The herald. (Smyrna, Del.) 1870-1871, 1871-07-29
DEAR MIR. RocHE:-


l am better able to shape my Judgment
than / am now. 1t is sufficient to say
that am convinced we should never be
happy were we to wed; if only for the
simple reason that the conviction had
that loved you, even after so short an
acquaintance, was an error, / was
deeply grateful to you when l accepted
your hand, as am deeply grateful TO
you now; but am certain that, were j
your wife, my presence might tend rath-
er to sadden than gladden. your life.-
Impressed with this belief, have acted
in the only way left open to mel have
quilted your home. 1t can matter very
little to you what becomes of me; hut
you may rest assured that, if you knew
my life, " II would approve it. Good
byl Tam most gratefully your friend,
even now,
"ANN ETTi1 PEfsvENcHE."
When he received this letter, she was
gone. He said no word, but the dinner
was sent down untasted; and the butior
told hcw his master had drunk more
than he had ever known hims
In fact, once again Roche had turned
upon himself. Had Henry Roche tried
to captivate Annete's affectionsupon her
arrival at his house, in all probability
he would have succeeded, and then,
strong in the right of her love, she would
have deiied Miss IIagar Roche, and
Roche would have been saved from des.
olation.
But he had only sought her esteem,
and she was lost to hln-lost to him ter
ribly; for WHEN he was gone, he discov-
cred he loved her. The one bright light
in his life had passed away, and he hated
the sight of his grand house.
But not a word did he say to mortal
man or woman. A Roche might die for
want of sympathy, but a Roche would
never ask its bestowal.
1t was Hager Roche who learned the
truth, when she congratulated him upon
being released from the presence of
''pauper chit"
"You love her?" she said, bitterly,
when her cousin, in one moments
burst of confidence, told her the gentle
truth.
"I do; better than I ever loved human
being -
1t was Hager's turn to be crushed;sbut
she was truer Roche than the othor.-
She said nothing about her life, long love
for her cousin.
Sho got up and said, coldly, "I caused
ler to leave. You had better bring her
pack again."
She turned and left the house-turned
never to come back-turned never to
ook again upon the face of him whom
'he had loved through score of years
urned to die slowly of that WEAKNESS |
which is the result of feeling no mercy |
or any human being, not even for ones |
elf.
Henry Roche devoted his life to find |
ng Annette Pervenche. He knew she |
would be doing good somewhere, and he
vas right.
1t is needless here to tell how he found |
Ter, after three months tracking. He
vas determined man, and he gave his
whole life to this one end. If he could
'nly find her.
Three months
Time enough in which to learn to
owe.
Roche was clear-headed enough, even
lpon sympathetic questions, to know
hat the longer the delay in finding her,
he greater the chance of losing her.
He found Annette, as he knew he
hould discover her, doing good. She
vas attending little children in the sick
lome, charitable London has provided
or the suffering little ones.
But leaning over the sick chld's cot,
here was another with Annette-a
'oung doctor, who, in the three months
# days which had passed since Annette
eft Roche's house, had learned to love
Ter, and, better still, had taught her to
owe him.
Roche saw, in the one glance they gave
ach other, that all his hope was at an
nd. But he was a mau who never aban
loned a chance until all promise was
rome.
He asked to sec her privately, and both
we're very pale as they sat in the visitors
DOM,
"Annette, 1 have been seeking you
hese three months. l love you dearly;
will make you the best husband it is
permitted me to be. Will you have
mercy on me, and accept me Tor hus-
'and ?'
She drooped her head.
"Speak," !" lie said, 81 am ready to hear
he worst"
"Mr. Roche, when promised to be
ours 1 was most grateful to you, and
ope l should have made you good
wife. But when l heard from Miss
Roche that l should break her life by
marriage with you, felt then that my
ratitude had no right to interfere with
er love; and l left you-fortunately left
ou-for know now that woman ney-
r commits greater fault than when she
listakes gratitude for love. love DR..
vans, whom you saw just now in the
ospital ward. But l hope we shall be
lends"
"Yes," he said, eagerly; "and 1 am
lost grateful TO you. have lost you,
ut it is better, far better, that should
ave loved and lost than never loved at
Il. In time, my love may become graf
ude, and then hope to see you again.
ood-by; God bless yeu.'
4
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