American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1873-11-01

she yet lived and mourned him. | had
simply said his wife was with lady
| friend; and now, irritatcd by his Obstlna
cy and by old recolleCtions, l fairly los
my temper. He lost his also, and SO We
parted.
In utter dispair | went back to Mis-:
Quincy. Lady Scarsdale was there, sub
dued and penitent enough now, and eager
to return and ask her husbands pardon
which Kate, Judging from her own gener
Gus nature, had persuaded her was await
ing her.
| 1t seemed cruel to undeCeive the child
and knowing what fitful, Impressions
| bic little creature she was, | Shrank from
the result of her discovering herself a
disgraced woman. Yet | had left Lord
Scarsdale writing to his lawyer.
In my dispair l told Miss Quincy the
case was hopeless.
| To my surprise, almost my terror, she,
who had never risen to her feet for nearly
twenty years, sat up, and saying, "Then
l must take her to her husband, for moth
ing is hopeless under God" stood up all
white and trembling, like a spirit.
| sprang forward to catch her, thinking
she would fall; but only steadying herself
by my arm, and silencing all my remon-
strances, she crossed the room to her bed
chamber, herself put on her bonnet and
holding Lady Scarsdale by the hand, went
down to the cab which was in waiting at
the door.
1t was useless to try to diSsuade her;
see moved and spoke with the decision of
one inspired, and when seated in the cab
did not even lean back, but held Lady
Scarsdale's hand tightly, and only said:
"Pray, pray that l may not fail on the
way.''
I saw her own lips moving silently all
the journey.
When we reached Scarsdale House we
were told his lordship was in the library,
and accordingly 1 led the two ladies into
the dining-rOom which adjoined the
former apartment, and lett them there.
The wife sank down on a chair at once,
crimsoned and trembling with fear and
shame; but Miss Quincy kissed her reas-
suringly, then turned and walked straight
to the library door, knocked gently, and
without waiting for an answer turned the
handle and entered.
Lord Scarsdale was writing, with his
back to the door. He must have thought
it was servant, for he said harshly
They are not ready yet, William;'' but
Miss Quincy crossed the room, and lay
ing her hand on his shoulder, said very
gently:
Guy, have come here with your wife
to ask you to forgive her and take her
home again"
If it had been voice from the other
world, he could not have sprung to his
feet more suddenly. She stood still before
him, tall, pale, and pure, looking in her
deep mourning dress, with the light in her
loving eyes, and the wavy line of gold
brown hair under her black bonnet, so
little aged, SO little altered from the or
phan girl he had last held in his arms ere
he went to Ireland twenty years ago, that
his face blanched as he gasped out:
kate! is it you? And | thought you
had died. Good God, how you must de-
spise me! And yet you can forgive"
Her patient mouth quivered little.
Nay" she said simply, Il forgave
you long ago, Guy, and for that reason /
have come to you today to ask you to for
give your young wife, who has been very
foolish but not guilty, Guy; and who
has promised me to confide more in her
husbands love for the future. You will
let her 40 so if / ask you, dear, will you
not?"
He could not speak. Shame, and per
haps the sense of what he had thrown
away, held him silent. But he knelt
down and kissed her hands as though she
were a queen.
She let him kiss them, and then just |
touched his bowed head with her slight |
fingers, saying something very softly, |
which only he heard.
Five minutes later Lady Scarsdale was
weeping out her repentance in her hus-
bands arms, and l was leading Miss Cur |
ney back to the cab.
Her hand was pressed on her heart, and |
the shadow of a great pain was in her |
face; but she never spoke the whole way, |
and when we reached the door l had to |
carry her up stairs to her couch There |
was no color in her cheek when | laid |
her down, and her eyes were closed, but |
when l went to ring the bell for wine or
other restoratives, she put out her hand,
saying:
"Yes, my dear"
Don't go. It's ended now"
ooh, my friend, how could YOU"
Hush! l could not help it. Don't |
scold me now, but ask him to be very |
gentle with her, and say
-" What 9'' q could hardly hear)
Say l prayed God to bless them
both"
They were the last words she ever ut
tered. After that her head fell back, she
sighed once or twice like tired child,
and so died, with a smile on her pale
lips to the end.
| took her message to Lord Scarsdale. |
| believe he has respected it, for his wife
is very happy and discreet woman now.
They wanted to make {. friend of me, but
that might not be.
l am only plain medical man, but l
loved Kate Quincy from my soul, and L
believe Lord Scarsdale was as much her
murderer as though he had put a knife in |
her tender heart twenty years ago.
We two can never break bread together.
Theodore Gift in Galary for Nocenaber.