Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1864-01-08

e had given birth TO that dark thought nj
; longer haunted him. 1t was true tha
, there was an end forever TO his hopes fo
] Honor, but now at least he could fac,
A conscience once more. He was ever
glad, amidst his disappointed passion ant
poignan; sense of humiliation, that b,
bad been prevented from completing hi
, design. The authorship Of the anony
nous letter perplexed hip, though hi
suspicious finally narrowed down upor
bis own housekeeper. Yet how could
} she have possessed herself Of the secret
His wife, he felt certain, would never
have communicated to her what tool
place at that troubled interview, but it wa,
possible she might have overheard, lie
took measures TO ascertain, if he could
the truth; but they were Of no avail,
Tie woman's sulen answers revealed
nothing, and Philip ceased at last to ques.
ton, though not to suspect her
With stern seEdiscipline, Philip weau-
ed himself from everything connected
with his unfortunate passion, hoping to
find, as once before he had found, in Ia
Dor, soace and forgetfulncss. The strug-
gle, though sharp, was in a measure sue
cessful, and he Gained down by degrees
into content 1t would have boen harder
to him had he seen how dim the fair face
of Honor grew beneath the cruel blow
dealt her trustiulness and had he heard
the apologies she made for him 10 her
own heart, be would have mos. surely
been tempted back. Her sex naturally,
it may be assumed, would deal lightly
with such an offense. A woman perhaps
was wronged, but a woman was the gain,
er.-and promises are but words. Honor
was angry with him, it must be confessed,
Lut rather because he faltered than be-
cause he allowed himself 10 be tempted.
She had no right to exact such a prom
ise; he had no right to give it; but the
fault was hers. Oh Philip had you
urged this as some would have urged it,
/ think l should have forgiven YOU
unused the woman he loved and it was
well for Philip that he could not know.
With great chivalry of character, Honor
never disclosed TO her guardian the cause
of tie abrupt termination OF their en-
gagement; and he naturally attributed it
to some petty quarrel originating in a
difference Of disposition. You must
make it up, Honor he said more than
once. Write to Philip, and bring him
back But of course Honor never wrote,
and Philip never came.
Several months had passed away, and
Philips housekeeper was taken seriously
i'll. Meeting the doctor after one of his
visits, Philip asked how lis patient pro.
sressed. 4 will not disguise from you,
was the reply, that she is in great dan
ger. | fear she will not recover
I trust you are mistaken, DOCTOR said
Philip; ! could i'll afford to lose her.
She has been a most faithful servant
The same evening Philip visited the
sick room, and perceived too plainly that
he heard the truth. A peculiar express
sion came over the pale hard features Of
the housekeeper when she observed his
entrance, and there was an anxiety in her
manner Of replying TO his enquiries that
attracted his attention.
Are we aloneY ? she asked.
Philip replied in the affirmative.
q wished much to see you. ! know l
shall not live long she continued; and
here is a matter nearly concerning you,
Of which | feel it my duty to speak
something about your late wife, my be-
Owed mistress
Her voice was steady, her manner
'esoluie but she paused, as if debating
with herself whether or not TO proceed. !.
Philip asked if she referred to the letter
received by Honor We5tvood.
yes, to that, and something beside 4,
Mark, sir, l do not confess that have
lone wrong. do not believe it, and
10 not repent Of what have done. Bot
t ! had lived, | should have broken ST. r
ence some day, and | feel have no right
0 take my secret out of the world with
ne. Listen nursed Mrs. Stourton
When she was a child, and | loved her.
Before she died, she called noe to her, and !.
onfded to me how in the first dreadful
moment when the knowledge Of her fate :,
anne upon her, she had exacted from you :.
n oath that you would not marry again. ~
,he told me that in a ca!mer hour she
ad considered and repented of that act,
" that the subjec; was too painful to be
evived betwixt you again. She intrus-
ed to me a letter which she had written :.
0 you, aud enjoined me TO deliver it to n