The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1868-08-21

/ mood in which this uukuOWn HAisiOA
time had surprised her.
& And YOU love me?" he continued f;
~ know you love me, and will brave
for my sake. Margaret, we must
She did not scream nor faint; she
did not echo his words, or exclaim at
the straugeness of their import; but
one thought possessed her-that her
husband had lost his senses, and so
entirely was this fear portrayed upon
her speaking features, that John
Hartley read it at glace.
No, Meg, am not mad / have all
my senses now, though God only knows
how long / may retain them. Turn
your eyes away-look anywhere blu!
at me, and will try to tell you all. "
She turned them instinctively to-
wards the half-closed door. But the
next moment she tore herself from
her husbands embrace, and pointed
to the passage In alarm.
Johnl 1 saw am sure L saw
some one there" she gasped family
some one moving In the dusk. VINO
Is it? Who can have business mere
with you and me
ar have" said a voice, the mem
orv of which years had not obliter-
ated from her mind; and an in
| other second the door was roughly
pushed open, and on the threshold
stood the figure of her late husband,
of the man whom she had supposed
to be at the bottom of the sea-Of
Robert Nelson.
AS he made his appearance, John
Hartley instinctively moved to the
side of his wife, and placed his arms
around her for support, but Margaret
neither needed his action nor himself.
She was standing as though she had
been turned to stone, gazing with
widely dilated eyes on the new conner.
Well, you don't seem disposed to
give me much Of a welcome, Mrs.
Nelson" he exclaimed, greeting
her surprise with a hoarse laugh;
but perhaps | should have written
first to announce my coming,
Only, you see, three years spent In
the galIeys on the coast of Morocco,
| during which we were MT allowed pen
and ink and postage stamps to COM
municate with our friends, makes a
man feel as if no time should be
wasted before he let's his wife know
that he's returned to his lawful duty.
Very sorry to cut up fun, of course,
but you seem to have been amusing
yourselves during my absence; so |
think it's my turn now" And with
a malicious leer on his face, he ap-
proached Margaret's side. as though
to take her from her present hus
bands arms. But she only shrank
closer into them, and whispered
family
How did you hear this, John2
Who told it your"
He stopped to answer her, until his
/ cold lips touched her forehead.
" L was returning to our home, dear
est--ahl with a shudder) what a
happy home it has been when this
man followed and accosted me. At
first [ did not recognize him; when /
did, thank God that in my grief and
despair did not harm him"
But how has it all happened,
John? Tell me plainly, for [ can
hardly think or understand"
Part Of the crew of the wrecked
Mary Jane, Margaret, who put off in
the long boat, in hopes of reaching
land in safety, were driven towards
the coast of Barbary, and there taken
prisoners. For the last three years
they have been working in the galleys
there, Robert Nelson amongst the
number, and were only set free a
month or two ago by the aid of an
English exploring party.
Now, parsonl" exclaimed Robert
Nelson, as he approached the wretch
ed pair, can't waste any
more time here, whilst you are spin.
ming yarns to my wife; | shall have
plenty of opportunities to tell her
| everything she may want to know con-
corning myself; and as | wish to gel
to my destination tonight, the sooner
she makes herself ready to go with
me the better"
AS he uttered the last words q
piercing shrek burst from Margaret'S
| lips.
SEQ with vour' she exclaimed
Leave my husband to return ty you
NeUer! will perish first"
But, as it happens, missus, yoJ
won't be allowed to choose betwix
u.s." said Robert Nelson. You be
long to me, and with me you mus
go,-there's no question about that, =
and I'm not sure that | can't prose
cute the parson for having bagged yor
as soon as ever my back was turned
1t was a dirty trick TO play any man
and if | can make him smart for it,
will Meanwhile, | snail take my
own again"
"Johnl Johnp' said she, in low
, despairing voice, which yet entreate,
! him to deny the others statement.
90 -
+ must part. o Margaret I'd give a.
! / possess except my hope for the flu
: ture" he said, with Il solemn look in hi
: sad eyes, to undo what we hav
! done; but that is impossible. w
erred in ignorance, and the sin is eve
y now forgiven US. But parting, MAJ
. garet, is worse than death"
! Keep me with you, John; don
let him take me away. cannot go.
I How can / keep you, little one?
q he answered, fondly. You are m
: wife. Margaret; | shall always thin
, of you as such; but l have no legt
right over you now, and, were Robel
Nelson to give up his claim, we sti
/ must henceforth be nothing to eac
!. other.
0 Nothingr" she cried. in a burst
e vehement passion. Nothing-wit
has to bind u.s." holding out I'll
!? sleeping infant at the full length
her arms.
s John Hartley gazed upon it for
h moment, and then, with groa
{. turned away and buried his face
e his hands.
e Now, Meg" exclaimed Robe
IS Nelson, laying his hand roughly o
h her arm, and bringing his dreade'
a bearded visage in dangerous pro,
unity to her own, stop all this pa
. vering and make ready to come wit