The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1869-11-12
FRONT STREET, FREMONT. 0.

there was something in my heart I
must keep hidden from his sight Il
has been terrible, terriblel Then there
has been a constant dread Of discovery
the sword of Damocles, hanging By
hair.
81 thought that when other children
should be borne to US, and 1 should see
his own babies in bis arms, the spell
would be broken. But you know how
it was, Wallace and Ethel were nothing
to him compared with Clyde. Was i
a part Of my punishment that the child
had imposed upon him should be
dearer to him than ours-his and mine!
''And then they died. If could but
throw myself at his feet and tell him
all! Doctor, doctorp she cried, turn-
ing her white face toward me, ''What
shall | dol what may 1 dol cannot
bear this torture"
OH it was piteous! the imploring
eyes; the eager voice; the outstretched,
wasted hands Was right or wrongl
1t was hard question to decide. But
this is what l said to her:
"'Silenee Is golden, dear child.
You took this burden upon yourself.
You have borneit bravely thus far. God
will help you to bear it to the end"
Z" may not tell himl Is this Waat
you think? Speak to me in Gods
stead, my friend, and I will do your
bidding"
" think, " l said, speaking slowly
and steadily, for was weighing nv
words, "that you have no right to make
Dudley Randolph suffer for your fault.
Confession will not undo the past. It
will not restore the wasted years. You
gave Clyde to him as his own son. He
has received him as such-loved him
as such. Death has taken away his
other children. Do not you take Clyde.
You have no right to do it."
Tears were stealing from under her
closed lashes.
''But think !" she whispered, che will
know it some-up yOndsr! And then,
how could bear to meet his question.
ing, upbraiding glance P
He will know ali then" 1 said:
''the early error, the temptation, the
agony, the weary burden you bavs
borne so long. Dudley Randolph will
be mereiful and so will God"
She smiled family.
go now" she said, ''for I must rest.
But come again tomorrow"
1 paused a while in the next room
to give some directions to her maid.
and then went out into the dusky
twilight Hand in hand over the brow
of the hill, where the sunset gold still
fingered, come Mr.. Randolph and
Clyde; and deeply pondering this
strange history that had been revealed
to me that day, l made my way home
ward.
The next morning I was at the Elms
again. Mrs. Randolph received me
with smile.
"God has given me absolution," she
said. He has sent me a token through
Dudley's lips, that 1 may be at peace
the remainder of my days. Last night
we were sitting here in sileuee-mv
husband and when suddenly he
turned and took me in his arms.
"'YOu have been such a loving. ten.
der, faithful wife, he said. God bless
you, Isabel, for all you have been 10
me, for all you have given me. But
next to your love, your most precious
gift to me has been-Clyde. For him
thank God and his mother every dav
of my ife.'
"GOd and bis mothsrl A sweat
peace sank down upon her soul. Twas
at rest, Now we viii never speak Of
this again. We viii bury our secret
deep, and roll stone to the door ~
the sepulchre."
Mrs. Randolph fingered with US for
many quiet happy, restful months.
Inc i,E buried secret troubled her no more
When she died, the gates Of heaven
we're opened to US who waited round
her bed, and we caught faint glimpses
of the glOries there.
Dudley Randolph and his son Clyds
are yet alive.
But as for me, I have no desire ever
'g@u to play the part of a father coufes-
ior.