The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1870-01-14

I could not feel angry with her. If I suf-
fered in the loss Of her affection, was not
she suffering alsol just then I disliked
Richard II. Wickham more intensely han
ever.
That afternoon we took n walk along the
cliffs. Molly was quite in spirits, pointing
out to me the sea gulls as they flew slowly
toward us, bringing the twilight along with
them. 10 was a beautiful evening; aud
when the sun had disappeared, the after
glow had q singular radiance. / can never
forget tho walk home. We we're both very
silent; but Molly crept up to me, snd nest
led her hand into my arm. Alb, me! just
as her mother always did.
As l vent to sleep that night, I told my
self It was ouly n question Of time; Molly
would forget Wickham, and be her own
sunny self again.
The next morning brought a telegram
l had TO start at once for London on busi-
ness of too profitable a nature to be neg.
lected.
"You will follow me later in tho day." /
said.
go, may 1 not stay here till the end of
our week p she said. II want to stay o
little longer"
l was surprised but I reflected that as
this was Thursday, I could come down
again on Saturday, and return with Molly
to London OF the Monday after. In such
lovely weather il seemed selfish to take her
back to hot and smoky London.
For a moment, and while | said good
bye to Molly, 1 had felt q strange unwill
ingness 70 leave her; but this passed away,
and on Saturday 1 started early, with a
bagfnl Of new magazines for my darling. q
You have guessed already what | am go.
ing to tell. When 1 reached our lodging,
Molly was there no longer; she had gone
u that morning for her walk as usual,
but she had left in my bedroom a letter for
me.
She married wickLam the day before.
There Is not mach more to tell. At FIRST
thought / was almost broken-hearted, /
al ctod sternness, aud said ! would not
zee Molly. But ! could not hold out long;
and one day, when she cropt softly into my
pa%iuting-room, aud begged me TO forgive
her, made us good friends again. After
oll, she had acted like a noble-hearted
woman. But l never could forgive Wick.
ham. though l tried to be kind to him.
The end came soon enough. A whisper,
nc FIRST not. credited, then disputed, and
finally noised abroad, destroyed my son.in.
laws credit, and made the story Of his
youth the thsme Of public talk.
lilo tried to ince It, to live il down; but
he could not. For o time Molly held her
head up proudly, and seemed unmoved By
the avoidance OF her friends and the change
in her husbands position; she seemed to
cling yet more to him in the face Of
his disgrace. But the blow told inwardly.
When she found that her husband gave NJ
the hope Of c%onqueriug public opinion in
England, her courage sank. 'If he would
only brave it," she said one day but tbi,
was all. She made no complaint but the
light faded from her eyes, and sho grew
weaker daily.
"God bless you, father" sho said, III,
day they sailed for Melbourne. "You dc
served a better child"
Il seems 20 mo often that l hear thost
words, spoken in the sweet gentle voice
that I SEQ the wistiul yearning look on IN,
Molly's face. My Molly whom 1 can new
eg see here again so long as Wiokhan
lives, and 1 dare not wish tor my darling.
sorrow. She says her husband is good t.
her and l try to be content; but spite o
her self-devotion, it seem 10 me that some
thing is wanting in her life over the sea.
TiRSley'S N1g"siHe.