Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1869-04-29

lifted from her life like the mists
of the night, as the strong arms
closed around her again, and she
heard the familiar voice, speaking
rather to his own heart than to
her,
elbow can I ever atone for these
twenty years of wrong?"
Oblivious of the young people
waiting and wondering in the
next room-oblivious of all the
world but themselves, they looked
in each others eyes, and talked
fitfnlly for more than an hour;
but the reply to his first question
disclosed all we care to know.
"Who gave you that letter?'
"Mr. Jeremy. l did not know
what to do. 1t seemed so unlike
you to send to him, and not to
me direct, that I felt inclined to
doubt. But you were not quite
well when you left home, and Mr..
Jeremy was your most trusted
friend. So trusted, you remem-
Der, Robert, that you laughed at
me, as both vain and foolish, when
! had told you, some months be-
fore, that he seemed to be seeking
opportunity and encouragement
for culpable advances, and in very
shame / tried to persuade myself
that you must be right. And
then the thought that you and
Harry might be dying, among
strangers, a thousand miles from
me, wrung my heart; and, fol-
lowing my first impulse, l started
to go to you on the same day he
gave me the letter. 1t was the
second day out before he threw off
the mask. At first l affected not
to understand him, and tried to
laugh; but that only encouraged
him. Then I repulsed him, and
threatened to appeal to the Cap
tain Of the steamer for protection.
But he taunted me with my help
less and equivocal position; and
finally, in his anger and chagrin,
he threw off all disguise, and told
me that the letter he had given
ME was written by himself, and
that he had spared no pains to
commit me irrevocably to his for
tunes, and with devilish maligni-
ty, he even showed me copy, a
true one as | found afterwards, Of
an article which he had sent to
the press, and which he assured
me had then Eeen circulated
throughout the city. Twas crushed,
but not conquered. | did appeal
to the Captain, who placed me on
the first westward-bound steamer
we met, and within five days af-
ter I started away, l was at home
again. But it was home no lon
ger. saw Mr.. Gage, and he told
me of all you had done, but was
slow to believe what | had to tell.
We have tried repeatedly to learn
your whereabouts; but beyond the
cold courtesy of the bank officers
at St. Louis we could never pene-
trate. You guarded your secret
well.
"With the little money you left
with me, added to what Mr.. Gage
generously advanced me, ] lopened
this little shop. God prospered
me abundantly, and here I have
remained ever since. In my in
most heart l kneae you would
come back again some time; and
l have never closed my eyes
in sleep without praying God to
spare me to see this day. And
now that day has come. Oh, hus-
band-dear husband! the past is
buried out of sight, and we are
young again!"
els Mr.. Gage still living p?
sf'No; he died five years ago
but his sons have succeeded to bis
business. Several years ago the
lots where we lived were covered
by huge business houses, built BY
Mr.. Gage. The rents paid fol
them long ago, and, since then
neithes father nor sons would take
dollar of their proceeds, but have
regularly deposited them in q sa
wings bank, to the credit of ''little
Harry" as they always would cal
him. Of course, / would not
touch them without your consent
Twelve years ago my cousin Hel
en- died, and left me her fve-year
| old civil Vo,, caxv hor in thn from