The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1870-04-29


, l stole past the kitchen window
, and into the house. All dark anC
r silent on the lower floor. Only a
the end of the hall, in a little room
called mine, saw the glimmering o.
lamp. l went toward it l pushed
the door further ajar and looked in
Z In the middle of the room, upon
the floor, sat Maria. Nep stood he
side her, and her face was hidden in
his shaggy coat. Both arms were
about his neck, and she was talking
to him. l listened.
"Oh, Nep" she sobbed. 1T can't
be true, can it? The blue eyes shut,
and the fair hair all wet and dark at
J the bottom Of the sea? The voice
! dumb, and the greater heart still, {?
! It's a dream, Nep! He'll come back
yet! 1t is a wicked lie, NepT
The dog gave a sort of low moan.
l listened still. "Oh nor l heard
her say. "Its folly to hope. You
are happier than I, Nep. He loved
lyOu and he cared nothing for me.
He patted you on the head when YOU
lparted. He left me with a sneer.
He didn't know I loved him as well
as you, Nep, though not so humbly.
IOh Paul! Paul! can you be dead?
You, my life, my love, my darlingr'
She sprang to her feet, wringing
her hands. Ipushed the door wider.
The creaking of the hinges startled
he; she turned and screamed.
I"Oh, PAUL. Paul.
Then the red blood flushed to her
face, and her voice rang ont.
"You? 1 thought it ghost. So
you are not drowned? Reserved for
another fate which shall be name
less. hope you are content, now
you've nearly frightened mamma to
death. Go and report yourself at
once, Sir
| Go? Nay, no place for me but at
her feet, L knelt there humbly.
] caught her hand 1 kissed it. Her
dark face grew proud and cold.
You shall not pretend to hate me
any longer" l said. 1T is useless,
Maria; have been beside the door
too long"
And heard a little play acted for
your benefit she answered. Il
heard you coming, and-Yes, Sir 1
did-don't insult me by doubling
that"
She broke down and burst into
tears. She struggled passionately,
but 1 held her tight. Humbled by
her humiliation, told her all. My
love, my longing, my pain at her
GOODNESS. The anguish, the belief
that she cared nothing for me had
| given me so long. And at last the
struggle ceased, the head dropped
low upon my shoulder, and l held
Maria to my heart, and kissed her
fondly, for she was mine, aud 1 hers
until death parted US.
| Then she left me to break the
news of my safe return to the old
people.
| Those who had been saved had
told Of the fate Of the other boat,
and there was no need of my telling
the truth to Ben's mother. had
only to tell her where his body lay
Those were sad days tor me despite
of my own happiness. But they
passed, and were half-forgotton, as
other woes may be so quickly be-
fore her bridesmaid duties being
over, Nina came to us from the city
She saw Maria and myself walking
hand in hand and smiled. An houl
after, when the girls had been shut
up together in their room, she came
to me.
I'm so glad, Paul" she said.
"Thank you, darling"
1T is most for Mraia' sake. | knew
, she loved you, Pau"
E 'Did she tell you so?'
NO; she tell l saw it.
"And never spoke to me.
paul, one woman's secret should
be holy to another, and 1 neve-
J lguessed you loved her"
: And so that girl Of sixteen haG
read the heart Of the other girl o
sixteen, had read the heart of the
girl Alright while it was a blank to
me; and the two had kept the secret
that was my very life from me, not
Guessing mine.
: And seeing each other daily w
; had yet only looked upon masse ia
: ces, and, taking love for hate anC
price for scorn, had worked our
selves much i'll, and grieYed wheI
we might have joyed for all thes
days, months, and years.
l thought Of that when / mex
took Maria's hand in mine. 1 though
J. of it when 1 stood with her at III
I alter. I think of it often now, thougl
, l have called her wife so many year
: that, looking out upon the lawn,
} see a younger Mira walking with he
! lover in the twilight Maria VIII
calls my Maria "mother."