The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1874-05-30

lost daughter, when nearing the spot where
he had been observed by Father Dominic
and Claribel, he met Colonel Delevan, al
though they had not met for years, and
Mr. Markham supposed the man dead,
both instinctively recognized each other.
Both dismounted. Mutual recrlminations
followed, and the result had been observed
by his auditors.
There was brief spell of silence, and
then Father Dominic, with quick glance
at the door, which lead to the room above,
and which was unfastened, drew nearer to
his patients bedside, and said
Mr.. Markham, | have something to
tell you something which will astonlsh,
even startle you. 1t is bitter task 10 me,
and you will hate me for what | have to
say Promise me not to interrupt me,
and to make allowance for my past conduct
III my sacrifice of the present.
81 promise you, replied the Colonel,
gazing at his host in amazement.
sixteen years ago, Colonel Markham,
|, Pierre Levant, was your valet, and had
been for almost three years Nay, do not
start, for what have to say must be said
quickly, for bitter memories unman me.
At that time your wife, Mabel Markham,
Claribel's mother was gay, careless crea-
ture, loving you truly, yet very fond of
amusement and society for she had not
Yet attained the maturity and sedateness
which characterizes matronly experience.
You had been privately married before
wedding her, nd this you had kept from
her One day this secret, together with
the information that your former wife was
still living, was communicated falsely To
her by a man whom you often met, and
who had msidiously gained her ear
Colonel Richard Delevan.
There had been "A bitter feud between
your cwn and Colonel Delevan's father
On your part, chivalric and generous as
You were, You had forgotten all these diff
ferences, but your enemy harbored hate
for you too intense to admit Of allowing an
opportunity To pass when he might z Int his
unhuly revenge. Once before, III the case
ot your clandestine marriage, he had sought
to allure Estelle Saltore from your side
to win her to be his mistress. You balked
him, Mr. Markham, and he swore to be
revrnged.
before had entered your service, |
had been guilty Of light crime, forgery.
Colonel Delevan held the proof Jf my guilt,
and. by threats of exposure and evil insin-
uations, managed to frighten me into act
ing as his tool Together we convinced
your wife that you were false to her-that
she was wife only III name, and induced
her to flee from your root and protection.
You remember how you afterwards
supposed that she and her partner in
flight, whom | accompanied, Colonel Rich
ard Delevan, had found watery graves
This was not So OF all on board we alone
were saved, and reached a foreign land in
safety. You supposed her dead, and
Colonel Delevan, bent on accomplishing
her rum. led YOU to likewise believe this
BY never contradicting the report
They came to Italy | swear to you,
although Colonel Delevan pleaded with
and threatened her, she would not sacrifice
her honor to him. She entered convent
only to escape his opportunities, and soon
after, he showed to her and myself an
American paper containing the announce
ment OF your death. He had secured its
insertion by some unfair means. 1t CON
vinced your wife, but she would not we'd
him.
''She continued to remain in the con-
vent.
From papers found on Colonel Dele
vans body this afternoon, | have ascer-
tanned that he endeavored to keep her from
your sight and knowledge during your stay
IN Italy.
Colonel Markham, | have briefly told
you the truth. Can you take back that
wife to your bosom, pure and affectlonate
us when you first knew her 2
A deep groan issued from Colonel Mark
] hams lips.
/ My God r he moaned, chad | but
known this sooner. | was welded for the
| third time
He arose to his feet with a glad cry Of
mingled rapture and amazement, leaving
the sentence unfinished. There, coming
from the hastily-opened door which led to
the room above, was Sister Agnes, and, as
he tottered forward, still feeble and debIl-
itated from his wound, fell into her out
stretched, yearning arms, he murmured, III
transport of gladness and ecstacy
Mabel Mabel Oh, father in heaven,
| thank thee for this moment II