The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1860-12-28
NO.. l..

was the only means she pOsseNsedo vi Ie'aii'"t
him near her.
The captain tells me we shall be at Liver
pool early tomorrow, said she, addressing
him timidly. Then the set words, thought
of 50 long before, escaped her atthc moment;
she could only add, abruptly:
You have forgiven me. Markham"
At her last words he turned from the sun
set. and looked earnestly in her face.
Il have forgiven you, he said, compassion
atcly. Il fear your greatest effort, will be
to forgive yours IT,
Il shall never be able 10 do that
Il am bound in deep gratitude to you,
Pauline. for your devoted care
Not bound to me; you have saved my
lifer
'Ay, that was hut a chance-quick. thought
less work. should have acted in the same
way had any one else been in your place
But your noble forgiveness
lie did not appear to heed her worls.
You must let me say, Pauline, that am
bound to you in gratitude, and would do
all could to help YOU in this sorrow; hut
know we can only forgive ourselves when
God, in his mcrcy,allows us the opportunity
Oi repairing the past.
Markham, am very rich; set me to any
task of doing good.
i shall demand one act from you. You
will tell your sister?
She was utterly cast down. She had feared
he would demand this Of her. She could
bear for him to know her guilt, hut for an
other to know it-why, the knowledge in
his mind that another utterly dcspiscd her
would inevitably lower her still further in
his estimation.
Il ask IN act ofjusticc, Pauline.
She was silent.
An act ofjnsticc! Let her know that !
was true. 1t will b. my only consolation.
In broken words she prayed him to spare
her.
Il am resolved, Pauline If YOU arc silent,
| shall speak myself
She knew the strength of his word.
Then sense Of utter dcs1lation came upon
hcr--shc, who had been - careless Of all
affection, caring only for worldly prosperity.
Well, that was attained, but she was miscr-
ablc-thcrc were only two beings on earth
she loycd-his love could never be hcrs--and
her sisters love would b. lost to her for
ever.
20, Markham grant me y rcspitc--lct me
be happy little while with her before she
hates mc-a few days-a week.
BE it 50. \ week = replied Markham
and he turned his face from her towards tlI5
long beams Of golden cloud which rested on
the horizon, through which the sun was sink
ing into the sea.
only week, Mr.. Markham Must You
leave us 80 soOnT
You arr very good, Mrs. Manson, but the
truth is, ought to have gone directly up to
town on my landing
Not to begin baSincsS yet? I'm certain
your health is far from being restored
The directors IRE very pressing to see me;
indeed. ! received an urgent letter this morn
ing. think il | am we'll enough to enjoy
myself here, have no right to delay very
obvious duty ...
'You will come to Us againT
Thank YOU, can scarcely promise my
self that pleasure. my engagements arc so
very uncertain. believe, in Il short time,
when things are rather more settled, | shall
have to return to my post in India
India your health is not liz for that;
your friends ought never to allow you
'lt's my livelihood, you must recollect.'
There was pause in the conyersitiOn.-
For few moments, Mrs. Manson bent her
head over the work-inmc, and appeared TO
be- busily engaged in her work.
MIR. Markham, know you will not mis-
me, but when YOU talk OF leaving
us and not coming again. feel there il
ought To say--I know should
never forgive myself if were silent. There
is one person who will be very sorry when
you 90 away. Now mind, it's not from any
between us, | five you my
can see better than words can
sister loves you
Markham shuddercd.
circumstances, said he, 'hayc certainly
thrown US together, but never Observed
sAh, YOU must trust to US women; in these
matters we are the best Judges. Why, the
simple fact of her mentioning your name 81
seldom in conycrsatiOn-but. besides this,
can see how much her character has altered
since she went away. As q girl, though she
had many excellent qualities, she WAS rather |
too fond Of grandeur and show, for will he
frank with you. But that, am sure, is all
seems TO cling - me for love.
She's half spoiled my boys in this short time.
| fear her marriage was not very happy
Colonel Vincent was u kind good man, but |
far oldcr-and there must exist sympathet-
ic feeling. If | may call il 50, to render mar.
riagc perfectly happy
NIarkham's eyes were fixed on the ground,
and he heard her voice ialtcr at the last SEN
tcncc.
.Rccollect that she owes her life to you
know, years ago, when she used to laugh |
and Joke about people being in love, I've
said, All Pauline, with that fixed purpose ol
yonrs, when you really love, it will be a
matter of intcnsest joy or sorrow -
Mrs. Manson,' aid Markham, interrupt |
ins her, this announcement is totally unex-
pcc,cd. Without questioning whether You |
have rightly interpreted your sisters feelings |
Il is proper for me- to tell you at once that
this affection, supposins 1t to exist, can never
be returned
The fault will be mine, said Mrs. Man
son, sorrowiully.
why SOP
For speaking SO prematurely; hut what
could do when found you were going 10
lcayc?' Sic rose from her chair, greatly
acitated. Edward Markham, ] have u right
10 speak 10 YOU; you owe me something. ]
transfer all that to hcr;-if you loved her,
could forgive you. Maybe Il was prudent in
YOU 20 giveup that engagement viii h seemed
80 hopeless; but on the night of that four
,ecnth OF June we had sworn to one another
tl be true, and wait patiently-and yet in
three short months well no matter now.
returned your letters, all hut one.'
'You returned me all my letters said
his iron resolution tried to the
very verge.
NO, not that last letter; could not return
il them
by the utmost effort governing her trcmb-
linz hands, she unlocked her desk, and drew
out a little packet.
Il read that letter twice, only twice, and
then I sealed 1t up with this black wax.
have never read it sincc-no need; every
word is stamped in my heart. They mus,
have dragged me to the altar, but Tor iha''
SLa C,xcaJ tbo ,,a Oh et into his hand.