The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1872-05-10

the dark, beautiful, tender eyes.
!" wonder now" unused Bernard, SD,
what perversty of self torlnenting keel
that picture before my eyes. | hav,
said to myself a hundred times that
would destroy II. Poor little May
You keep remorse alive. do you know
and you safe in heaven these ten years
Heaven II there was one, May, dt
you think it would not overtake m,
with wrath? You said-l remember
that one day the punishment woulc
come. It tarries long, poor little piou'
May! The grass is green on your grave
and IL am in love again."
He looked steadfastly at the portrai,
rs he spoke, and it seemed to him tha
the face dilated, stood out from the can
vas, and almost would speak. Gradu
ally, too. new consciousness grew upor
him. All the color drifted out of hi.
face.
GOOD heaven" rousing himself
with soand like a groan. "Fool that
| didn't know it before My God, what
q complication ~
He dropped his white face on his
arms, and the table and chair shook.
A whole long hour passed before he
lifted his head. When he did, his coun.
tenance was pale and set. He rose.
"You shall not be avenged-at least,
not in that way" with defiant glance
at the portrait.
He made as if to so out, but, led ire
sisiibly, turned around, and went close
to the picture.
"Strange l did not see it before
strange did not guess what it was that
was so sweetly familiar in her face-why
her smile was like an old melody half.
forgotten. May May looking into
the lovely, pathetic eyes-"I will be
good to her-I will be true. Oh, will
not that atone?"
1t was dark when he at last passed
out Of the room, and into Gertrude's
presence. Mrs. Give, sitting in an adj
joining room, heard their low voices,
and guessed that Bernard was prosper
ing with his love-making.
Late in the evening Gertrude stood
there close by him, the white moonlight
falling around her, and making her love.
illness supreme. Half wild with the i'm.
patience Of love, yet Bernard controlled
himself. Slowly but steadily she was
drifting toward him. Patience, and she
was won! Her hand fingered in his
when he said goodnight, her eyes had
soft light, whose meaning he knew
well. Yet he restrained himself. He
told her he was going away tomorrow,
to be gone all day, and saw the gentle
regret cloud her bright face; but he did
not take her in his arms, and bid her a
passionate goodbye.
''She will come to me of herself
+ resently-she will come !" he said.
The next day was somewhat heavy
on the ladies' hands. Gertrude, in par.
ticular, was afflicted by strange dis
quietude, and could not rest. She
missed Bernard; he was fast becoming
the one thing necessary to her.
Late in the afternoon Iun-blue
smoke filled all the valley visible from
Willoughby House. The servants said
the woods were on fire.
Here was excitment, diversion.
ave will 60 to Bernard's room," said
Mrs. Give. alt looks that way, and is
the highest in the house."
But when they had climbed the stairs,
the doors were locked.
"What nonsense I" said Mrs. Give.
and sent for all the keys in the house,
trying them one after another with |
hateful pertinacity.
At last one fitted, and they entered
the room. A flush of maiden timidity,
a sweet, doubtful curiosity startled Ger.
trude at the first instant. Then she
looked up, saw the portrait, and in.
'tan.ly forgot everything else.
"Who is this2" going up to il.
You can see the fire from this win |
low" said Mrs. Give. "Good heavens,
didn't think Bernard was mad enough
o keep that picture in sight," she
ldded, soto voce.
"Whose portrait is this, Mrs. Clive?"
The tone struck the gay little woman
IS something awful. She came nearer,
md looked at Gertrude.
"Mercy, Gertrude, / didn't think
'ou'd be so jealous. It's only-only-"
"Tell me the whole truth, Mrs.
live"
Kitty was running over the matter in
Ter mind.
"What goose / was to bring her in
'erel But, then, who'd thought she
vas so jealous? If l don't tell her,
he'll think it worse than it is. I'd bet
er tell her the whole story, as softly as
can. She loves Bernard, and she
'on't cast him off for woman who has
'een dead ten years
Mrs. Gives morality was not of the
uperfine sort. It was, indeed. quite in
ulgent and accommodating.
ut really is nothing-nothing that
on should be disturbed about. You
idn't think, Gertrude, that you were
,ernard's first love-you are too sensi-
le-he is thirty-fve years old, my
ear. And for my part, always told /
live, / don't care who was your first