The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1871-07-28
Helen. She suffered - this was


enough I0f cHafltys
/, So for days and days she ministered
| to this poor creature, who grew to
yearn for her coming; who prayed
her to stay longer when she came, but
| who often looked ut her in strange
way, quite unaceountable to Helen
who sometimes began to speak, and
paused and said, "Another time" as
though she postponed some confer.
ence, the story of her life, perhaps
Only God knew what it might be.
So the autumn wore away. Winter
came and went, and in the spring the
little life in that poor creatures breast
was smouldering out. Helen knew
that she must die. It seemed right
to tell her so, but the task was wo'
ful one. She sat beside her, thinking
of this, one day, when the poor soul
caught her hand
Il shall go soon, shan't / 7" she
asked. II know it is so. But prom
Use me that when | have told you my
story you won't leave mc--that you
will still be kind to me aud not turn
from me. Promise"
II PROMISE" said Helen.
"Youare George Chcsterficld's wife.
/ know it. You need not answer.
You remember, ten years ago, receiv-
ing some letters written to Olivia ~
Remember The wife's cheek
paied. She remembered it always.
go on" she said, hoarsely, bitterly;
her whole woe upon her as il had
Iza.. t.f...a a.(tA ~
II am Olivia" said the woman. II
sent those letters myself. | did it to
make you wretched, to revenge myself
upon him. He was young when he
met me. I,amarried woman-though
no older than hc-i lured him on; |
delighted i'll his hopeless love--in those
letters-in his protestations. | joycd
in the receipt of that one written on
his wedding day. Pure women can
not understand how wicked women
rejoice in meshing hearts they do not
care form running young mems liycs
for petty triumph. Lady, don't turn
from me. I've not done yet"
''iIad you not enough p gasped the
wretciied wife. Gould you not bear
to keep it from me You ruined my
young life. fou killed me-yes, you
killed me, as far as heart went"
''Ah !" cried the woman, 1T was
not when he wrote love to me that
betrayed him. Revenge prompted
me. Six months after his marriage
received this. Read it. When that
came | sent you the others. | was a
ficnd; | know it. But perhaps | can
undo my work, even now. Read this,
and see"
Helen seized the faded, diney en-
yelope that the woman drew from her
bosom, and hurried with il TO the
light She tore it open, and looked
upon the lines within. This was what
she read, dated six months after her
marriage:
"OLIvIA-MY FRIEND: ! told
you | would never write to you, and
| wrote like a fool. | told you that |
married a woman | did not love, and
that | should love you forever. Be
ing so true friend as | believe YOU
are to me. you will rejoice to know
that | was quite mistaken. | have
forgotten the unhappy passion of my
youth, as you so often. aud man never
loved wife so fondly as | do my
darling Helen. She is the life of my
life. the soul of my soul, and cannot
leave you under the false impression
| have given you. Love came after
marriage, it is true, to me; bnt its
germ was in my heart. You will be
glad to know of this, aud wish me, as
| wish you, every happiness.
GEORGE CuEsTGRFIELD.h
She read it through-she read il
twice, this poor wife, to whom balm
had come for so many years-and
sank down upon her knees, forgetful
of all else, and thanked God for it.
When she turned once more toward
the bed, she saw that in that moment
the death angel had come, and that
the unhappy Olivia had passed into
eternity.
When George Chesterfield met his
wife that night he hardly knew her.
Her girlhood seemed to have re-
turned; her smile charmed him as OF
yore; her eyes were bright, her lips
red again.
'How happy you look" he said.
And she answered, II am very
happy 49,, =, -,
she told him all.