Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1866-03-30

infIuet CO of the scene around him, and the
insensible presence that seemed haunting
the air, cast out the hardness from his heart,
and he said aloud, as though she stood be.
fore him:
"Genevieve Berrian, forgive you"
There was the sound of footsteps behind
him, and the rustic Of womau's garments;
he turned and stood face to face with the
very woman of whom he had been think
ing. Genevieve Berrian, older and more
womanly-looking, but the same Genevieve
Berrian still.
Size started when she cav him, pale with
sudden rush of memories, and cry came
up to her lips:
"Roscoe, you here!"
'You were not thinking Of seeing mo
here," he said, quietly, though his heo~'
was not quite as quiet as his tones.
mo" she answered, little tren. II.
her voice. II have not seen you before for
Eve years."
give yearsl" He repeated the words
after her slowly. How long they had
seemed to him, those FIVE years of lonely
wanderings!
She did not answer, but looked away to
the blue, level line of the horizon, and the
submits Of the Judean hills, where the
sunshine was lying in drifts of amber ra.
dance.
"Geuevieve," he said, suddenly, "when
you came upon me was saying to my
self, "Genevieve Berrian, forgive you"
She started, and her eyes swept his face
searchingly, but dropped away before his
steady gaze.
II have never forgiven you before,' he
went on, shut in this spot, so full of men,
ories of our Saviour, put all bitterness
aside, and make myself at peace with all
mankind. It was bitter and a cruel
wrong, Genevieve; but its memory was not
sufficient for one to Withstand the subduing
and softeniug influences that hang about
this spot"
II am at loss to know the meaning of
your words, she said, quiet dignity in her
manner. "you speak Of a wrong. Inever
wronged you knowingly"
"Was it not wrong to tamper with hu.
man hearth Was it right to lead a person
into belief. the sweetest of all beliefs,
that they were beloved; and then when the
amusement Of toying with their happiness
wore away, fling them aside for newer vic>
Tins 2"
II never tampered with human heart"
she answered, her face full of an honest
avowal. "You arc labor:ng under some
mistake, I think. 1 know nothing Of what
you mean; bu, as far as am concerned,
am innocent of wronging you."
'There can be no mistake. You taught
me to love you; and when you were sure
that l was secure in the silded chains you
forged for me, you put me aside for some
one else, that was as ignorant Of the hol-
lowness Of your heart as I was.'
Roscoe Varley's voice was cold and
calm.
"Roscoe-Mr. Varley," she said, her
blue eyes misty, and her voice slightly bro.
ken, II never put you aside for another.
You never told me as much in words, but
you led me into the belief that you loved
me. I thought that you did; but sudden.
ly you left America, and without word
Of explanation or goodbye, and then /
came TO think you never cared for me.
This is the first time we have met in years,
and now you tell me Of an old wrong. !
am innocent Of ever wronging you By deed
or thought. God knows I am" RI.
Something in her words and manner
impressed Roscoe vafley forcibly. Gould
a person stand there on that hillside where
Christ had stood, and speak falsely2
"Do you remember that forget-me-no'
that I sent you, telling you that it was Z
token of something more than friendship
and asking you to wear it in your hair I
I eaw you give it away and heard you say
that it came, from one that you did not like
we'll enough to call your friend" 4e..
Job, .Roscoew Gepevievs Berrlan cried,
II never knew that that forget'me not came
from you. You know Robert vans, q nssp
that no true woman would like to call her
friend. u he hsd :old mo lsushieg'y that
| be WIS goiog 70 send nae . token Of 'his
tafiendship, and asked me 70 wear Il In ny
l-hair. When. that fosget.me:npt came, I
supposed ,it.vss.f from, him. There ovss, .
Enots accompanying It, dgned with the in
|ltiar r. v, bis iritia,s %. wsll ss'.year.,
though 7 do mot think Of ,you At ths time.