IN li-, other ways. as one who had lifted
hlmseIf out of the thrOng and who 1
Dade Ialr to reach that pinnacle where I
r anne sits, laurel wreath in hand
eeuS 10 crown the successful climber
The next morning. as they sat on
the terrace after breakfast. cab
Its Mary Cray. Ella said. a sud
den tear at her heart Frank. ne
must be dead"
She FASTENED forward to meet her
visitor The widow came toward her
With outstretched hands She was
suffering from violent agitation
Ella, my dear, God bless your she