The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1864-11-10

cottage we were to have, and that, in a
plain cotton dress, was preparing your
dinner, my Harry
! Please. ma am and the entrance of
her maid was hash Interruption to the
lady's monologue-"Mr. Fleming has just
sent home the new drab and pink satin
for the party next Tuesday night"
All me. those old letters If she had
never seen them That party If she
had never gone to it
You have not forgotten Glc. Laura .
| read il IN your blue eyes tonight"
Harry Atwood's voice had lost none of
is old depth, as he leaned down his hand
some head to Mrs Fleming's as they stood
to gether in an aicoye of the observatory
Most of the company had left, for twas
late, and they were quite secure from OBJ
servation. Mr.. Fleming was not jealous
husband, and he was quite content that
others should admire his wife, so that he
possessed her 1t was understood that
Mr.. Atwood and Mrs Fleming were old
friends, so they had nothing to fear from
prolonged tete-o.tete. They had sudden
ly, unexpectedly met at the party, and
the heart Of either was not changed.
Harry Atwood had become successful
lawyer now, and the world honored him.
lie had forgiven Laura long ago, for he
h.d heard she was more "sinned against
than shining"
"Harry-Mr. Atwood, l mean-I am
very clad to meet YOU and find YOU look.
~ 50 we'll"
The lady's voice was courteous and calm;
bat her fingers trembled as they played
with the carved points Of her ivory fan.
Call mc Harry Laura, for the sake of
old times" said he. land look up to me
once, and say you have not forgotten them.
Oh, Laura, have thought how the bright
star Of this evenings festival once rose
over my heart, and then went down for
ever. We cannot stay here much longer.
VIII you not grant me an interview to-
morrow nisht-a private onc-in your
own house ?"
cannot, Harry she replied; 'do not
ask me- | am the wife of another now.
And what harm could there be in our
walking together for halfan-our in your
gardcnI" said Harry. "Tour husband
would not object to this, for have watch
e the man narrowly tonight, and know
him well. You could not refuse SO simple
a request to the veriest acquaintance. We
nave had many walks together, Laura,
down by the old mill, and past the mead
ow-pond. viii you refuse me one now
He looked down or the fair face, and he
saw that tears were on it, and re knew
gwen.
You may come, Hrrry," she said.
That walk in the dim moonlight upon
Mr. Flcming's beautiful grounds was fol-
! lowed BY many another, for the first steps
in the forbidden way are usually pleasant
ones Poor Mrs. Fleming! she meant no
wrong; then she loved Harry, although she
tried 70 conceal this from bim; but when
he talked Of the past, in those low, tender
tcne, Of his her tears would come; she
could not help 1t.
One eyening-it must have been more
than week after'their first meeting
Harry told Mrs Fleming that his
heart was unchanged; that the old love
sill lived there-a sweet bat mournful
memory
~Oh, Harry, don't, don't, don't You
forget; am lis wife, murmured the
young creature, as she bowed her pale face
OF Der hands.
Then the lawyer drew his arm around
=
were gone, and said, You belonged to
me first, Laura Our souls were married
before you ever took that false oath at the
altar -
He whispered to her Oft flight to softer
skles-of a home fairer than the one they
had dreamed of in their youth--ofa life
that should be one long poem of love. !.
That time she fed from him with wild
Shrek of fear and horror.
They did not meet again for many
nights. Ifduring that time she had only
remembered the prayer Of her childhood,
Lead us not into temptation.' But she
was so Young; and then that affection was
the enc blossom her life had cherished III
the midst Of its sterile grandeur
One night she Was StahulhS on lllc
steps Of her mansion, for she had just ia
ken leave Of some guests, when Harry At
wood suddenly sprang before her.
| do not know what was said by either
party. but there were frantic gestures and
wild appeals on one side, and little later
Mrs. Fleming was walking among her
garden shadows with Harry Atwood.
This was repeated for several evenings
until, one midnight, closed carriage roll
ed hastily away from the private entrance
of Mr.. Fleming sgrounds. The next day
his wife was gone!
What an electrical thrill it sent through
the fashionable world for her beauty
and her rank had made Mrs. Fleming its
especial idol She knew little ot the cen
sure and scorn that were heapcd on her
head in the quiet Of that Italian home to
which she was borne by the man who
loved her only too well
The world said Mrs. Fleming was hap
py there, but it was false. No woman can
ever be happy who makes memory re-
morse and love crime.
But. dear me, how used to smile when
everybody made parenthesis of pity in