The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1873-07-10


consciously l passed into the dining
room.
g am sorry little Nellie's mamma
Il was glad he did not dare to use
the sacred name of wife-stis not able
to sit down with US" he said. Sc It is
many months since we have had her
presence at our meals. She is suffer-
ing from the effects of low fever,
induced bv- the climate" he added
gravely, as he motioned me to a seat
before him.
The table glittered with silver plate.
Obedient servants brought, on the
most costly servers, such delicaeies as
I had never seen before. l could not
talk, save in monsyllables. Ny host
ate hastily, almost carelessly, waiting
upon me with many abrupt starts and
apologies. Wine came. He drank
freely. Soon he sent the little girl
and servants from the room, and he
seemed striving to nerve himself to
conversation.
You are from city, believe" I"
be said nerYously. a
/ answered in the affirmative.
"Did you ever know gentleman
there by the name of Henry F-?"
81 knew him, sir" 1 said sternly,
looking the man steadily in the face,
sand | know him also as a ruined,
heart-broken man." With an ejacula-
ton of anguish. he put his handker-
chief to his eyes. 1t would have
seemed hypocritical, but the suffering
on his face was unmistakable.
(" Perhaps you have suspected then"
he begBn in quivering voice.
Not calmly, but with the words of
an accuser, [ told what l had seen,
and thought and felt.f
"Sir,7 said he, in tones which l shall
never forget, @If have sinned, God
in heaven knows that have suffered !;
and it in FPS bereavement he has
cursed me, that curse is fearfully full
filled. Poor Mary is dying-has been
dying for months, and l have known
it. 1t has been for me to see the fail
ing step. the dimming eve; it is for
me now to see the terrible struggles
of her nearly worn out frame; it is
for me to listen to her language of re-
morse that sometimes almost drives
me mad. Yes, mad-mad-madl" !" he
said in frenzy, rising and crossing the
floor with long, hasty strides. Then
burying his face in his hands, he eX-
claimed C Too late-toO late-I have
repented." He
There was a long pause, and he coz
tinued more calmly: " No human
means can now restore my poor COM
panion. Her moral sensibilities be-
come more and more acute as she fails
in strength, so that she reproaches
herself constantly"
A weary, mournful sigh broke from
his lips, as if his heart would break.
Oh if he knew" he exclaimed
again "if he-knew how bitter penal
ty she is paying for the outrage she
has committed upon him, he would
pity her-and, if could be, forgive"
Win YOU see her, sir ?2
] shrank from the very thought.
She has asked for you sir; dc not
deny her request. Hearing that you
came from America, she entreated me
TO bring you to her. promised that
1 would" 9e -
s'Iwill go, then"
Up, the cool, wide, matted stairs he
led me, into aiehamber oriental in its
furnishing, its chaste magnificence.
There. half reclining in wide easy
chaiT--a costly shawl of lace thrown
over her attenuated shoulders; the
rich dressing-goWn clinging and hol-
lowed to the ravages sickness had
made-sat one whose great beauty
and once gentle gifts had made the
| light and lOveliness of sacred home.
| a} But noae! o pityl pity
The eyes only retained their lustre
I they were Woefully sunken. The blaZ-
] ing fire, kindled at the vitals, burned
upon her sharpened cheeks-burned
more hotly, as she looked upon my
face. could think no more of anger
/ could only say to myself, "Oh, how
sorry / am for you.a
She knew, probably, by her hus-
/ bands manner, that was aware OF
/ their circumstances. gHo
Her first question was:
81" Are you going back to America,
sir ?p 81
The hollow voice startled me.
seemed to see an open sepnlchre.
| told her that it was not my intention
to return at present.
"Oh, then who will take my child
back to her father 2" she cried, thG
tears falling.s "I am dying, and she
must 60 back to hint It is the only
reparation / can make-and little
enough, oh, little enough-for the bit.
ter wrong / have done them"
g I hoped, sir, you might see him,
I she added, moment after, checking
her sobs; hoped you might tel
4 him that his image is before me from
morning till night, as l knew he mus,
have looked when the first shock
! came Oh, sir, tell him my story
4 Warn, oh, warn everybody Tell hin
/ have suffered through the long, lons
hours these many weary years-ah
God only knows how deeply"
" Mary, you must control your feel.
ings," said my host gently.
lu " Let me talk while l may" was the
4 Ilanswer. 'tLet me say that since the
| day l left my home l have not known
a single hour of happiness. 1t was
always to come-always just ahead
\ and here is what has come-the grave
is opening and l must go to judg.
ment. Oh, how bitterly have l paid
for. my sin. Forgive me, oh, my Gnd
forgive p III. ...s...
1t was q solemn hour, that which
spent by that dying penitent. Prayer
4 she listened to-she did not seem te
! Join; or, if she did, she gave no out
ward sign. Remorse had worn away
all her beauty, even more than illness
She looked to the future with q des.
pairing kind of hope, and but feeble
faith. 549 53sl
Reader, the misguided woman OF
Il Ceylon lies beneath the stately
j branches of the palm-tree. Her sweet
child never met her father in her ma
i tive land. She sleeps under the
troubled waters Of the great wide sea
j Where the betrayer wanders, canno
/ tell, but wherever il is, there is nC
4 peace for him. How often rings tha
! hollow voice in my ear, "Tell him my
i story Warn, oh, warn everybody 7
aueis 0G-'s'T
J As some lady visitors were recently
going through a penitentiary, under