The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1870-01-14
Holt looked up and saw all Ia Az

for there is the sound of cataract in
my ears that deafens me r
And he fell in swoon at Astley's
feet.
He might have died in it for all Asst.
ley could revive him. He stood blind.
ly staring at the pale face, but was in.
capable Of SO much as holding out q
hand to him.
Holt came to himself before long
and, rising up haggard and wild, re-
peated his demand that Ashley should
tell him where he had met his wife.
And he did tell him, sparing moth.
ing saying plainly out that she had
been brought to him by the body.
snatchcrs as q subject that she had
lain as dead upon his table for night
sheeted and shrouded like a corpse.
"And you dared" burst in Holt
who was almost beside himself.
81 saved her life, said Ashley, gent
~ ; be had softencd as he thought oI
that restoration. "Will you come
with me to the grave that we may be
very gure?'
"So, no, no." Holt moaned ; the
fury was passing away, and giving
place to dull sorrow. II can bear
no more. 1t Is certain, more certain
than death, that your wife Is mine
God help us T.
Which Of the men was tho most t.
be pitied?
There were some moments Of horri
bic silence, in which each heard tn,
beating Of his heart, Ike a heavy drum
Holt spoke again
ASK Edith to come here. Surcl,
she cannot have forgotten me-"
Mary call her Mary. Il vii
only distress her. | give you my wore
Of honor that she has no memory o
anything before the trance"
But when be saw the passion il
Holt's facehc judged it best for hi
sake that she should come. Since Il.
chose to hear from her own moutl
what he had refused to believe from
his friends, he should do so.
She came quickly at the sound O
the loved voice, and glided in th,
room, looking like an angel of peac,
between two evil spirits. She stoppec
short as she caugh. sight Of Ashley
face all drawn and set with the efTor
TO suppress his emotion, and thel
threw her arms around his neck with
cry Of love and terror.
But he .unwound her arms, and 70
the first time drew back from her EN-
brace.
MARY, my ylove"-Holtis eyes flash
cd fire at the tender words and tone
tell Mr. Holt If you remembe
anything in your life before you awok
from your trance in this house ?"
II do not. she said Il remembe
nothing. / have said it SO man
times.
Swear it, cried Holt.
II swear it, she said, tfby my hus
band, Richard Ashley"
Poor Holtl He threw himself a
her feet, clasping her knees, and cry
ing passionately:
"Oh, Edith have you forgotten me
your husband, David Holt? Oh, m
darling. you must remember me, an
how happy we were for that short tw
years."
But she broke from his grasp, an
threw herself into Astley's arms, CRY
ing out:
"Send him away What does b
mean? Send him away r She wa
II ale and trembling with terror.
Let her gov' shouted Holt, &C
by"
The oath was interrupted by Astley
"Holt, God knows / will try to d
what IS right, and for her sake I as
you to be calm" he placed her in
chair where she sat weeping for ver
fright, and went on:
'You shall say all you can to brin
the past to her memory, and if she ca
remember in the faintest degree, WI
give up my claim to yours But If 81
does not-oh, Holt, saved her life
The struggle was an awful ore, an
shook him as the wind shakes o reet
"You tell her, said Holt, bitterly
perhaps she viii believe what yc
say. At any rate she will listen to it
1t was hard to begin the cruel tasl
yet for her sake he undertook it, b
voice trembling, though he tried Wi
all his will to steady it.
"Mary, love, listen. You kno
that you must have lived twenty yea
; before you were brought here tn
night. -
II do not know" she said ; ct co
not remember"
/, But it must have been SO, for y,
! were a woman then
CT cannot understand, she repe;
! ed. 81 have no recollection of a
| thing before that time.
/ Ashley turned to Holt with look
agony ''You see how it is; let
a end this torture"
: "Give me back my wife |" said Ho
: iercely.
: "You will not take her, Astl
!, cried, as the thought of his doing
: against her will struck him for the fl
time.
Il "She is mine, said Holt. $50 {
tell her the whole story. If she dc
: not understand it, she will believe
r when you tell it to her. The sn'
s. with which the words were spoken Y
I a cruel one, but misery had made b
! cruel, and he scarcely knew what
, said or did.
le And Ashley told her all in q |
words. She looked bewildered.
d 1T must be true if you say SO,
% I cannot recollect; and oh, Ashley
ID love only you"
ldl s.sShe must come with me- shou
rw