Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1868-01-18

beside my lover, and reaching up, took |
hold of his arm.
elf the whole world should go against
you, Arthur, am yours all the same.
I said, resolutely.
saw his eyes flash tIiumphantly,
and he took tight hold of my hand,
though he answered nothing.
" Leave us, Bretna," Cousin Rich
said at last. eve shall do better
alone
s'You will not hurt each other?" /
said entreatingly, looking IN fear from
one lowering face to the other.
'sNo, no. Come IN here, De-Neres.
They went into the parlor, and 1
turned back to the library.
For a full hour paced the floor in
an agony of fear and dread. t p
What we're they saying? Why had
nv lovers face blanched at this mex
peeted meeting, or why should he fear
the presence of my man
/ asked myself these questions a
hundred times, while my breath came
quick and short, and the blood flew
through my veins.
Perhaps 1 could not be his lawful
wife This might be the dreadful Sc
cret which Rich had somewhere STUN
bied npOn. / shuddered and grew
cold 10 cJuld never be true though.
Surely he loved me too we'll to lead me
| to such a brink as that. Aud how
had loved himl If only this sin did
not lie at his door, wonld be his in
spite of any thing. or any body. Who
knew? Perhaps / could save his H.
ture.
After what seemed an eternity,
Cousin Rich came in.
His face was still lowering.
''This man, he began, but stopped
him with the to me dreadful question,
Can he make me his true wife p
''Yes. Good God, Bretna Even he
would not have dared the law like
that.
sThen must marry him, said de-
terminedly, feeling strong again with
this terrible dOubt removed.
"He il a -"
"You shall not say it p L cried
springing forward aud throwing up my
arms before him. ''Go and leave rs
Whatever he is, you have come too late
to part us. / will save him If i can
If not, we will go down together.
Poor Cousin Rich / knew little
enough what L was saying, or what
was doing, when / would not listen tC
his warning. Many an hour afterwaro
remembered, and had bitter occasion
to recall that summers evening, and
the kindly hand which was thrown on
to save me, but which l would no
take.
1t was not his fault that went blind
ly to my fate; but since / was deter
mined to go the way al all events,
suppose it was as well to walk witt
closed eyes, since the way is pleasant
to one that can not see the fire ahead
or hear the cracking flames which must
scorch him by and by.
Arthur De We're and were married
before the autumn trees took on theil
gorgeousness, and we Immediately went
to New York to live.
The first year of our welded life
convinced me that Cousin Rich had
been wholly mistaken, and cruelty I'm.
Just to the man was glad and proud
20 call my husband. Harsh as / knew
him to be naturally, he was the essence
of kindness to me, careful and tender
in his words, thoughtful of my wants,
anticipating ana gratifying them be
fore they was expressed-he was q
lover after, as well as before our mar
riage.
he never referred to the singular
meeting with Cousin Rich by so much
as a word, and as he knew that 1 trust
ed him fully and feared nothing, we
were happy.
When cold weather came sgain, the
shadow of my old doubts and dread
returned in this wise. At this tim,
Arthur's business-what it was Meth
er knew nor cared-kept him away
from home for night or two occasion
ally; and after such absences he woulC
return with the most incomprehensible
gladness upon his face, and in reply tC
my anxious inquiries would answer
cheerfully:
81 am well, Bretna, and no one car
saw l am not happy with such GLAD
face as yours to greet me-" But spite
of his cheerful tones the troubled lool
did not leave his brow.
When our little May came, / was toe
happy to notice any thing unpleasant
and had almost convinced myself that
it had been my imagination, when this
little incident opened my eyes.
Our little girl was old enough to be-
gin to know her father, and to smile al
his coming, when one night Arthur
came home, and, hurrying up the stairs,
went In where the child lay in her crib.
At sight of him, she threw up her lit
tie arms and with cry of baby Joy,
and a happy smile upon her lips, made
signs that she wished TO be taken.
The room was little dark, and Ar
thur did not notice me, sitting at the
farther end of it, though 1 could see
every motion of his face.
He went up eagerly to the crib, and
putting out his arms, seemed about to
take the child; then suddenly drawing
back, sank upon his knees and cried
out:
80 God forgive me that this limo
cent should be cursed with such faith
erp'
/ was terrified, and not daring to LEI
him knO that 1 had been a witness to
this singular. abandonment, slipped out
and left them alone.
From that time was on the alert to
ferret ont the skeleton at our board.
For my child's sake / felt that must
see beneath the veil which hid my hus-
bands heart, and know the truth.
If he would only confide in me
enough to tell his dreadful story, what
ever 1T was, / would try TO help him.
But not word came from his lips
Cautiously and carefully, as a hunted
man moves among his foes, he went out