The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1859-09-17
Ritlrnrunh gispatr9.
THREE NIGHTS BY AsH.Po0L'
fSoxcIupEp.l

see WV essNe - t..
60 Yoa got my letters q ra ~. ~,
aYes-I can't bid yea send no more, put my
mother does not like =, r S"s no wve on Frank
Frank. il would have been better for me II we
had never met !.
II will marry yon before leave England, II
"It,s TOO late Frank--it's too late you shall
not waste your life for me. know IT would
be yopv ruin TO marry ME, and IL could not help
as We shall stay with my mother-so give us
one kiss, and then 60"
sBas when come home again, Mary"
"You must not see me any more" Her voice
trembled, and her face dropped as she said so,
and Frank declared that he should not obey
her. ut oughtat TO please me, Frank, TO see
you're fond of me as ever, but IL does--l am
afraid I've bad heart" said Mary, looking al
him, tearfuily. "But what l said first was
right-we mustn't see one another any more"
Perhaps we never shall--who knows
whether may live TO come back p
"oh. Frank. Frank" And then the sad
tears came.
These two had had no method or design in
their fafl--yonBg and beautiful, they had loved
mot wisely, bat too WE'LL OF course the PEN
ally would be paid by both IN one shape or
another-uay perhaps the bitterness of that
hour almost expiated their sin. Frank offered
10 marry Mary, but she knew, ana hs knew,
that il could never be- and that the moment
that witnessed their parting. witnessed II as
forever. We need not try TO portion out the rel
alive shares Of blame-both passionate, both
weak, we know on which descends the heavier
punishment
They had not met till now since her disgrace
became public but neither made any alIusion
TO 1T Mary said nothing of the hard words
which had frenzied and driven her to the verge
of seif-destructisn--of that terrible hour she
never thought without fear and trembling
But Frank guessed much. At home he had
heard his mother speak with severe compass
sion of Mary and men ton 1t as commendable
that she kept herself in seclusion, not appear
ing even at church. And he had brought this
upon heri She and her mother and sister had
kept his share of her secret faithfully, ana she
had borne all the contumely in her own per
son when the mere rnentiou OF his name
would with many have gone far TO mitigate
the h!ackness of her sin. lie could not thank
her for iiiis--any ioords seemed poor and cold,
and she would have none OF his caresses. They
stood side by side looking over to the sunset
ard the gilded trees, and speaking little; but
there was the aching pang of remorse in be tn
their hearts. The after-taste OF guilt Is very
bitter.
Presently there was sound of distant
children's voices, and Mary knew that the
people were coming ont of church.
Now, Frank dear" said She turning her
sorrowiul pale face up TO his.
:" Must go, Mary ~
There We're few tears mingled, scalding
tears. such as may your eyes and mine never
have to shed, Ueart-drops that could not
bear the artache, leave out the sin, lessen
the relnorse.
The little one was asleep in Mary's arms all
the tine close pressed to her bosom Frank
kissed the rosy dimpled face, and kissed its
IN Jther. MARY, L was very cruel TO you
very SELFISH he said.
"Neyer mind, love, that is all over | will
like u remember, when-when don't see you
any more, that you loved me- Oh, Frank,
Frank -
And thus they parted, and Mary ran home
crying crying. You pity the good and true
lovers on whom sorrow falls; have n little pity,
too, for those whose passion lies under the ban
OF shame and separation. For all grief there
il perfect healing, save for that guilt which
society immaculate never condoes. Scourge
the sin as sayageiy as you will, but remember
the sinners humanity, and lay the lash Oh
them lightly: perhaps, as Mrs. Ward said to
her errIng daughter you have had less temp
Lation from the flesh and the devil than your
weak brothers and sisters around yon.
III.
