Ednas Sacrifice and Other Stories | Page 8

quite too many opprobrious epithets, to feel very
light-hearted.
He returned home to relieve Nellie's mind, telling her it was all
settled--she need have now no more anxiety about it. But he never told
her how it was settled. One thing, however, she noticed--he was not so
fond of his revolver's companionship as he used to be. And once she
heard him say:
"If the law was more strenuous with regard to the carrying of concealed
weapons, there would be fewer criminal indictments."

THE GHOST
Peeping through the leaves of the vine-covered bower, and watching
eagerly the path through the woods, was a beautiful little maiden. An
anxious look was in her deep blue eyes, as pressing her hands over her
heart, as if to stop its heavy beating, she said:
"Oh, why does he not come? How long a time! If he had good news, I
know he would come quicker. Oh, I have not a mite of hope!"
The pretty lips quivered then, and she stepped back, and sank on the
mossy seat.
A moment after a sound, slight as the dropping of leaves, caught her ear.
She sprang up, and for an instant a bright light shone in her eyes, but
quickly died away, as the slow, heavy step came nearer, bringing to
sight a tall, noble-looking young man, whose face, if less stern, would
have been very handsome.
Without speaking, he clasped her outstretched hand and drew her
within his arms, shaking his head sadly.
"I felt it was so, or you would have come sooner," the maiden said,
resting her head against his shoulder.
"I had little, if any, hope, Susie. I went this last time because you bade

me to."
"What did father say, Frank?"
"Over and over the same old story of having, since your babyhood,
intended you to be the wife of his friend's son. Oh, if I were wealthier,
it would be all right, I know," Frank said, his dark eyes flashing.
"Don't talk so, dear, please. I do not like to hear you impute a wrong
motive to my father. I will never, never listen for one moment to any
words of love from George Forrester, or any other man but you, Frank.
So you may be sure, if papa will not let me marry you, I will never
marry at all," Susie said, her eyes full of tears, looking up to his.
"Susie, I have made three appeals to your father during the year past;
each time finding him, if possible, more determined to oppose our
happiness. I will never humiliate myself again, and he will never yield.
Now what will you do?"
"Wait, hope and pray. I can do nothing more," Susie answered, in a
tearful voice.
"Yes, Susie, darling, you can, and secure our immediate happiness.
You can come with me, be my own true wife, love."
"No--no--no. I _can_not. I should not secure our happiness. I should be
miserable, and make you so."
"Then I have nothing more to hope for. He will not give you to me, and
you will not come. Oh, Susie, how can you send me off? You know
you are all the world to me! If I lose you, I lose everything. I am alone
in the world. There are many loved ones to comfort your father, until he
comes to his better nature and calls you back to his heart. Susie, am I to
leave you forever?"
The beautiful dark eyes were looking into his, filled with so much love.
How could she resist?
"No--no. I shall die, if you leave me--never to come again! Oh, what
am I to do? I love you better than my own life, Frank, indeed I do! But,
father--oh, how can I desert him? He loves me more than the other
children. I am the oldest, his first child, and so like what mother was.
That is why he loves me so. And now she has gone, I should stay--"
"And break your heart and mine, too, Susie?"
"If I thought, Frank, you would not mind it very long--"
"You would give me up! And, in time, get into your father's way of
thinking, and end by marrying the man he wants you to," Frank said,

withdrawing his arm and turning away with a great sigh.
"Oh, Frank, how can you talk to me so?"
"Well, Susie, it is useless prolonging our sorrow. I had better say
good-by, and go forever."
"No, no, Frank, dear love. Oh! what am I to do?"
"Be happy, my own, and make me so. Be my wife before I return to
W---. Go with me. Susie, your mother loved me. I know, if here, she
would plead for me."
"Yes, she loved you, and perhaps in her blessed home