St. Mary's gazette., 1865-05-18

May was out in the quiet woods and
meadows of New England, TOO. where
Clara Clifton lived alone But there
was no bridal hnxers. no clasped hands,
DO fuIdllmeut Of loves glorious prophe-
cy. They had parted long before, in
pride and anger, and no word or sigh had
crossed ths dreary gulf betxeen them for
years. People had ceased ''long ngo to
marvel over the mystery Of their separa-
ton. and Hugh Clifton's name was a tor
gotten sound, even among the wedding
guests. God and their own hearts only
knew il they suffered, for no human eye
had witnessed any outward expession of
the desrrt-gloom in their hearts
AT last Clara grew impatient, waiting
for reconciliation which never came
neare IA yesrs went on. In an agony
: OF prize she brought suit for divorce
against him. Ii was not opposed. for
her husband was in the army, aud his
friends r'joiccd that the marrage-t tie was
TO be severed by Cl4ra's free will. Be
fore G u and mau'' their VOWS were
pledged she brought them before IN IN to
be broken. Until death" they had pro-
missed to abide b. them. Aud death was
not far away
1t was just at twilight Of chilly.
drizzing day in My. There are May
storms as we'll as May flowers and sun
shine. Clara was sitting alone by her
j window. thinking drearily that the gloom
without harmonized we'll With he desc
lation wirhin her home. Ch.dless. and
worse than widowed She had hoped
that HngL's old love might overrule his
pride and bitterness and be would dis
pute the action which would make them
like other women and m-u 10 each 9TH
er. All day long she had felt strange
nearness to him, as IL he WIS coming,
and was almost there. She heard the
rain beating against the wiadow, and
tried 70 keep the fire bright, with a
singular sense tLs, i. was for Hugh
Md this feeling that he was coming to
her did not surprise or perpl.x her. 1t
seemed only natural that he would come,
and she was gasing down the street.
through the gathering gloom, looking
IN m oh.
nightfall. She ha ! been wretchedly lone
ly, and she longed now fur his football
IN the hall. his haul on her sunshiny
hair. and lis cheerful good evening.
! Clara" as she had no. suffered herself
to long through those separated years
She did not even think that it would
be marvellous did he come hundred. Of
miles. from the tents and the camp
6res, snd walk that village stree, again.
II he bad opened the door, and stood
by her sido, she would not have fc,
startled or surprised not even have won-
dered Why he was there. "+Something of
sorrows's bewildcrmcn. was coming over
her senses, and her heart called pitifullv
for him p aor child,
But Hugh did not como. Only instead.
the postnan stopped at the door with a
package, which a serving woman brought
in. with the lights. They were strange,
official looking papers. and she glanced
over the first wi h ncrvou, haste, c4tchire
Just enough Of its import to know that it
was tbs fatal bill Of divorcement, which
made the res, Of her life someib Jug apart
from the pleasant auticipations which had
hiled her mind only nomen, before -
She.. e..crushed it in her fagcrs, and with
cold. feelingless stare 10 her eyes, took
the other in her hand 1t was brown
envelope. directed in a coarse, strange
handwriting. She tore it open, aud
pisin gold ring fell out, and rolled away
en she table; there was a single curl of
brown hair. and little folded note en- !!
closed in the letter. She opened the note, !
and read 10 Ilugh's well-remcn, bored ,
hand wrigbting : -. ---s
II am dying. God forgive US both.
precious wife There is another iife-I
shall be waiting for you there
The letter vas from comrade. who
buried Hugh, and sent the kcepsskcs to
his wife. He was wounded three davs
before. and they were very glad when his
dreadful sug,rines ended With a dumb
anguish Glars dropped the letter. and the
crushed paper together. The date Of each
faced the other-i: was the same, May
18th.
Before God and man the marriage COW
rnam was mnde Before ';"i ssi pau it
.'o'i .r,krn; i. .. -. !.