, 1864-02-20

saw the surgeon, and all his accompanying
horrors. She sprang from the board and
threw herself at his feet; her own disarray
affected her not, the feelings Of this world
she believed had passed forever; but in
the most earnest accents she articulated /:
al know not whether am in the presence
Of God or the devil, but l am innocent y
lnnocent!' repeated Ebreson, in Sc
pulchral voice.
"Yes," she continued, wringing her
hands, " in pity torture me not or say that
this dismal place is but purgatory-that l
do deserve, for did carry knife about
me that might put an end to my own life,
rather than be his, but of the crime for
which l suffered, he knows me guiltless
and thou, terrible being, can'st read in my
soul that l speak the truth. Oh t.! thou
loOk'st just, this will not last eternally.
Spare, save me! and l will worship thee !!
Such an appeal in such circumstances,
and under such delusion, could not for a
moment be doubted Ebreson, in trans
port of gratitude, poured over that dear
bruised throat the vinegar which he kept
at hand as 4 disinfector, weeping forth,
Be calm, my child and fear lne not
you are with fellOw-creature, who believes
and will protect you. This earth and the
life 80 miraculously preserved shall yet be
endeared to you"
Instantly screening her limbs from the
chill air, he led her to his own room, con-
signed her to bed, and brought her food
and wine, while his servant slept; and
would have left her to rest, but that her
state still bordered on delirium so he sat
all night like an elder brother beside her.
But now, what was to be done To an
nounce her existence to the world, cruelty
as it had used her, and branded as was her
lowly name, might but provoke fresh perse-
cution; she had no power to prove the
crimes Of GOrtz; her new benefactOr's as
sertion of her innocence would not have
impressed others with a like conviction /;
for EbresOn was, US yet, an obscure and
needy man. The only course left for her
was to fly, call herself something else, and
in distant part Of the country live in re.
tirement but how could she gain living
while unable to mix with her kind? Ebre-
son resolved never to abandon her; he could
toll for them both. lie would trust no one
with his secret. Caroline, he thought
would no longer be exclusively his, ii he
shared the knowledge of her life with his
dearest friend. He had one brother in
the place, Catholic cure. Locking up his
treasure, he stole out ere dawn, awakened
this holy man and borrowed all his money
by telling him that debts and some quarrel,
consequent on hasty marriage, forced him
to change his name and residence. The
priest charged himself with forwarding all
goods. EbresOn then hired swift con-
veyance, babe Caroline array herself in his
attire, packed up his books, instruments and
wardrobe, and started.
When his servant rose, the cure was ready
to account for everything. Ebreson found
in this poor Caroline such intellect and vir-
tue that he married her. The good cure
settled with them, and they knew not what
had become Of GOrtz, save that he had left
the theater of his wickedness. One night
Frere Basil entered their abode with face
Of dismay. Brother" he said, " come
from a shocking sight-the deathbcd Of a
departing sinner. l was called in to ad-
minister the consultations Of religion to an
aged man, who has not long resided here.
He will have no physician, though the peo-
pie about him think he cannot see another
sunrise yet poverty is not the sole cause
Of his recklessness. lie refused the last
sacrament, calling himself unworthy of it
so fastened to secure your charitable aid.'
"What is the unhappy patients name!"
asked the wife.
"Gortz, sister"
SNOW, all gentle saints be praised % she
cried
"No questions, brother; our neighbor, the
notary, must accompany us all. Pray heaven
we are not too late"
This party accordingly hurried to the
wrctched abode Of the dyingman. Ashley
entered his chamber they heard him rave
Z" Talk not to me Of sealed confessions
the whole world gaped on her degradation,
and l have wandered for twenty years, like
the accursed, undying Israelite still no
rest from that thought. l can give We
nothing, mercenaries. If ye find any gold,
bury it at the gallows foot, or lay it out in
masses-but no no hopes Of pardon for
thy murderer, innocent Lima"
OaAOhuO utCW uoiuC hio 1At uIbt
he stared without recognition. When she |
called him by name, believing that he be-
held her spirit, he coweringly hid his face
but she, removing his hand from his face,
whispered "Peter Gortz, take courage
l briug you peace and pardon. You are
no murderer. The queen Of heaven ena-
bled her true servant wondrously to save
me from death, and you from despair. II
am happy wife aud mother. Yonder is |
my husband, come to serve you if he can"
The moment Gortz was assured of her
life, he started up, and retributive justice
again begged for one hour's-for but one
half hours breath. "Some potent restora-
tive" he cried " my poor girls fame must
be cleared all to the world, and as much |
atonement made as wealth can do" The
draught was given: the notary was ready.
To him, Peter deposed that, believing Caro-
line thought herself entirely dependent,
and in his power, her rejection to his suit,
aud threats Of departure, had stung him to
vindictive madness. She told him that she
had packed up, ready to set forth with the
first light, and insisted on leaving the house
to seek a conveyance, telling him that she
had left her trunk open he might search
L y