The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1871-06-22
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"Yes. I will"

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Rivers Doctor Stanton came aud stood
beside Ter. Their eyes met IN long
questioning, troubled gase-then bssh
turned to the dying man.
lie raised himself up a little, re-
garding them earnestly.
"Ilsther-Willa,d Staaton-do you
remember a summer afternoon, two
years ago 7-the afternoon Of the day
before you parted Z"
Esther trembled from head to foot
but did not speak. DR.. Stanton an
swered in . low tone.
~ remember"
II overheard part Of the conversation
that day, though neither of you eus-
pected it. Esther was beautiful-and
better than that, wealthy. I had lost
my tortune-sambled it away At Badea
and had determined to Win and mar.
~ Esther. was not disposed to fore
go my plan even when heard from
her own lips that she loved you. 81
the next day I sent Min. out here With
a contrived story"
'It was contrived, then p brcze il
Esther.
eyes, pure fabrication from begin.
ning to end. I question whether WIZ.
lard Stanton ever saw Nina before this
night. I was her evil genius, poor girl:
and the child was mine."
Esther threw up her hands with
gasping, smotbered cry, and sank on the
carpet at my feet. For the first
time in her life, she had tainted. I
bent to raise her head, but DR.. Stanton
was before me. Lifting her lightly in
his strong arms, he carried her to a
room in distant part OF the house,
preceded by..Mr. Rivers, who begged
me as Esthers most trusted friend, to
come With them. The rest delicatelJ
RETAINED from following.
1t vss many minutes before she could
be reused from that deathly swoon-
and before she opened her eyes I had
repeated to DR.. Stanton the strange
| story she had told me in my room in
| the hotel At Paris. "He played deep
game; but Providence has frustrated it.
Thank you, Mrs. Hayse, for telling me
| this. It makes everything clear" His
eyes asked silent question, aud Mr.
Rivers gave silent answer-not less
satisfactory because it was silent. And
when at last Esther drew long breath
and opened ber unconscious eyss, tbs
father stepped aside and yielded bis
place to the lover.
We, at the farther end Of the room,
saw the look that leaped into her fass
when she recognized the man bending
above her, heard the word that futterea
over her white lips-"Willa: !"
"You'llnever forgive me, Willard, for
believing that woman's story"
He did not wait for her to finish
gathered her suddenly close into his
arms and kissed her
"You loved me once, Esther. Shall
We 20 back aud take up our love story
! where we left it p
! The face that lay against his breast
was lifted once-lifted till her mouth
| touched his, and that was her answer.
"Mr. Mayne is DYING" said servant,
in low, awestruck tones. "He would
like to see you ALL"
II bad forgotten him-how selfish I
have been," whispered Esther.
The dying man smiled as he saw them
come IN together. 1t is said that dying
eyes see clearer than living ones, and
doubtless he read in the still radiance
of both their faces that the long es-
tranged hearts were at peace once
more. He gave hand to each.
"It is all right-at last Can you
forg.ve-the pain-snd grief-I havs
caused you both ~
| DR.. Stanton answered, solemnly,
"May God forgive you as freely as I
do"
! "And I, too, cousin Louis"
1t was her answer he waited for most
eagerly: her face he watched most in
tsntly. He drew her head down to
him, whispering something that no one
else heard
"Esther, you must believe me-above
all your fathers wealth it was you I
loved. 1t is you 1 love now-you only"
So near as this girl had come to be-
ing his wife-so very near. She shlver.
ed as she thou2 ht of it.
I think it was part of his punishment
to know that. To know that not one
throb of her heart beat for him-foz
him who had play ed with women's,
hearts all his life. 1t was Gods jznioe
m,ybe, that the cup he had held 50 Of
tea to other lips, he should drink him.
self, now, to the bitter dregs.
! But he did not finch. Like tie Al-
len archangel, defiant to the l.s:, 40
faced death and all that might liz %.
yond, with grim firmness, as one who
feels that for him the dsy Of grace il
past, and ssorns to complain. AM
waen in the gray light of early Ao1a.
ing, the watchers stood about tho bed,
the soul of Louis Msyne went out {,
Judgment.
All this was long ago. Th:ra aro no