The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1869-12-24
CHAPTER y-CoNrNuEp.

CHAPTER V-CoNTNuED.
Have YOU forgotten what we agreed on,
Godfrey, when YOU spoke TO me In the
country We agreed that we were to be
cousins. and nothing more
Il break tho agreement, Rachel, every
time see you.'
Then don't sec me-
Quite useless! I break the agreement
every time think Of you. Oh, Rachel,
how kindly you told me. only the other
day, that my place in your estimation was
n higher place than II had ever been yet!
Am I mad to build the hopes do on
those dear words? Am i mad to dream
of some future day when your heart may
soften 10 me? Don't tell me so, If am!
Leave me my dslnsion. dearest! / must
have that to cherish, and to comfort me, If
have nothing else" -,
His voice trembled, and he put his white
handkerchief 10 his eyes. Exeter Hall
again! Nothing wanting to complete the
parallel but the audience, the cheers anu
the glass Of water.
Even her obdurato nature was touched:
saw her lean little nearer to him
heard new tone Of interest in her next
words. ....
.AIe you really sure, Godfrey, that you
are rs fond Of me rs that? :,
Sure You know what was, Rachel.
Let me tell YOU what 1 am. have lost
every interest in life. but my interest IN
YOU. A transformation has come over
me which can't account for, myself.
Would YOU believe its My charitable
business is an uncomfortable nuisance 10
me; and when see Ladies' Committee
now. wish myself at the uttermost ends
of the earth y
IL the annals Of apostacy offer any thing
comparable TO such declaration as that,
can only say that the case in point IS not
producible from the stores OF my reading
1 thought of the Mothcrs'-Small-Clothes.
I thought of the Sunday-Swectheart SUI
peryision. I thought Of the other Socie-
ties, too numerous To mention, all built
upon this man rs on n tower OF strength.
/ thought Of the struggling Female Boards
who, SO to speak. drew the breath OF their
busipess-life through the nostrils of MIR.
Godfrey-of that same Mr.. Godfrey who
had lust roviled our good work as "nui.
sance"-and Just declared that he wished
he was nj the uttermost ends oil the eartf
when hs found himself in our company
Nv Young female friends will feel encour-
aged TO pcrseyere, when i mention that II
tried even my discipline before 1 could
devour my own righteous Indignation IN
silence. At the same time, II Is only JUS
ticc to myself to add. that didn't lose
SYLLABLE of the conversation. Rachel was
the next to speak.
You have made your confession she
said; Il wonder whether IL would cure
YOU Of your unhappy attachment to me.
if made mine?
He started. confess started too. He
thought, and I thought, that she was
about to diyulgc the mystery of the Noon
stone.
Would You think. to look at me- she
went on, that am the wretchedest cir
iiyinc3 It's true. Godfrey. What great
or wrctchedness can there be than to live
degraded in your own estimation? Thai
is my life now
.My dear Rachel! it's impossible you
can have any reason to speak Of yourself
i'm that wayH
How do you know I have no reason'
Can YOU ask me the question! know
II, because / know you. Your silence
dearest, has never lowered you IN the cs'
timation of your true friends. The disap
pearance of your precious birthday gii'
NAV seem strange; your unexplained con
nection with that event may seem str'in'
ger still
Are you speaking of the Moonstonc,
Godfreyp
Il certainly thought you referred
Il referred to nothing Of the sort.
can hear of the loss Of the Moonstone, le'
who will speak of il. without feeling de-
graded in my own estimation. If the
story Of the Diamond ever comes To light
IL will be known that accepted dread
fi,l responsibility; Il will be known that
involved myself In the keeping OF mis-
enblc secret-but twill be as clear us th'
sun at MONDAY that did nothing mean
You have misunderstood me, Godfrey
It's my fault for not speaking more plain
|. Cost me what il may. will bc palmer
now. Suppose you were not in love with
mep Suppose You were in love with Other
woman?'
.Ycsr
Suppose you discovered that woman to
be utterly unworthy Of you9 Suppose YOU
were quite convinced that il was dis
grace TO YOU 10 waste another thought on
her? Suppose the bare idea Of ever mar
rying such person made your face burn
only with thinking Of itr
.Yesr
And. suppose. in spite Of all that-you
couldn't tear her from your hcart-sup-
nose tho feeling she had reused In you Gin
the time when you believed in her) was Il
feeling not to be bidden-suppose the love
this wretch had inspired in you-oh. how
can I find words to say IL In! How can
make a n.an understand that u feeling
which horrifes me nj myself can be
feeling that fascinates me at the same
time, It's the breath of my life, Godfrey
and It's the poison that kills mc-both In
one! Go away! l must be out Of my
mind To talk rs I am talking now. No!
YOU mustn't leave me-you mustn't carry
away u wrong impression. must say
what Is to be said In my own defense.
Mind this! Hs doesn't know-he never
will know, what have told you. will
never see him-I don't care what hap
pcns-I will never. never. never see him
again! Don't ask me his name! Don't
ask me any more! Let's change the sub
iect. Are You doctor enough, Godfrey
TO tell me why feel as II 1 was sitting
for want Of brsaths Is there form ol
Mysteries that bursts into words instead ol
tears' dare say! What does il matter
You viii get over any trouble have
rxpsad xrs, oss;lx, snossoh now have