The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1874-07-28

Aho3 anu lOr Jue IISb JlIle KNEW JndI ne ndu
married my sister whom 1 believed to be
dead"
"This was James doings-how he must
hate you ~
GO He has followed me for years like
fiend to crafty his revenge on me he has
brought this misery upon us ALL"
In their earnestness they had uncon-
sciously returned to the parlor and seated
themselves. Robert sat leaning his head
upon his hand, striving to catch some con-
Meeting link in all this wickedness, with
the mystery of the past
Tell me all about that-those letters"
he said, 81 have only heard vague hints,
for my grandfather Morris has kept it
secret, and James fears him more than any
other person il the world"
Even under happier auspices hers would
not have been confding nature, and in
her life she had learned to shut in upon her
heart the pain that ached and moaned for
expression.
But there she sat and told Robert Morris
everything departure for Europe
her search for that darling sister-her pow
erty and privations cheerfully endured, with
the thought that she should one day find
that cherished idol. Then came the tidings
of Nellie's death-another artifice of the
arch fiend who had so pursued her-their
toll for labor's sake-the new found fame
which fell so coldly upon the crushed and
broken heart All, she told him all, sitting
there fearless and calm, while he, unused
to suffering and endurance, felt the hot
tears falling fast as he listened.
"Oh, Catharine, and I-you do not know
how much suffer 1t seems little in COM
parison with your wrongs, but 1 am so
young, 1 loved Nellie so fondly, and to
have all happiness torn from mel cannot
bear it p
He clenched his hands in sudden passion
and anguish, while Catharine looked at him
pityingly as if he had been brother.
"And you love Nellie-oh, this is hard
And she, does love you, RobertP'
4" 1 think so, that's the worst of it all
what are we to do? This James-oh, if l
had my hands on his throat Look at it,
Catharine, we might all be happy now if
we were not in his Internal tolls"
"You are SO young" sighed Catharine
"alas poor Robert, poor Nellie p'
There was sudden cry from the room
beyond which startled her, she rushed out
with Williams name upon her lips. He
had wakened quickly, and finding her gone
called out for her with all his strength, be-
meath a terrible fear that she had left him
"a fear which haunted him always if he
woke and found her absent from his side.
When Robert Morris followed Catharine
into the room, she was sitting by Sears
side, holding his hand and soothing his
agitation. Robert could not look unmoved
upon the man who had come between him
and his happiness, but in an instant the
sight of that wasted face brought his better
nature back, and he loathed himself for the
sudden burst of passion which had swept
over bis heart
"Who is thatS" William asked, pointing
toward him.
Catharine whispered in his ear, and the
sick man held out his hand, saying only,
"Will you take it %
Robert grasped the thin fingers without
touch Of bitterness, though it seemed
very strange to him. They returned to the
other room, and at once Williams quick
eye caught sight of the open casket Of
letters, which Catharine had forgotten on
the table.
"What are those?"
"The letters which were the beginning
of all this sorrow-the letters that Mr..
Lennox found in my desk, and of which
knew and know nothing"
He held out his hand for them, and be-
gan looking them over.
"I do not know the writing" he said,
reading on. "stay Strange-how famil-
lar this seems p
"What, William, whatP"
81 don't know-perhaps it is fancy
why, Oatharine, have read these be-
fore p
"Never, you never saw them till now."
81 know it, and yet" He broke OFF,
opening more letters and reading hurried
ly. 81 tell you, Catharine, these letters
are familiar to mel recognize the ex-
pressions-I could almost swear that had
written them9"
He looked so excited that Catharine was
more disturbed than often happened.
"Don't William, you only distress me
do not add TO the mystery"
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