The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1873-05-30

my love, what stands in our way !?
Yes, what r.
"WhatY Oh John, if you only
knew My God how can | tell
yous How say to you that--that
= "but she broke down here, while
a great sob choked her utterance,
but with u brave effort at self con-
troll she went on: "OR! John do
not spurn me, when, tell you IL
am already married y
ALREADY married Great God!"
ard groan burst from Johns lips.
III is true john she went on I
II do not see hoy you all we're de
ceived, ! did not mean to mislead
4 you. | did not mean to mislead
any one. married my cousin, Ar
| thar 'Strathborne two years ago. -
1t Was not love natcil--far from
liz. Our parents made it. | loved
M one then aud so consented. The
life | have led since only | know. =
| see my mistake now. My God !
if had only waited When | wrote
to your sister asking to come here
by some fatality never mentioned
my marriage, and as my name re-
NAMED unchanged she never guessed
it. Oh John do not blame me !
Believe me never thought of this !!
Oh {! If could undo It all, for--for
John love you! | heard her say.
Then God help us both !" John
murmured.
could not wait to hear more
Softly | stole away and left them
there. How blind we had all been |!
Yet in that hour, when different
feelings were striving for the mas
terry within me, never for one
moment blamed Muriel for the way
we had been deceived She had
declared her innoeense of deception,
aud / believed her.
The next morning at the break
fast table Muriel announced her in
tention Of leavning for home that
day. Mothers susprised face showed
the astonishment she felt at the de-
cision. glanced at John. He did
not look up. His head was bent
low over his coffee cup. | offered
some slight remonstrance. | wished
neither Of them to know what had
heard last night in the garden.
That afternoon Muriel LETT us |
thought it best that mother should
know and so told her Of that sum
mer night in the garden.
After Muriels departure John
went back to his farm and books,
aud we settled down to the old life
again. But / could see how muct
John suffered by the great linestha
gathered about his forehead, ant
the hopeless longing in the grea'
gray eyes.
Still the years passed on. II was
eight now since Muriel left us, and
in all that time not one word had we
heard of her John was gottin gold
fast, Isilyer hairs glimmered thick
ly amid the chestnut curls, while the
lines on his forehead deepened daily.
One day there came letter to
him. He opened it, read it, and
then and there told us what we had
known all these years; his love for
Muriel and her love for him and
how her marriage had stood be-
tween. Then ihe showed US the
letter. II contained but one line
and ran:
"John--He is dead. Come to
me. MURIEI,.O
lie went, and brought back with
him Muriel. She was his wife now,
and as such mother and | received
her in our open arms. How love
changed her! From the cold,
naughty, woman Of the world she
grew into gentle loving one.
We all live together now in the
dear old home at Southdale on the
banks Of the Shattsmuc, and in all
the country round no one is more
beloved, for deeds Of charity and
kindness than the wife Of my broth
er John.
Atlanta, Ga, May 1878,