The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1860-12-28

degree recovered her seli-pOs-eSsion.
Mr.. Markham, shall never speak on this
subject again; but bid you think well before
YOU throw away u loving heart
lie was tempted more than falls TO the
common lot Of mOrtals. He must hayo
Welded. had the temptation fallen on hun
unavarcs: but before be- left Calcutta he bad
! resolved Ia see her once more, and through
| the long voyage, and in many restless night,
! he had weighed the chances OF their meeting.
! and armed himself ut all points Tor rel'-
lance.
Markham, have you told her"
NO. Pauline
She could not speak for the moment, Thc
could only clasp his hand.
| 'Shc is never TO be told
This Is noble beyond thought q, Marx
ham. promise YOU will strive 10 the nt-
most to atone for the past-anything is c''y
ir ! possess her love. But your gOodnoss-
I can never repay that
wait u while, Pauline. Weigh my words
she is never to be told
Yes. yes; do weigh them: they seal that
forgiveness which was freely given me at the
! hour of death
Pauline. must have il on your hoi or
that you will never tell her.
On my honor She repeated the words
hastily. but she was somewhat perplcxed at
his meaning, and looking on his face, shc
saw that same expression. as 1t were, inc
very soul flushing the countcnancc, which
she remembered 81 wildly when she knelt at
his feet in the hoycl. Never tell her, Mark
ham,
Never
Not il were at the point Of death"
Not even at that timc-you arr bound
eycrmOrc to silence
She had passed through the agonling fear
of dcathshc rccollccted her troubled prayers
she r., objected there was no Gleam OF hope IN
her breast till he had forgiven hcr-tNen only
she had found peace for her soul.
40 Markham, do not bind me Ia this-
nav, let me spcak out now; let me suli'r any
main now, 80 that she iorgiycs me ut the
end
She would have left the room; he drew l'er
back.
Il cannot free you il is not to me you "rc
bound. dare say you went with iccllnSoi
triumph to that grand wedding when your
sister became Mrs Manson. In all probability
those awful words of the marriage-seryIcc
made no impression upon you ut the tmc'
and most likely you have never thought upon
them since Lot him now speak, or else here.
after forever hold his peace You mlSht,
have spoken then, but now those words Oi'
you forever
Slelistcncd to him with her head depressed,
her hands covering her face.
when found that your sister had bc'h
really true to me, my feelings towards her
which wis that OF utter contcmp:-turn"i
back to old love. and ! am resolved 10 see her
once more. Believe in my good iaith-on'y
TO see her, and Part forever. calculated my
strength Of will. | thought Twas very strong
Jet no man trust 10 his own strength IN
such case Since came TO this house,
have walked through the fire Of temptation.
Listen well to me, Pauline, and hear how
strongly you are bound to silence. | saw
that she was not happy-as to his love hr
hc.-'
Mr.. Manson is very proud OF her. inter
rupted Mrs. Vincent.
Yes he replied, bitterly, 'and he Is very
proud of his fine horses. IL he does not alb
solutcly i'll treat her. she lives utterly with.
out sympathy or affection. dare not tell
you what have lclt but tell you my rcs'-
luton was 80 utterly weakened, that ut one
moment it was only the sight OF how she
clung 10 those children Of hsrs--how all her
happiness was ccntered there
Il understand your meaning, sir y exclaimed
Mrs. Vincent, proudly. MY sister would,
under all circumstances, have recollectcd her
duty
1T might, indeed, bc as you say DO you
know this letter.?
breaking the black seals, he placed the
false letter in her hand. She gazcd at 1t with
u sort Of fascination. and in low tones said.
Il thought il was burnt nd the time-she told
me so-it was not with the other letters she
she gave me to send back.
You would have taken care OF that hc
replied, with withering glance.
When did you receive itr
An hour ago--yOur sister gave II to me.
approaching me for having broken my
plighted faith
Am to bring curse on this housc7' shc
cried, in terror, falling at his feet. Sod
save us from this shame Oh Markham,
trusted to your honor when l brought you
here
you forget, Pauline, that have already
told you that shc does not know the cruel
and shameful history Of that letter. We
will take il, ns ousiy, at all costs she would
have been faithful to her duty; but think OF
the long suilering-if sho ever docs know tho
truth. We arc bound to silence in mercy to
her. Mark these words, Pauline-tho evil
and sorrow rest on your head, II you ever
break that pledge Of silence.
She made no answer.
You forgavc me once she murmured.
God forbid should retract those words7
II il possible To forgive but II Is impossible
to ab-olyc you IRON the consequences OF your
guilt
Markham went back 10 India.
lie had displayed great originality and skIll
in the construction ofa certain railway
bridge across n rapid river, under circum-
stances or great difficulty. In addition to
its engineering merits, the bridge happened
to form the last link in trunk.line Of rail-
way communication which promised 70 be
Of the highest value in developing the rcsour-
ccs of the country. All classes were deeply
inlerescttcd. There would be q grand ovation
to the engineer on the bridge. The day
appointed Tor thcccremony had arrived.
- Not ready to start, Markham f0uh
be late" cried the assistant engineer.
=" I've written to say that ! cantbc there.
{" Bless me It's one OF the grandcst days
in your lifo." Letter
:. The fact is, I've just received 'e''er
rrom England" ,.rho,."
=, ~. hn, ,tiiI containing very uclan-
choIy intelligence ,,,,,, o0ol,,
.wen. Markham, think you ""s"s ,msnJ ~
came. nevertheless your S'f''" '''"'
puhic recognition. IA ,,v LIANT nn
,Sc % bridge. I've got twice as gooa Al ian MN ~
my head ,h. no"s"ti ,arisD. on r"S w,th @ yoa.
op apS You'll &c, wiggins TO, being late ~
Markham was alone oil .ha' gay in
letter he had received lay ogsn beiore him.