Year: 1866

But" asked myself, "why did she not tell me
the whole truth 90


I found no difficulty in answering the question.
She had shrunk from wounding my feelings. I
knew how sensitive she was, and knew she was
afraid of offending me. Perhaps she thought me
proud and headstrong enough to resent such lib
erty on her part, and perhaps she imagined might
look upon her as the offering of her hand in con-
sideration of renouncing the wine cup, and that I
might spurn her offer


On Friday Jack Stanton left me- and on Satur-
day evenining I called at Mary's boarding house.
Mary herself answered my summons She started
when she saw me, and [ saw her right hand move
quickly towards her heart


"Mary," I said speaking calmly, for l had
mighty strength of will to support me, Il have not
come to distress you have comeas friend and
humbly ask that you will give me an audience
for few moments"


She went into the parlor, and I followed her,
closing the door behind me; and when we were
alone, she set the lamp on the table and motioned


'No' said I, 81 will not sit down yet. Give me
your hand, Mary


Mechantly she put forth her hands, and I took
them In my own. There wondering look in
her eyes, and slight flush come to her pale
cheeks


''Mary," continued, speaking slowly and soft
ly, and know that moisture gathering in my
eyes, 'you must answer me one question. An
swer it as you please, and take my solemn assur-
ance that ask it for your good. Tell me do YOU
love me? No, no-do not take your hands away
yet. Answer me if you can. Fear not-O fear
not; for [ had rather go into endless night than
do you wrong. Tell me Mary, do you love me


'I cannotlspeak falsely" she tremblingly ,whis-
pered, "for my own peace, perhaps love you too
WE'LL


'Listen to me for one moment, III added draw
ing her nearer to me; ''when [ have told you that
which have to tell, you shall be the judge


She did not strive to free her hands, but looked
up eagerly in my face, and her eye beamed with
hopeful light.


.sFYou know Jack Stanton ?" [ said.


eyes," she replied.


''He was my best friend when we were at col
lege and my friendship has not grown less He
came to see me, and told me the trials and suffer
ings of one of the schoolmasters of his earlier
days"


''Oh, Mary, know we'll why my hand was re-
fused, and blame you not It may be that our
paths will be different through life, but you shall
at least know, that he whom you have loved will
so live, that he shall not be unworthy of kindest
remembrance. I know that have hitherto wan
dered into the path of DANGER but henceforth I
am free from the dread mare. Under the new
light that has dawned upon me 1 hold the wine cup
to be fearful enemy. I will shun it as [ would
shun shameful life and clouded deathbed. -
For my own sake will do this, so that my saint
ed mother, if she look upon her boy, can
smile apprOvlngly on the course he has chosen.


'And now Mary, if at some future time you
should feel that you can trust your happiness in
my keeping, you will give me some token thereof,
and will come and ask for your hand; and should
it be my blessed lot to receive it l will devote
GUS and peaceful one."


[ let her hands, and bowed my head to wipe
away tear [ turned towards the door, really in
tending to depart and give her time for reflection,
when she pronounced my name; looked back
and her hands were stretched out towards me.


''Not now, [ whispered Il will not ask your
answer yet. Watch me-prove me- Only give
me to know that have your love-


r4~
plllowed upon my bosom, and she weeping
like child


''Now now!" she uttered as I wound my arms
around her. "Oh Charles I never doubted your
truth. l know you cannot deceive ne. God
bless your noble resolution and let me help you
to keep it %


cannot tell how long I stopped that evening
l can only tell that was very happy, and that my
prospects of the coming year were bright and
glorious.


On the following day-a Sabbath calm and
pleasant-the organ gave forth a new strain. The
daughters of Zion were longer in a strange
land. They had taken their harps down from the
willows, and within the chambers of the new
Temple more resplendant far than the DID, they
sang the songs that aforetime made joyous the city
of their God. All marked the grandeur of the
music that sprang into life beneath the touch of
the fair organist on that beautiful Sabbath morn
ing; and all seemed moved by inspiration. To me
it was like the outpourings of redeemed soul
and with bowed head and folded hands gave
myself up to the sublime influence AS Mary
turned from the instrument I caught her eye
Mine were dim with moisture, but hers were bright,
cleaning with seraphic light


Ere many weeks had passed, another hand pas
sed the keeps of the organ, for Mary was not
in the choir She knelt before the altar by my
side and over us both the aged clergymen strech-
ed his hands with prayer and blessing.


And we went out of church together-Ma and
I-out in the new life-bound heart to heart and
hand to hand, to love, honor and cherish forever
more