Marshall County Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1855-1859, 1859-10-20

me- Father, | cannot live without you
forgiveness. | think you must have ours
ed me, and that the curse is clinging t.
us, for nothing has prospered with me
since left your home.
| have not cursed you, he said, still
standing aloof from her.
Will you accord me yeHr forgiveness
she continued to ask
Yes; it you can be satisfied with the
letter and not the spirit.
She looked inquiringly, her lips parted
her thin white hands claspe1 in supplica-
ton.
If you say that l forgive you will avail
that forgiveness you may take, he said
answering her look BIT when you cast
me off, to become the wife OF Thomas Eli
OF, you put bar to all future intercourse
between us.
Your full and free forgiveness. she con-
tinued to implore.
My free forgiveness, but not my friend
ship. You have your husbands.
He has not been to me -Sie husband |
expected--hopeJ for. she cried, saying
more than she would have said, but for the
jealous angry feeling that was rife with
in her, SO especially on that night.
The lawyer smiled grim smile
! Few wives, when they marry as you
did. do find their husbands what they ex-
pected.
| Oh, father, father, that | had never left
your home! she walled. At times | say to
myself, let me cheat my memory, and pur-
suade it that these years have been dream
that l shall awake and find myself little
Louisa Freer!
All, returned the lawyer, many one
would give their lives to awake from the
same dream.
1t is not visited Oh him as it is on me,
she added. her cheek flushing Hour after
hour, while | am sitting alone, brOoding
over the past, striving to stave off present
annoyance, he spends away from me, seek
ing only how he may amuse himself.
Nothing else could be expected, from a
man of the disposition of Thomas Elliot,
but that he would seek his own amuse
ment, married or single. | could have
told you so years ago.
know you never liked him, papa. but
will you not be reconcled to him?
Never, replied lawyer Freer. We will
not speak upon the subject.
came here to urge another plea, she
sadly added, after an interval OF silence
To ask you to help me; we are very poor
1t is a waste OF time, was the stern re-
iteration Of lawyer Freer. Thomas Elliot
has no help from me, before my death or
after it.
1t is not for him, she eagerly rejoined,
her eyes glistening with excitement
Father, declare to YOU that ask for it
but to thwart my husband, not to assist
him. You have seen child of mine at
Mrs Tarnbull's.
have seen a child there, he coldly ans
wered. believe my daughter once men
toned that it was yours.
Ny daughter! Well she deserved it.
1t is only my boy; the rest were girls.
and they have all died, save one. Father
| named him William, after you
had been better pleased that you had
named him any other name, to associate
with that of Elliot, was the dshearlening
answer
Ii Is for him that | need assistance she
resumed, | want to place him at school,
Oh. sir. you know all perhaps you
would aid me.
What mistaken notion are you laborlng
under? returned Mr.. Freer. Help a child
of Thomas Eliots! Has he been sending
you on this strange errand?
He does not know that | am come. tie
was absen, when stole out of my home
to ask this. 1t would be agains. his will
if the boy Is placed at school, for he wishes
him to remain with Mrs. TurnbuIl. You
remember, father, how Clara used to ty-
rannize over me at home-how she used TO
put upon me?
1t may possibly have been the case
She was older than you.
Sir, you know she did, though you may
not care 10 recall it. But she does still.
and surely she is not justified. have
no, a will of my own. especially as regards
the boy every wish l express, she op-
noses ann Or. Elliot upholds her. lcould
no, bear this. paSsionstely' went on Mrs.
Elliot, disclosing what she would have
OIL iiOh ."
could bear her encouraging the child In
disobedience, but what | cannot bea, IS.
that she should draw my husbands affec-
tions away from me.
do not understand. replied Mr.. Freer.
Because you do not know Clara, said
Mrs Elliot. She was as fond of Tom Ell
liot as | was, in those old days, but she
had more worldly prudence. Who first
encouraged him to our house? She did.
Who flirted with hIm and attracted him?
She did. And when the truth came out,
that he loved me, she betrayed the tale to
you, in her jealous anger. Then came
forward Squire rurnbull. | was young
frightened child, and did not dare to OBJ
ject to him; SO to escape rushed upon a
worse fa.e.
Lawyer Freer was knitting his brows.-
Parts of her speech had grated his ear.
She never forgave me. from the morning
she knew that Tom Elliot cared for me not
her. she has never forgiven me vet. And