The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1871-10-06

ance from an uncomfortable bondage, and
partly because the dream of future hap
piness with you by my side as my other
and better self has been so sweet that .
have not dared to break the silence of I
accumulated years, lest by so doing /
should destroy the bright and blest illu- /
sion. This may seem TO you as naught
but rank presumption upon the part of
one against whom you would have had
just cause to harbor indignation had it
not been that made the earliest possible
explanation of some erratic conduct of
mine on that never-tO-be-forgOtten night
when, under the bright, bespangled can
opy of heaven, when the earth was clad
in robes as pure as your own virgin heart,
you stood up and promised before God
and man to be my own, true wife.
Oh, Judith! Is it possible that my ex
planatory letter never reached you?
Sometimes | have thought it did not, or
you would have sent me sign or token
that you, at least, had faith in me. If
it be true that you did not receive it and
are consequently yet in Ignorance ormy
/ innocence of crime that seemed dOub-
/ ly dark because you were made a prey
to its consequences, then cannot hard
ly dare to hope that you will permit me
to renew relation with you that was
made legal by man and sealed, as ! de-
voutly and reverentIy believe, by our
Father in Heaven.
Judith, darling, will you write TO me?
Your faithful
WILLIAM SNYDER.
Address: st. Louis.
That was all.
My mind was in a perfect maze of be-
wilderment. Why was il that unalloyed
happiness never came to me? l had
been waiting, hoping, longing for some
token of remembrance for so many
years, and had so often been disappoint-
cd by the bitter experiences of hope de-
ferred, and now, when L might rcasona-
blyeXpeet the full fruition of my ife-long
desires, another man, an acquaintance
of but yesterday, had nearly healed the
wounds of long gone-by decades.
| was utterly upset in all my theories.
l clasped my hands tightly over my
burning eyes and throbbing temples, and
sat in total darkness, thinking, think
ing, thinking. Suddenly mellow light
Illuminated the apartment, and beau
tiful face, with long white beard and
beaming eyes, became defined distinctly
and clearly before me. / started up, half
expecting to meet my long-Iost other
self, but while | gazed the vision van
ished.
William Snyder" said /, i'm an ear
nest tone, "GOd do so to me and more
also if aught but death part thee and
me-"
l espied DIR. Gordon coming up the
gravel walk. Firmly as had but then
resolved to adhere to the love allegiance
of my life, felt myself wavering in the
determination.
"How's our patient to-day" and the
strangely familiar voice thrilled me
through and through.
81 am well enough, sir, to have no
longer need of professional visits, - said /,
somewhat stiffly.
"Then may not sometimes visit YOU
as friend?'
The tone was beseeching, seductive,
bland.
/ tried to say no, but could not. |
/ seemed bound by some mysterious spell
"Doctor," l said at length, and my
voice sounded painfully constrained and
harsh, "long years ago had a lover l
loved rs have ever believed it impossi-
BILE to love but once on earth. Fates
and circumstances parted us, and from
that time up to this present, which is
more than thirty years, L have never
heard of him, or at least have never
heard anything definite concerning him.
/ have just received this letter, and /
must see him. VIII you read it and
tell me what course to pursue?"
His hands visibly trembled, but he
took the letter and glanced hastily over
its pages
''Excuse me, madam handing it
back, 81 have no right to interfere in
your affairs. had hoped to inspire you
with feeling of regard for myself, but
see your affection is elsewhere. Good
evening"
Why did every fiber of my being send
out its silent tendrils to allure him
back?
watched him till he disappeared in
the cleaning, and sat down in no very
peaceful mood to answer the letter that
had come to cheer and yet had saddened
me.
William Saydcr--.SH: Is it possible
that you, after having "known for 50
long of my whereabouts have at
length awakened to consciousness of
the duty you owe to me To explain. if
possible, the very reprehensible conduct
of your youth of which was made the
unsuspecting victim? I earnestly and
respectfully command such explanation
as the enormity of your offence has rem
dered necessary. My life has been 4
very, very bitter one; but / am not writ
ing to make complaints. simply write
to acknowledge the receipt of your un-
dated missive and to say to you that if
it is possible for you TO clear up YOUR
past record, and come to me n the pure
and noble man whom i'm my youthful
innocence devoutly believed you to be,
Nnu will ha .t-art,.lx A. xraI.n,,,o.I - ,-,..