Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1870-12-24

presence AT home, and she prepared to depart o.
once. While she was at her packing, L saun-
tered into her chamber. "And when shall you
come sgsin?" questioned carelessly.
"Well, with the blue birds, perhaps. I'm
sorry can't stay with you till CoGsin Harold
gets back. You look dresdfully pale and W ak"
She went on folding her dresses, aud pres
ently she came TO her lsces and ribbons.
won't you smo0the out my laces, dear :?
che said, putting the box in my lap, Mamma
will scold IL she sees them In such a tumble
dear, there gees my jewel case"
And down it went, showering its bright con-
tents around my feet. Pearls, and rubies and
rings, and brooches, and, flashing like the tail OF
4 q comet, a spray of emeralds with a diamond
! solitaire in its center. caught it up in amazs
"why, Kathie," said, - Where did you get
this 9"
she flushed and stammered in utter con usion
90, didn't mean you should see that" size
half sUbbed, " Cousin Harold would be so angry
if he knew
q Did my husband give you that ?" L asked.
80, Aiine, dontbe angry" she entreated, sit
was no harm-he gave it to me for Christmas
gift, and told me not to let you know. know
IL was wrong to take it, but it was 80 pretty"
And then she threw her arms about me and
sobeed upon my shoulder. But put her from
at my heart sharper than death ITSELF He had
given IT to her, the gem so covetedi
At noon she went, and in the wane of the sf
ternoon L entered her chamber. There were
bits of ribbon and faded flowers strewn upon
the carpet, and amongst them the scraps of a
torn letter. picked one up and glanced over
it, scarcely knowing what did. IL was athie's
own writing.
"No, Harold Dayenant,p it ran, don't Ask
me to do that i cannot meet you in New York.
and yet, ., Harold, i love you; 1 love You, An.
God. why did she ever come between u.s.,
Standing there with the crumpled fragments
in my hand. saw through it all. Nv husband
was false to me. And then and there I took
my resolution never to look upon his face again.
The sunset OF another day found me at NV girl
hoods home, and in a week my uncle and I
sailed Tor Europe.
In Rome, the grand old city of the Csesar's.
with the murmur Of the Tiber in my ears, AMI
the soft Italian sunlight streaming through my
windows, my little babe was born, nv bow who
was worse than fatheriess. But despite our sor.
row and desolation, he grew and thrived. For
two years We wandered, We three, nv unc,e
and my self and our little one. and in All thar
time did not even hear my husbands mama
Then we returned to our native land and TO our
old home. There were letters in our agsn.,s
hands, one bearing fresh date, for myself,
"Come to me Aline, am dying" ran. "anj
L must see yoI-COme, Ills matter of life ard
death. Come, K.r4,u
i went down to her home amid the or.,,,
groves. She was gasping in Iife's last apouie.
when L entered her chamber, her pesrlv face
scorched with fever. her violet eyes sunken AMI
DIM She knew me in an instant and caught AZ
my hands eagerly.
''Aline, ," che painted - its almost too late m,
i must tell yOu-God will never forgive M
unless 1 do. 1 told you a fasehood: Co,.fo
Harold cid not give me that Emerald spray--he
got it for you, and had it when he came homo
that afternoon and found you i'll. In bis friv,,
he threw of his coat, and the casket fell from
the pocket. L found it, and the devil temntej
me to keep 1T. He searched for it eyerywhers
but would not let him know, hated him AMI
you, because 1 thought he loved me onca
and then you won him away from me. 20
Kept 1t, and, when he had gone, L told van !,
was my Christmas gift; then / wrote the lstt -
that you found torn on the floor. But il wasau
a ie-your husband was true to you: now Won
know all-will God ever forgive me, can Won
forgive me, Aline Q"
She died, with nv arms about her. and my
words of forgiveness in her ears. and then !
went back TO my bsbs. / dread even to think
OF the days, the months, the endless wears that
followed. advertised for my husband.
watched, prayed, waited; but he did not
come. Then took my boy and went back 10
the old sea-home. / found it just As he had Ieft
it. On the table in our bridal chamber. was a
letter, full of tender love, explaining eyerv-
thing, how he had lost the emeralds, and
grieved so because vas disappointed. With if
was an instrument of writing, which made me
mistress of all his wealth. M dear, true bus-
band, and had wronged him so. Should
never see his face again?
We settled down in the stately old home. INV
boy and 1, and day by day told him of his IA
ther, who would surely. surely come back tn M
one day. But spring followed 81 ring, the ponp
Of summer crowned the ocean heights, And
winter winds walled along the oesolate sand
reefs, and still We we're alone. ALI our praye,s
and tears seemed OF NO avail.
At last there came November night. Will
with etorm and darkness. The sky was like
ink, and tine thunder Of the surf, and the hoar,e
cry Of the sea, shook Our old home to its verv
foundations. soothed my boy to sleep, but ali
night long sat at the seward window listening
in agony TO the measured boom Of signal gun
far out at sea. Every throb OF this signal or
distress seemed TO strike my very heart-strinc-
and through the endless hours OF storm ami
darkness my fortunes were inexpressibla. AtIast
the morning broke. the winds lulled. the sea fe,
into sullen silence, and the red sun looked down
upon the CHASTITY remnants OF wreck, and upou
one white, dead face, lying cold AMI stark upon
the drenched sands. They brought him I'M To
the house, and old Christie and 1 set to vork
to bring back his life. The old woman had
lived by the sea for over three score wears
and understood the task we'll. I opened hi.
veet, and laid my hand above his heart, but n
was cold and still. In removing it, cana in
contact with something hard, which drew ont
Ii was q small mother Of-pearl miniature case.
L opened it, my eyes blinded by tears, as /
thought OF some far OIL loved one who must for
ever mourn his loss. A tress OF hair fell tn mv
feet, and there before me was my ovr fae. a
Wild hope thrilled through me. tore away hi.
sleeve, barring his stalwart arm to the elbov
There it was, the little crescent marked upon
the satin skin in India ink, with the initials OF
Lis name just below. For an instant lost my
reason, and the very earth seemed to slide from
beneath my feet, but the moment after raj
lied.
Christie" said, "this is Harold Dayenant
my husband, and your Old master, We must