The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1867-10-02

hold of her room, she started up with a
strength they thought had forsaken her
forever. and cried out, in a clear, loud
voice
~Yoa shall not take little Jane away
You cannot; the law gave her to me. %
sHeaven forbid that should take her
from you. came to see you. You and I
used to love each other once, Jane"
His voice had a quivering in it. His
eyes saw nothing but the dying woman on
her bed. I do not think either of them
knew that there was another soul in the
room.
81 know it, but you committed great
crime"
eyes, he said, sadly, 'sand you were al
ways so good.''
He meant the words in simple literal
ness, but she took them as irony.
81 know wasn't perfect" she said, ''but
I never did anything like that-any thing
to disgrace an honest name, and shame
every one who belonged to me. But did
love you, John. l think if I hadn't I
/ would not have taken it so hard. Twas
so proud. But some how, now I'm lying
here, can't feel as / used. believe I'm
ready now to forgive you; and it's the
first time in all these years.
John Holbrook was kueeling beside her
bed, sobbing passionately. He reached
out his hand and took hers into it, and
held it to his quivering lips.
go, Jane, do you mean it, sure and true?
Will you forgive me, just as if it had nev-
er happened?'' p
eyes, forgive you. Ineed forgiveness
too much myself to die with scom Or an
ger in my heart do forgive you; and
never stopped loving you, John, never for
one hour 1t was only my pride that was
so strong"
sBut you will live, Jane, you will get
better and live, now-for me, if you love
mc-for me-
81 wish could" she said, slowly, ''but
it's too late. 1 believe / began to die
seven years ago"
"And l killed you!" the words burst
from his lips-like wall of agony. She
drew nearer to him, and got her arm over
his shoulder.
"No, it wasn't you, John. 1t was my
own pride. If had been a true, Chris
tian woman should have lived, in the
hope to comfort you, some day, and do
you good. But it's too late now. Seeing
you has broughtme back from the very
jaws of death. / couldn't speak before
you came. But this won't last. ] know
that all the springs of life have failed"
"And you won't even die as my wife.
o, if could only mourn for you feeling
that you were mine.
eyes, I'd undo all that, if could.'
ayyill you-now? Will you let some
one marry us again-for the next world,
this time ?"
No young lover ever asked such ques-
tion half john Holbrood's passion OF plead
ng-thc entrcaty Of q soul that would
not be denied.
She had enough comprehension still OF
the world which she was leaving to feel
what this thing would he to him; and now
that the old tenderness had flowed back
into her heart like a full tide, she longed
to give him this proof of her lovc-makc
so much atoncmcnt to him before the
world for her dcsertion of him. Nothing
else would have kept her mp, for already
her eyes were glazing. Her very voice
was failing her again, as she answered.
eyes, JOHN, yes, but hurry"
With an cagerness like hope, if it had
not been so infinitely sad that it was al
most despair, John Holbrook got up and
sought DR.. Green, in the next room
where they-had all rctireo, lcaN ing thoSe
two, husband and wife once, quite alone,
save little Jane, whom no one noticed, and
who was kneeling at the beds foot, hear
ing everything, seeing everything, and be-
ginning to understand that this was her
own true father, come back after all the
long, sad years.
awe want some one,' John Holbrook
said, "priest or justice, whoever can be got
first, to marry us"
'I WILL" DR.. Green answered. at is
we'll to hasten things, and I hold com
mission as Justice of the peace"
So in three minutes more John Hol
hrook's wife of the old time was all bis