The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1861-06-04

the shadow Of the window curtain ia the
parlor, hea him como 10 with her brother,
Il was twilight, and the gentlemen did
not perceive that the parlor was occupied
Harry spoke first.
But why: Why must YOU leave
Us 2"
Leave them Kate felt cold, sichen-
ing chill pass over her, and then for the
first time the eirl knew herself how she
loved, almost worshipped, this man.
=" | will tell you. never thought TO tell
my story to a living being, but viii tell
YOU" The doctors voice was stern in lis
evident struggle against violent emotion.
Harry, love your sister For the first
time in my life | have felt how strong
man 'oess, DO you smile az Ele idea of a
sorrow, crime tricken man loving that
bright woman I" Nay, child, for She is a
child in her pure fresh youth aud gentle
ness
" But, Egbert, my friend, Why do you
not tell her YOU love her Z"
"IlIl Bind that life 10 mine Cloud
her sunny spirit by making her my wife
Never Stop! do not interrupt me
/ will tell you why | must tear this love
from my heart; leave this happy home to
return 10 my lonely life at s.. ] will
begin at the first year Of my life :--
When ! was four years old, | was sent
from my home, in the South, to Philadel-
phia, 10 aunts care. | did not know for
many years why my mother thus bannsh-
ed her only child, but found it out at Iast.
For twenty-one years | never went
home. ] was educated passed through
college, studied medicine, graduated, and
began 10 practice in Philadelphia, but |
was not re5a led TO the South. Every
summer my mother paid my aunt short
visit, and sometimes my father aceompan-
led her; but although she evidently loved
me fondly, she resolutely resisted my en-
treaties to be allowed TO return home.--
Ten years ago, in my twenty-fifth year,
the summons came at last. My mother
was very i'll; dying, the letter said, she
sent for her child to say farewell. had
Teen home but a few days when ! knew why
my mother had bauished me for so long
a time my father was gambler, and
oh, this is hard for a son to say--a drunk
ard as well. STILL in his worst moods
and they were neither few nor seldom
he was always kind to my frail suffering
mother. One eyening'-the doctor shook
from head to foot, like a man in an ague
Gt as he continued - One evening | went
with my father to the gambling house he
haunted; | went because my mother
hoped ! would restrain his insane passion
for play, and | shared the hope. can
not dwell on the events that followed. One
of the men present charged my father with
false play high words led to blows and
and there was murder done. lie, my father
killed his opponent struck him with a
knife. We were both arrested, my father
and !. was acquitted, for there were
witnesses to prove that ! struck no blow;
but my father was condemned, and eXecu-
ted for murde. My mother died whilst
we were in prison. | stayed with my
father until the last and then ! was driven
from the town. But one man there be-
leived in my entire innocence, and that
wa; my fathers lawyer. To him alone |
wrote after ] left the town, telling him my
assumed name; and when my aunt died
leaving me a handsome fortune, he ar
ranged my legacy so that / received it.
You should have listened 70 me when
refused to come here. But, Harry do
not utterly hate me"
Before Harry had time TO speak, a fig
ure glided between him and the doctor,
and Kate spoke.
Egbcrt" Two soft hands dlew the
doctors head down on Kate's bosom, and
she pressed her lips TO his forehead.
Kate, do you know P
Yes, have heard all !
And you caress me---a murlerer's son'
Hush Let il be my task to console
you for your sorrow; TO atone for mems
injustice; TO love you Egbert, to love you
as you love me 7
Harry stole away.
II was hard to overcome Mr.. Gray's
when lie knew who it was that
wood his bright child but Kate's love con-
quered all.
The heavy cloud passed from the doc
tors face, and there shone forth clearly
the noble heart that 50 earnestly wrought
good works to atone for a fathers SIM
Kate's life had its sorrows, as all lives have
in maturity but to her husband, she
turned ever in her own troubles and in
his, proving year after year how nobly,
how truly a woman loves.