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About The west shore. (Portland, Or.) 1875-1891 | View Entire Issue (July 1, 1887)
FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH. out being observed myself. That while, waited toven yean for my Rachel ? Over set face did not tell me she wm a happy my mother's bier-our mother now -wo wife. I could not restrain the feeling swore our second betrothal, that nothing of exultation that swelled within me; on earth should separato us again. A and yet, had it been otherwise, I might few days after, lato in the afternoon, wo perhaps have learned, in time, to forget met, by appointment, outsido tho til I lied to tho wilds of tho Northwest tor- lage, and swiftly drovo across tho line, ritories, and for seven years I lived a to a little Pennsylvania burg, ami in wandering, aimless life, always seeking quired for a squire. That official soon danger, but never finding death or for- canio bustling in, and in less than threo getfulness. At last, a longing camo to minutes pronounced us husband and me to boo the old home again -my moth- wife. Wo drovo as rapidly Imck, feer. er's face No desiro of swing Ruth led ing Ruth might bo missed. Sho was mo to this step. I had accepted our sop. now of age, and her own mistress; but aration as final, and determined never to to avoid any unpleasant scenes with her look upon her face again. I reached father, we decided that it was beat for homo only in timo to receive my moth- her to go back to her father's and keep er's dying blessing; then she left us. In our marriage strictly secret, until wo hud our last interview, mother -dear, tender perfected our arrangements for going heart -told mo that George Rathburn, west Wo would not even run the risk two years after his marriage, had gone of driving into tho village. Instead, I to California to seek gold. Ruth had walked with her homo in the dining received two letters with tho California dusk. As wo approached tho house - it postmark, then nothing farther was ever sat well back from tho street -wo no heard from him, though five years hat! ticed that tho 1 best room ' was brilliant passed. His family and Ruth believed ly lighted. In those days, such a thing him dead, and had only a short time bo- betokened either some festive occasion foro gone out of mourning. On tho or an unexpected arrival. I felt myself morning of tho funeral, I s!ipjed in tho happiest man on earth that moment, alono to take a last look of my dead. Ab- and whispered, gaily, 1 Perhaps they've horbed in my own thoughts, I walked found out, after all, and are going to give htraight to tho head of the coffin; then, us a reception.' Good God! How I re for the first time, 1 observed that I was member every little detail! Wo had not tho only occupant of tho room. On reached tho porch now, with its fragrant tho other side of tho bier, not over three honeyiuckle, and had a fall view of the feet away, stood a lady with a shawl and room. My bonni, sweet wife! ' I was bonnet on, arranging some flowers on a saying, caressing her cheek; and as sho stand She had her back to me. Hear- nestled against my breiut, with her fao ing a step so near, she turned, and we toward the window, a figure emerged Btood faco to face -Ruth and I. Our from the shadow, and stood, fuJlyout eyes met, and each read the other's souL lined, in tho glowing firelight It was She put out her hands in tho old, con- George IUthbura." fiding way, with a little, glad cry- Ifcob. I I'oub. ! ' He dropped his faco in his ban!, and I caught them, drew her towaid me, the strong frame shook with the torrent and across my mother's coffin our bun- of emotion that swept over hirn. When gry hearts met in a long, passional kins, he lifted his bead, after the shrw had Was she not my very ou? Had I not passtd, his face was pallid and Us eyes