Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1864-11-30

as the thought Of his doing so against
her Will struck him for the first time.
she is mine," said Holt. 60 on, tell
her the whole story II she does not up.
derStand 1t, she will believe it when YOU
tell ltsto her." The sneer with which ths
words were spoken was cruel one. but
misery had made him cruel, and he
scarcely knew what he said or did.
And Ashley told her all in few words.
Shc.looked bewildeFed.
ut must te true if you say so. bnt
cannot recollect and Oh, Ashley, love
only you"
"She must come with me- 'sbouted
Holt, savagely. The demon had got Tho
better OF him, and the poor wretch, mad
with jealous pain, spoke bitter and uniust
words, that made the terrified woman
cling more closely TO Ashley for protec-
iion.
The scene must be ended for her sake.
and Ashley besought Holt TO leave them
TIL the next day, when i they could not
decide upon what was right il should be
done For hersake, too, he condesended
to plead with the frantic man and see
ing that Mary had tainted in his arms. he
LAID her down, and led Holt from the
room, that the sight other might no long
er madden him. His rage died ont
from simple exhaustion, and throwing
himself into a chair he We pit like chilli
Ashley reused MIN. "Holt bo man.
This is an awful tragedy. I wish 10
Heaven had died rather than played NV
part IN II. There are not upon the earth
two men so broken hearted as Won and 7.
Let US accept what is inevitable. but let
US spare what anguish we can TO that un-
happy woman. Leave me now, and to-
morrow vii see you again. Perhaps By
that time shall have thought of some
thing for her"
Holt rose passivaly. "You arc nobIer
than T." he said as he turned to 90
1t seemed TO Ashley that;his grief was
but beginning when he tried to explain
the whole thing clearly Ito Mary. The
torture of putting it into words was 50 iu-
tense that all before was nothing compar.
ed with il. And when at length she com
pretended, and asked him if he wished
her to leave him, even that agony seemed
slight contrasted with what he endured
in telling her thai he believed sho ought
10 do SO.
Loving as she was, she could not com.
prehend the sacrifice to duty which Asst.
ley was striviugt to make, and her thorough
ignorance Of the world rendered il impog,.
ible 10 make her understand what her.
position would be if she remained whore
she was, Ard yet this was a oase-so
c'"J' .l~''~J, - .,o"o,roIo L;1,s,ir 90 80.
that had ever been in the world b9foyG,
that no law, human or divine, could ap.
ply to it. But above all the thought rose
dominant, that by whatever mystery
Of unconsciousness deprived Of memory.
she was still Hollis wife and not his and
with this thought piercing him like q
sharp sword, he said that he believed she
ought TO leave him.
She rose up, cold and proud in a nom.
ent, and would have left him then, but a.
the threshold her spirit failed, and she
turnod again to throw herself at his feet
with tears and sobs.
Night has yelled many sights Of woe,
the clouds OF night have many times been
pierced by cries OF anguish, bitter cries fol
faith and patience, going up above the
stars to the feet Of God, but night never
shrouded deeper woe than this, bitterer
cries never pierced the shuddering dark
ness, {
When morning dawned they we're boIL
very calm and still. Their tears were shed
and their eyes were dry. He decided fo-
the right, though his heart was broken
in the conflict; and she, woman-like, had
accepted the right, not because it was so,
but because he said it was so.
81 shall die, " she said, in a voice from
which all passion had departed. 81 can
bear no more and live, but can beal
even this and die"
Who can describe that parlingS When
the sun set It was upon Astloy broken
hearted and alone. Holt had taker away
his wife.
Seven days passed, aud Ashley never,
left his desolate home. lie made no dis
tinction of day or night, but ley down 10
sleep the stuper which from time to
time ronder red him unconscious could be
so called lat any hour that sleep came tc
him.
At The close or The seventh day he tried
for the FIRST time to look his fate boldly in
tho face. "loam not dead" he said
therefore IL is clear That this grief will
not kill me-" Tha. night he undyessed
and went 10 bed.
The night six years ago, when the
sheeied figure lay upon the table, and be
dreamed Fantastic drea ms Of terror con.
netted with it, came TO mind more dis
linctly than il had ever done before. HI
sleep was broken and feyersh. and haunt
ed by wild dreams. Twice he avoks feel
ing certain that he had heard knookinG
at the door, and twice be slept agair
when he found that oil was silent. Blu
he awoke third time iu gray dawn and
heard the sound again, feeble knocking
AT the outer door, which ceased student
ly. He rose determined 10 ascertain the
cause he unbarred and orened the door
and there fell forward across the threshold
the dead body Q: Mary. ..
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