Weekly Trinity journal., 1873-09-20

name. l never told any one but you,
and you will keep my secret, won't you,
Dan? you have been such good friend
to me-"
"And you say he is dead, Nary" said
Dan.
YES"
"Are you afaid to marry again, Mary?"
he asked. "Do you think would beat
your"
81 know you too we'll for that, Dan
but you do not want me after what l
have told YOU"
"Yes, do, Mary. Won't you come?
l think we would be happy together"
She looked up into his face, and then
hiding her face in his bosom, wept happy
tears.
In few weeks they were married, and
a year from that time burly boy, with
Mary's brown eyes, came to them, and
then Dan thought his cup of happiness
was full.
Months passed on, and they were both
as happy as could be, and neither saw
the shadow that hung over them. Its
first cold chill came when baby Dan, as
they called the child, sickened and died,
and was laid away in the church yard.
Mary was wild with grief, and it was
long before she could speak of their little
one without weeping, and then came the
heaviest blow.
One night Dan hurried home from the
factory, and, entering his home, saw
seated there man in q ro1gh dress,
while Mary covered away in one corner,
with white, scared face, and shivering
like an aspen leaf. What did it mean?
AS soon as she saw Dan, she gave a cry
of joy, and darted into his arms.
why, Mary, what's the matter?"
asked Dan, wonderingly. "Who is this
MANI"
"Oh, Dan, Dan," she moaned, "tNke
me away; take me away. 1t will kill
mc-let me die" and she sobbed as if
her heart would break.
Mary! what - who is this?" again
asked Dan.
Its-it's-the mani thought was
dead my first husband. Oh! what shall
we dor"
SAY, madam, am your first usband;
and the last one, too, for that NATTER"
broke in the man, roughly. "You're
my wife yet, I'll have you know. Thought
| was dead, did yc; glad Of it, l s'pose?
A nice story. And so you went to live
with another man? You are no more
his wife than you're the wife of every
man you meet. Pulled the wool over
his eyes nicely. Very nicely done, but
it won't work. Just come away from
that fellow of yours, and get ready to go
with me. I've claim on you yet" and
he cursed her with foul oaths.
Dan had sunk down into a chair white
and speechless, while Mary knelt by his
side moaning bitterly, and hiding her
face in his lap, but he never forsook his
hold of her. At last he found tongue to
speak
" Mary-Mary, what does this mean
Is what this man says true? Tell me,
girl -
"It--it is, Dan," she sobbcd 81
thought he was dead; they told me so,
and l believed it. Oh, Dan, you don't
think meant to deceive you, ?" and she
raised her fearful face and looked into
his eyes.
No, Mary, know you didn't" he
answered. "You have been too good
wife for that"
"Wife !" she said, shudderingly.-
Wife! o, Dan, / am not your wife,
since he lives Our boy" and with
shrek she staggered to her feet, gazed
wildly at Dan, and fell fainting to the
floor.
" | wish you joy of your mistress" ex-
claimed the man, with an oath. "a nice
mess you're in now. But she's mine,
and Pm going to have her. Get up, you
hussy," he exclaimed and pushed her
rudely with his foot.
For moment, Dan stood still, his
hands clasped over his head, while his
brain reeled. The awful nature of the
blow that had come upon his happiness
was too much to realize. But the last
words and actions of the brute that stood
before him recalled him to himself. Sciz-
ing the man by the collar he hurled him
through the door, fastened it, and lifting
the insensible form Of Mary in his arms,
busted himself in restoring her to con-
sciousness. Long, long he worked, chat
ing her hands and bathing her temples,
until at last he was rewarded by seeing
her lips quiver and her eyelids slowly
unclose. At last, with long-drawn,
futtering sigh, she looked up and whis-
pered, "Dan."
Here L am, Mary" and he bent over
her do you feel better? ?"
"Is-is he gone ?" she asked in a
frightened whisper.
Yes, Mary, he is gone don't fear, he
shan't trouble you.
80, Dan I" and throwing her arms
around his neck, she wept bitterly, while
Dan, the tears running down his cheeks
and his voice choked with sobs, tried to
comfort her.
An hour passed away, and still Dan
held her in his arms. She had become
more composed, but her face wore
ghastly pallor, and there was a strange
light in her eyes.
"Dan," she said softly.