The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1866-06-07

neral that was think about Yol
didn't know, did you, Lydia, that Bruc
Harper is married man ?p'lff af@2%9
Married !! You're joking now, n Char
ley ?. 1-'''I'if s6s
No. 1t is no joking natter . .a2 9
Bruce Harper a married man s.
: Yes, and has been for half adoze,
years. I myself saw the knot tied tha
made him a Benedick. "isl.tiff ;4i'sttt
ss. ou Charley?" aaf .i''7s52f'iS y
In her amazement, Mrs. Clendennniinr..
had nothing but EXPLANATIONS. y hf'i. -
sI don't suppose there is soul il
this city who ever heard of it., though
1t was long time ago; before I eve,
saw your face, my darling. Bruce wa. wa.
a young fellow then, just out of his mi
nority, and he and I were great cronies
as we've been ever since. ,T,..s.,,s b.. fs,.ga.
Eve were both in Boston that winter
his folks lived there, you see, and his
uncle had just died in Cuba and lef
a great fortune, SO he was quite a lion
a'There was a woman in society thai
season who took all hearts by storm;
queen of hearts, if ever there was one
A young widow she was, just from Mon
treal. Her husband. had died up there
in Canada a year before, and she had
come home to his fathers family. They
were among the best, and shewas a star
followed and worshipped by half the
city. Not to be behindhand, Bruce fol
lowed and worshipped too :, z,a2'''.1 . .,.,l. !.
Gle. has been. abroad since and has
seen many lovely women, no doubt, but
| have never in my life seen; as perfect
ly beautiful woman as that black k-eyed
enchantress, Constance Benoir- You
needn't flush up, pet, at my saying that
You and Christine are both pretty wo
men but compared with Mrs. Benoir
your good looks would pale like a rush.
light in the blaze of a MONDAY, sun. n
"But with all her beauty, this Mrs
Benoir was not worthy to be named in
the same breath with either of you, OF
with any good woman. None, of us
knew it then, though, Bruce was be-
witched, as indeed plenty of others were
for that matter; and | think she inten
dcd from the first to make him, marry
her. All I! such an angel as she was te
all outward seemingT-but it was faller
angel. la II ~
Bruce fou,d it all out before he hao
been her husband three days-the
whole shameful story of herlife in Mon
treal. There was disgrace and infamy
in fittings to make awoman's cheeks
tlngle only to hear of. And her family
knew it all, as indeed they could not
help but do, They had given the in
fuence of their name and position te
shield her until she could make an adj
vantageous, settlement. Even in the
matter Of her age he had been deceived
for she was eight years the oldest. .y.ia
"Bruce Harper rage then was some
thing that | don't care to see the like
7of again as long as I live.a He cursee
her and those who had aided her with
curses that ring in my ears sometimes
to this day, And then he left her.. Il
b "He would not live with her, even fol
a day; he did not apply for a divorce
and he forbade her ever to take his
name. Think she was afraid to- disc
bey him in this, for she has never as
sumed his name. But the tie between
them was legally binding and remains
unbroken. In law, she is his wife, anG
hn is q married. mon
+ Mrs. Clendenning drewa long breath
ssft sounds like story out of a nov,
el J" and then, woman-like, ts'Poor Chris
tine y -t...4f..d. et .df
All the next, day, "Poor Christine
watches. for some one who did not come
some one who,a all unknown to her
was fighting, alone in. his room, witt
doors bolted fast, the fercest battle o
his life. ,-s-s,et ,.J 9I.,af--.,..,dl ..s $.
Il There are some victories that are sad
der than defeats. ii Bruce Harper felt al
if this was one of them. 3 But as al
honorable man. there was but one course
left open to him--and honor mean
something where Christine Frost wa.
concerned. 9Gs a, Il sgeFslls. fyzaL
p He stopped in at Doctor Clenden
Fning's that evening on his way upit tn,
street. Mrs. Lydia was out, and h,
left a message for her. To Doctor Char
ley he said: i7.i9fus lsag sausst ..li3s'ia,
Il am going abroad again.. II cam,
to say goodbye" ,.a o3ni l,sijpd asa 30,
Is Charley Clendenning made answer:
- "God bless you, Bruce Harper, wher
ever you may 60. And Christine Frost?'
looking him steadily in the face.s 9Hssi
q shall see her tonight for the las
time" ,.ssi.s asg7Ie sitif vf bstfsss
My friend, Irtrembled for youAant
another, But you're a good man ant
true, Bruce, as you always wereD7'it b
"Pm trying to be-in this case. Blu
I find it hard, hard.p sl,5e e sF.l4.
They kissed each other like two wo
menthese men who had been close
friends for SO many years. Then Bruce
Harper went away - ~
At Mr.. Frost's he found Christine
waiting orshim He knew she woulc
be, and yet knowing it was for the las1
time, it gave him a pang to look at hel
as she stood there with her soft brown
hair blown all about her face, and ii
/ The tender eyes q look that mo othel
womans had ever worn for him. As
he watched her the thouglt came tc
1ff,< 80,