Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1870-05-12

NY NWh hINhN0' oCS5CN hiiA NV
to hunt me down as a fugitive; but
leave me to follow the bent of my
inclination. put the note upon
his table, and then went out from
the home, where my life had been
so happy. In less than a week, my
father and | we're on our way to
Europe.
At the expiration of two wretch
ed years we returned; and | learn
ed from our lawyer that my hus-
band had sailed for China, first
making over to me, in fee simple,
for his real estate He never, so the
lawyer said, expected to return. l
went to Swan's-Nest. Everything
was unchanged. The rooms we're
just as l had left them. My hus.
band would not let them be touch
ed the housekeeper said. "Had she
ever heard from him Z" / asked
"0nly once" she replied, "and then
the letter contained another; it was
on my dressing table" / went for
it myself, and read it, sitting there
in our old room.
"Violet," it began, "you must
pardon this intrusion. 1t will be
the last, for, ih all human probabil-
ity, the disease that now consumes
me will soon give me grave in
foreign land. But there are few
things ] wish to say before l die
l was wrong not to'explain all to you
from the first. But l desired to
spare you what you might consider
a disgrace. l thought you could
aud would trust me. 1t was my
sister you saw. She was vain and
frivolous, and eloped with profit
gate. The marriage was illegal, and
Ethel was disgraced; she came TO
me for help. could not refuse
her. l was taking her to a safe
asylum when / was absent that
night. You understand it all now,
Don't be troubled, dear, but forget
me, and be happy. My sister is
dead now, and l have not, l fear,
long to live. God bless you dear!
In heaven all these wrongs will be
For two years / lived alone at
Swans Nest-two years of mex
pressible agony; then the news
camel A steamer, homeward bound
from Calcutta, was lost, and Horace
Reade was one of the passengers.
That was the death of hope!
Another year dragged by One
sweet May evening | strollel down
to the sea shore. The sun was set
tingin cloudwaves ofgold and pur-
pie, and a full moon came up,
flooding the great sea, and the long
stretch of glittering sand, with mis-
ty splendor. The tide rolled in
with a low, musical murmur. l sat
down on the rock.
Far out upon the bar a stately
vessel swung at anchor, and little
boat from it was coming in. l
watched the tiny craft with a kind
of a fascination. Presently it gra-
ted on the sand, and a man sprang
ashore.
A wild, nameless hope took shape
in my heart. | arose and tottered
blind and halfunconscious.
The instant after a strong arm
clasped me.
Hooked up into the face above
me. 1t was wan, and worn, and
changed by suffering, but | knew it
IN an instant.
"Oh, Horace! my husband" !" |
cried "forgive me-"
Then I felt his tears upon my
,hcek, his kisses on my lips. The
lappy world drowned in the splen-
lor of the spring sunset, faded out,
md l sunk into his arms insensi-
Die.
1t is all over, the remorse, the
the aching pain +! We
i've at Swans. Nest, my dear for
giving husband and myself.
II had engaged my passage" he
said, "in the steamer that was
ost. But l fell i'll, and could not
come then; and that sickness has
'estored me to you, thank Cod"
| thank Him also, daily and
lourly, for this undeserved, this
perfect bliss.