Year: 1868

Gentle Ashe is dead Close the pallid lips.
and fold the thin white hands. Go muffie
the bell and hang the door with crapel IT'S
so long-so many weary months since she
slept one hour of peaceful sleep; let this that
knows no waking be nndisturbed Nav,
let that window he open. the draft cannot
harm her now. The cool wind may kiss off
those CHASTITY damps from the forehead, and
play with the long silken hair. Once this
was curls "a showery mass that nestled about
plump shoulders, or stray one lifted roguish.
ly by passing breeze touched a dimpled
cheek but curls and dimples do not linger
when tears bedew the pillow nightly. First.
as the cheek grew thin, the dark mass was
brushed away in waves presently the face
was wan and white and the long hair hung
in Strengthened tresses from the bowed head.
Oh, it was pitifu! to see those eyes look away
off across the water, with such a wistful, long
ing gaze-as if her very soul would go over
the deep to meet the wanderer, who held afar
off the tightening cords Of her heart won
der if distance or space could prevent his feel
ing the swapping asunder of those cords to-
day. l wonder if remorse tugs at his heart
strings, and pictures the ruin he has wrought.
This little room holds the history of her life,
bounded only by FIVE years-for she counted
only the time since she saw him. There is
not much to tell. wealthy widows only
child she was gentle and fragile She loved
him for himself be loved her for her moth
er's gold. They were married in this room,
where few months before they had met
The roses were budding on that vine when
they sat in the window and pighted vows,
and roses blossomed in plenteous profusion
when the marriage rite was spoken. l re-
member she plucked some that day and said
Farley, these are the roses of my life; if
you love me always as now .heir bloom shall
be perpetual" Poor girl they blossomed
longer than he loved her.


The cautious mother boarded her gold be.
yond his grasplng hand, and he wearied of
his shackles. One day he kissed his little
happy wife good-by Business would take
him into the country for day, he said
Next day she read bis name among the list
of those who had sailed for New York one
hour before. We found her sitting here, her
hands clasped, her lips tightly pressed and
her eyes dry. Shen cried out, and never
spoke his name except in tenderness, but |
have heard pacing feet, and low, moaning
sobs in this room, long after midnight. She
watched always for his coming, and she faded
day by day. At last when long months had
brought no letter, no tidings, no husband to
her aching heart, we knew Despair had fold
ed her in his embrace, and she would never
smile again.


Once as her mother gazed upon the patient
sadness of the wreck he had wrought, she
cried out in agony of tears. Oh. my child !
cannot give you up. Curse him and live I"
| She answered meekly. He is my husband.
The words would choke me- God bless him.
and God help my poor mother.1


Then she grew weaker, and spent all her
hours here, lying on cushions by the window
and gazing off on the blue waters. Some
times found her face pillowed upon wither-
ed roses, and there was always locket with
two pictures lying on her breast. She never
slept but moment at a time, and she never
murmured, though she suffered greatly. This
morning she called Us to her and said at