Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1873-11-20

and IN that insfapt IFlI 0p56 Der kaSEs.
hands out-ssretehed.s q Il to keep him
from her. He stood in the duerway leok-
ing at the ineeling figure. bis heart air-
ring With new emotions, strange and
dead 10 him FOR so many years.
After little while she spoke in bv.
broken voice. but still sfernly and lis-
tinctly. aud he listened to the words as
though he were in dream.
! AS Heaven hears me-" she said. II
have prayed for this, although I dreamed
it-a part Of my just punishment. MY
expia'lon could not have been comIlete
unless you had seen to what my fault has
brought me; aud here on my knee,. l
thank Heaven for it. What degradation
have fcli-whst want and misery hive
underg"ne-weren nothing to what l ex-
pesienced here" She ciasped one h,nd
upon her poor wasted side; aud then went
on: When | left you. M angry, wnn-
ded pride prompted me to do you shane
full wrong; in all my suffering it has leen
a consolation TO me to know that l spared
myself aud you that shame; for I an. In
nocent-before llcayah!"
She slowly raised her wasted hands as
IL in solemn appeal for the truth Of what
she said. then clasped them on her knees.
and continued:
Even when left you forever. as I
well knew. the wiekeduess Of wha, I had
in my beart terrified me. and | would
have returned to ask your forgive,ess.
and to yield my own, but for my pride.
that hindcrcd me; and I wrote a liz to
you-as Heaven judges me. il was-for
left Eng land alone"
/ Tie figure in the doorway stirred
as if it would step towards her; bul she
extended her hands to keep il of
"Hear me out. she said family; "there
is not muea more to tell. will not speak
of what suffered thinking Of you. of
how nsx -renrHfance sfsuyp4s1 -saisly w;riy-
my PRIZE. l changed INV name vhen |
left Enrland. and In Italy ob,,;p.d ~
engagement as governess % r,re saughter
!! of a Spanish noblenan. So I lived
awhile drearily and quietly enough. until
he found me opt-my cousin aud / was
forced to iy from danger feared worse
than death From ,ha, time the misery
so we'll deserved fell heavily upon me-
| was very we'll for q long time. but the
death for which prayed SO earnestly
would not cnne to me. and l recovered.
was forced to labor with my hands, for
the life loa,hed; but in all that weary
time there was no bitterness in heart for
you. Can you forgive me-dying-bro-
ken-hearied Y
Her wasted figure dropped as the last
words eft her lips. and she would have
fallen but for him; he was kneeling by
her side in an instant holding her in his
arms. speaking to her brokenly-his cold
ness and reserve all swept away By the
pcnt-up emotions OF ten long years. but
nov 1T loose.
Not dying. Edith! Look up and
speak to NE! Heaven knows have need
Of forgi veness more than you! Live for
my sake Edith. and let the years &c come
atone for the wre,ehed pastr @
The look upon Ter face-she awful
change o: coming death he saw there xs
he pillowed the weary head upon his shcul-
derives too plain TO be mistaken, and
low cry Of agony broke from him. sass
1T is better as IL is;" she said again,
in voice so low that he could scarcely
hear It, "You can forgive now. dear;
but IL lived. the old reproach would
ching to me, and grow stronger in your
heart again. 1t is far better rs II Is -
The stern. cold man. quite broken down
now. could uo, reply for the heavy sobs tina,
shopk him. be could only snswer by draw
ing her yet closer TO him. In moment
She turned her face to him With the. old
sweet smile upon il that he - vel. re-
Emeulbered. aud said. kiss mer Even
as, he did so. she gave low. faint sigh.
and was dead. .se1 .s
In the pretty country churchysrd where
she had often ran and played when lit
tie child. she was laid as rest. A marble
fetcss stands a. the head of the grave. with
fthe name Edith" upon Il only. With
her he buried the relics that the old cabi-
net had held 50 long. but be kept her
IA, mory flesh in bis heart. and never Tor.
got the lessons her sad ending had taught
fhiu, No longer cold aud self-conssrained
he learned the wisdom OF hunilisy. love
forbearance. and in sympashy with ths
faults Of others learned to know his ovn
R-As /, lrunt.u man vns sfa0ver;rr