The Republican journal., 1873-11-13

ihlltleu " eDSter OF some letter which tn,
latter was to show him Webster took on
ms pocket-book, and began turning owe
The papers inside.
This is it, Gus ?" said Moscly. taking
hold OF the nearest. Il square white Ell
Felopc directed in what looked, 50 far as
could see across the table, very peculiar
hand: But Webster drew it back hastily
NO no, that's q private letter. he an
sWered, and this time could not mistake
that he gave one of these odd looks across
at Miss Knowles, "a very peculiarly pri-
Fate letter that ! wouldn't let ont of my
hands for Il double X"
"Nell, Won needn't be afraid of my
making a bid tor it, replied NIoselv'
I've use enough for my double Ks with
out buying up old paper. Now, then
have You found the right thing this time,
or shall | call again next Christmas p"
Webster. it appeared. had found the
right thing, and the two witty gentlemen
presently deprived us Of Their company.
II don't remember ever to have seen
Mr.. Webster in such an agreeable flow of
| spirits, said to Miss Knowles. who, with
myself happened to be the last left at the
table. Il wonder what il betokcns ?"
mo good to somebody, answered Miss
Knowles contemptuously, the first word
she had ever said to me against Webster
was about to reply, when my foot touched
something under the table. and STOPPING
down | picked mp a paper.
'Mr- Webster had dropped one of hi,
letters-thc peculiarly private one. per
haps, ! said, laughing. and turning it
over, recognized, in fact, the marked
handwriting. At the same moment Miss
Knowles eyes fell on the supcrscription.
and her face grew white to the very lips.
My God can it be- She gasped.
Give it to mc-thc lctter--the letter"
impatiently. rs looked al her in bewil-
defment | gave it to her, She tore it
open. cast one glance at The signature.
and then her hand as if palsied let the
crushed paper fall. and She sat staring.
straight before her with Il look of such
blank despair as hope never to sec again
in any human face
What is the writer Of that letter to
you?' | cried. witha pang of keen, though
lndefined jealousy,
He was-he is-my husband, she said,
slowly. as if every word was Il weight
dragged from her. Then with a sudden.
feverish haste. You did not expect to
tind me an impostor' But remember,
warned YOU Ah, YOU are silent, You
would not drink that pledge to friendship
now ?"
'Not to iricndship,' broke in reused
out ot my stupor. 'but to love! Why
should i man YOU hate stand between YOU
and
"Stop, Alt. DanvcrS,' She interposed
grayely, stop, before you speak any word
TO destroy the pleasant memory Of all my
later years. Do look like woman she
continued, lifting ner head proudly, ''to
sacrifice honor to happiness? Have | ever
gwen you glance or tone that could let
YOU think that ,"
NO, said |, bitterly, 'vou have been
prudence itself, 1t is so easy to be prudent
when one is cold; 50 easy to Say-Go, for
/ do not love YOU
There was II moments silence and then
q voice, her voice, but rs had never
heard it yet, spoke my name; ''George,'
it said, softly, Il do not say-go, for | do
not love YOU but, 90, dccauSe | love YOU .
Hush, lou know me well enough to
know that means @ood-by forever not |
one word more. if YOU would have me be |
lieve you worthy of my confession
She had known how TO use an appeal |
impossible to resist. ! set my teeth to
keep back the struggling words. while
she continued, II count on you to help in
stead OF hlnderinG me. ! feel too stunned, |
too bcWildered to think clearly She took |
up the letter again, and looked ut it as ii |
some sort Of conflict Were going on in her |
mind. ''NonsenSer she said finally, with |
z bitter smile; such delicate scruples are
between husband and wife; |
will respect your confidence as vou would |
respect mine, James Huntry And with |
that She opened the letter again and read
it through deliberately
n have no time to lose" She cried, |
when it was finished. THAT man, Webster
has somehow discovered my secret, and
betrayed it Toto him = striking the |
paper. He will follow his letter he
writes, at once why good Cod he may
be here, then, at any time - this very day .
No, | have not an instant to spare She |
stood up, and holding out both her hands,
looked long and earnestly in my face. |
. Good-by, George" she said; where
ever and whatever my life may be, it will |
be the brighter for the memory of YOU |
God bless you and good-by forover,"
Not quite yet pleaded, You viii |
let me have one look, one word, at the |
very last i must, L VIII
She hesitated; my face, perhaps, warm
ed her not to tax submission too far. You |
will promise me, then. to make no attempt |
to change my resolution. or to keep any
hold on me ? for Heaven, that knows all |
| have borne, and all | could not bear in |
the old life. Heaven is my witness, that | |
would return to il sooner than w. have |
Your word them
You have my wold," answered, per
cciying by the determination in her feat |
ures, that any hesitation would be worse |
than useless.
Come again in an honr, then, and YOU |
will find me ready. My preparations, |
like my friends, are few she raid, with |
another Of those bitter smiles; and with |
that we separated.
| walked through the street, like one in |
4 dream, seeing nothing before me, moth
inc but what ! had left behind = the wo-
man loved passionately, and in one little |
hours time was to lose forever. But, with |
all the passion and will that was in me, | |
vowed that would not lose her thus | |
would fulfill the letter Of my promise to
her | would not seek. by word or act |
to sway her from her conscience; but | !
would keep myself informed of her move
ments, and contrivc, somehow. sooner or
later, to be near her; would wait for
her till death, if need We're; but let her |
pass wholly and forever out of my life, | |
neither could nor would
On reaching the railway station even
my preoccupation became aware Of some
unusual excitement. | joined a knot of
eager takers, and learned that there had
been an accident to a passenger on one OF
the eastern trans Just in The stranger,
who, according to the general testimony, |
had appeared to be in Il singular hurry !
and excitement, and jumped off the train
before it was fairly stationary had some
how slipped and fallen, and had been
taken up for dead.
made my way to where the body was
lying. 1t was that Of a man OF some thirty |
years Of age, evidently belonging to the
weather. classes. The face, which was
not disfigured, was handsome, in spite of
the traces of passion and dissipation. He
was quite dead they had given up at
tempting to restore him, and were search
ing the body for Identification. One of