Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1864-12-17

was passing away, aud giving place to q
dull sorrow. II can bear no more. It IL
as certain. more certain than death, that
your vile is mine. God help u.s.
Which of the men was most to be pitiedi
There we're some moments of horrible
silence, in which each heard the beating of
his heart like heavy dtbth. Holt spoke
again
"A,k Edith to come here. Surely she
cannot have forgotten me-"
"Mary-I call her Mary, 1t will only
distress her. Igive you my word of hon
or she has no memory of anything before
the trance"
But when be saw the passion in Hollis
face he judged it best for his Bake that she
should come. Since he chose to hear from
her own mouth what he had refused to
believe from his friends, he should do so.
She came quickly at the sound of the
loved voice. and glided into the room,
looking like an angel of peace between two
evil Spirits. She stopped short as she
caught sight Of Astley's face all drawn and
set with the effort to suppress his emotion
and then threw her arms around his neck
with cry of love and terror.
But he unwound her arms, and for the
first time drew bach from her embrace.
MARY, my love-" Hollis eyes flashed
fire at the tender words and tones, "tell
me, tell Mr.. Holt ifyou remember any
thing in your life before you awoke from
your trance in this house 2"
81 do not tell she said, 1 remember
nothing, l have said SO many times"
, "Swear it, said Holt.
"I swear it," she said, "by my hus-
. band Richard Ashley"
J Poor Holt he threw himself at her feet
, claspng ber knees, and crying passion
ately:
5 ooh, Edith have you forgotten me,
your husband, David Holt! Oh my dar-
, ling, you must remember me, and how
happy we were for that short two wears 7"
D But she broke from his grasp, and
3 threw herself into A'tley's arms, crying
out:
. "Send him away! What does he mean I!
Send him away" She was pale and
-. trembling with terror
r "Let her CO." shouted Holt, Cor BY
!. The oath was interrupted by Ashley.
"Holt' God knows will try to do what
J. is right, and for her sake ask you to be
oalm." He placed her in chair, where
If she sat weeping for fright, and went on.
e "You shall say all you can to bring the
b past to her memory, and if she can re.
member you in the faintest degree, 1 will
3, give up my claim to yours. But if she
e does not-oh, Holt, saved her life -
r The struggle was an awful one, and shook
10 him like the wind shakes reed.
y "You tell her." said Holt, bitterly
"perhaps she will believe what you say
e. At any rate she will listen to it.
IN 1t was hard to begin the cruel task; yet
for her sake he undertook it ibis voice lrsm
,g bling, though be tried with all his will t.
ut steady it.
v, "Maty, love, listen. You know tha
or you must have lived more than twent,
y years before you was brought here tha
he night"
ut 81 do not know" she said i; II canno
remember"
is "But it must have been so, for 70,
ke were women then"
nd 81 cannot understand" she repe ated =
"I have no recollection of anything be
ng fore.'
IS Ashley turned to Holt with q look
agony. "You see how il is let us end th
rs torture"
"Give me my wife," said Holt ,fercely
e " You will not take her." Ashley criet
ly as the thought of his doing so against be
nd will struck him for the first time,
! "She is mine," said Holt. "Go on
ct. tell he the whole story, If she does NJ
ley understand it,she will believe it when 20
lily tell it to her. The sneer with which th
hle words spoken was cruel one, but miser
n. had made him cruel and he scarcely kue
is what he said or did.
de-. And Ashley told her all in a few word
,re She looked bewildered.
1T must be true ifyou say so, but | cal
no not recolect and oh, Ashley, love on
OF you"
D. "She must come with me-" shout'
his Holt, sayageIy. The demon had got Il