The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1872-09-21

gard, dumb beauty had no power over nln
any more She slowly lifted herself as h
passed her then she caught his arm with
the strength Of despair and held him.
What are you going to do to him 2 she
cried, hoarsely.
John turned upon her, shook her of
bent his face and his wild eyes closer, a.
the words came kissing upon the silence g
Kill him"
Her shrek ran through the house. Bessy
found her moment after in fainting nj
on the floor 1t was some time, even afteI
powerful restoratives had been applied
before the guilty woman returned to con
sciousness. When she saw Bessy bend
ing over her, weeping like a child,s he
turned away with groan.
If, indeed, John had fulfilled his threat
her punishment was more than she could
bear, for she had been the serpent in this
paradise-the guilty, willy tempter. She
lay very still and would not let Bessy
speak to her.
John was closeted in his counting room
with the man who had been as he thought,
his lifelong friend Few words passed
betwet them, for it seemed to John as il
his heart were broken.
"You are not fit to live. Oliver Dyas, y
he said "and if had met you at first,
when the discovery was hot upon me,
should have killed you like dog. Now,
when you say that nothing but these
treacherous letters has passed between you;
| choose to believe you; but from
this moment our paths diverge. | shall
break up and leave the country and now
all is over between us. God help me
it was hard to find the man on whose in
tegrity | would have staked my life, play
false in this devilish way. l don't envy
your future, he added, and went out.
And now began another more Agonizing
warfare.
Bessy was watching for hiIn-fitting
from the house door to the gate-Wonder-
ing what had happened that John and
Aura had quarreled; longing, in her child
ish soul to give him comfort-her dear,
dear master-her loving, noble father
How could Aura speak to him, Of him, as
she did sometimes He had never been
harsh with her.
John was walking home gloomily, feel
ing himself a wrOnged, wretched man;
hating himself, Aura Oliyer-everybody
but little Bessy.
Once he stopped short, with dazed, be-
wildered look. After all, might there not
be some happiness i'll store for him This
bright, pure, fair little girl, who looked up
to him, caressed him loved him-ay, with
all the guilelessness OF her tender nature
loved HIM now as father, but, in time,
might she not A thrill Of ecstasy shot
through his aching heart, and the next mo-
ment he cried -
MY God what am | going to turn
william, too n
Not long after that Bessy flew down to
the gate to meet him. He let her take his
hand he smiled upon her in grave, un-
usual way; he allowed her to lead him to
seat in the cool sitting-room, and take
his'hat and gloves from him, and tiutter
about him with thousand tender ankle
ties in her gentle eyes. All this time hO
was thinking, thinking. 1t was like
heaven to see her there, sitting at his feet,
recalling the pretty little incidents that
had happened, to hghteR his heart, or lift
that weary look from hwforehead, know
ing, as he did, that in one sense he was q
betrayed and ruined man, but feeling yet
that to his own soul his own honor was
spotless.
AS he sat there his thoughts took on a
darker hue The tempter pressed him
hard he was almost lost i'll a sweet,
sweet reverie Of the possible To Be. He
held the means of revenge III his own
hand he held the scourge Of power over
his wicked wife he held bhe heart
soul-of this exquisite girl, to mould 1t as
he might. Spite of hemself, a rapt, in
tense pleasure spread over his lace, which
grew beautiful as Bessy gazed up wistfully
"What are you thinking of, master Il
she asked
Strange that now the word master
did not offend him.
" | was thinking how pleasant it would
be to 90 off to a far country-say to Italy
he replied, that same beauty brighten
ing his brow to see the old world won
ders-its splendid skies and heaven high
mountains to buy some cottage nesting
amid bower Of trees and roses, and there
pass our lives, and never think of this cold,
cruel country again.
go father I" Bessie responded, creeping
close to him d" will you When have
read about it, il has seemed like paradise
to me.
1t would be paradise, he murmured
She lifted herself and glided to his side,
began touching his hair with her dainty
fngers-a pretty, caresslng way she had,
which was sweet to him.
"You would like to 60, then Y he said
passing his arm about her waist.
You know | would 90 dltytChere with
YOU" she answered, laying her cheek
against his forehead; but, oh of all places
to Italy II She drew deep breath o.
content.
He let her rest thus, shutting his eyei
while he thought and the heavy throbs o.
his heart could almost be heard, Is he dal
lied with the dangerous temptation.
Why should he live a loveless life, be
trayed, deceived, as he had been Why
should he not reap the fruits of an limo
cent devotion He shuddered-" limo
cent !" And this child, with her colder
locks and pure Madonna face-this child
who knew no other love-whom hisarms haC
sheltered whose very dreams were, as yet
guiltless as angels visions!
Go II he said, with sudden impulse
MS WnOle lace growing uArk, as ne unWounC
his arm and pushed her from him. "
had rather be alone.
Surprised -grieved at his manner, which
seemed rough-at his face, just now trans
figured, but frowning and unlovely, as h,
turned abruptly away-Bessy stood still
where he had thrust her, her tender rec
lips quivering She knew not whatto say
what to do. Had she offended him : H,
stood at the window, his arms folded, look
ing into the garden, feeling in his soul tha
he had hurt her-that she was watehin,
him with fearful eyes. Firlner he presseC
his arms hard down upon his bosom, NOR
sternly he called in his wandering thoughts
till he felt her touch upon his arm.
"Well," he said, not daring to lool
down.
"You were cross to me"
No, Bessy, not cross-but have ha.
great trouble to-day. Go, child don
weary me T.
She silently turned and almost ran from
the room.
" Poor child !" he murmured, in hope
less, dreary voice. " must hurt her bu
to me- it Is like pluckinQ out the right eve