One night, rather more than two years after
this parting, Mary Ward again took her way
mp 10 The stile by Ash-pool. Her little lad
was now old enough to toddle beside her.
clinging TO her gown, 10 run on before and
then scamper back, laughing and Growing, 10
hide his face against her knees He was 4 very
beautiful child, with great dark blue eyes, and
brown hair curling in rings all over his head,
and every day, 10 Marys mingled Joy and
dread, he grew more like his father, who was
f'sr away with the army in the East.
A IL the long morning there had been the
ringing of Heckerdyke church bells for Il great
victory. Mary had heard the sound over the
hills, aud had paused in her work often to
listen, and think where was Frank all the
time that the sun was shining and the
bells were ringing through bonny Rivis-
dale W "a he wing ueiQ, lace upwards
the crimson battlefield, or was he with
ing in wounded misery, in an hospital tent, or
was he one amongst the happy saved and vic
torious She was i'll feverish haste, for
Alice was to meet her at the stile with
any news she could get from the rectory
whittier she could never go, and once or twice
she would have carried The boy, that they
might get on faster: but he was full of spirits
and mischief, and would use his own little
legs to run in amongst the wheat to gather
the peoples and gay blue corn-fiowers, and
kept her waiting again and again. But when
she reached the stile. she was all 100 soon-no
Alice was there, nor in sight upon the path;
SO she went further and further until she
came to the brow of the hill, which looked
down full upon the village. A little way off
was the church, with the rectory and rectory
gardens, and, leaning over the last stle, with
the boy playing ut her feet, she tried TO school
herself 10 watch and wait. A first it did mot
strike her that, though the sun had gone
round from the south side of the house all
the blinds were down and the lower shutters
half-ciosed. But there was strange silence
and hush about the place; the door into the
howery porch was shut, and Mr. Lascelles
was not taking his evening stroll OF in pee ton
among the roses. The joy-bells had ceased
five hours ago. and though the days work
was done, there was no noise of cricket play
ers on the village green, or of quoit-players a.
the aie-house.
She knew that Alice would 20 TO the back
door at the rectory, and she kept her eyes on
HAT, distinguishing curiously the green ivy
leaves. with the sunshine slanting round the
cofHtlk at Inc west. 80 intent was she, thai
she did not notice Il young woman who was
coming from little dairy farm that she had
passed few hundred yards behind until she
had twice asked her 10 make way for her To
cross the stle She had a Jug OF milk in her
hand, and with mechanical eiviity. Mary
held it Tor her until she had got over, and then
she recognized an old school companion who
had gone into service at the rectory
Il can't stop, Mary, but I'm glad to see YOU |
looking so well. And is that your little boy!'
said she. There's trouble at home-yousye
heard, perhaps. They stopped the bell di-
rectly.;
Il have heard othing."
Poor Master Franks dead-yes, he's dead
and missls is nearly distracted I've st been
for T. milk for our tea. l knew you'd be sor-
1t l., best allus goes L first "
Mary never spoke, but lust turned round
ana taking up her child, now tired enough to
be- quiet, tottered back TO Ash pool After
"alas sue totd Alice that when her old COM
panion said, master Franks dead-yes he's
aead something struck her heart like death
blow. Her sister found her sitting there by the
water, stiil Ms Il statue, dumb and fearless, and
white as a corpse.
You have heard, Mary - she said, kneel
ing beside her. They got the news this
noon. It's very sad. They say he was riding
tnto The battle, and cheering his men to come
on, win his sword waving his head,
Waea shot struck him in the breast, ana ne
oied' Oh love, love! l wish you had right
10 be sorry for him but il is like a judgment
Oh hlln tJr his wickedness 10 YOU"
"ihen It's a judgment on both OF us Tor l
was rs much to blame as he" replied mary,
sun clear enough To defend her lover
II never said SO before but nave na.e9
him, Mary--oh have hated him! believe
was glad when heard he was killed"
"Dont, Alice, don't" And poor MARY
shuddered with blind, blank look OF misery
Ia her pretty eyes.
: oft nr al