The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1874-07-21

And since, why did you leave me?-
where have you been ?''
Nellie spoke the words brokenly, her
head averted, unable to realize anything
except that this woman was there between
her and the man whom she had married.
81 have been away, was seeking you
This man made me believe that you were
dead"
at is only falsehood with the rest"
said Mr.. James.
"Say no more p' and Nellie clasped her
hands to her head as if to shut out his
words; 81 can bear no more Go back,
madam, go back to that man for whom you
have destroyed your sister,"
"Nellie, he is sick, dying, perhaps-he
lies there now pale and insensble-have
mercy, have mercyi"
"0h, my God, protect me, they will
drive me mad p cried Nellie, yielding for
the first time to a burst of insane weeping.
MI. James, let me believe her--do not
curse them ~ ,a.t
"She relents-she does believe p ex-
claimed Catharine. " Come, Nellie, sister,
leave this bad man, come to me, come p
Mr. James caught the sobbing girl and
drew her away.
"Will you be deceived even now," he
exclaimed, "after all that you have
seenP"
"Sister, sister % moaned Catharine, and
Mr.. James looked in her face with his ter
rible sneer.
"The hour is come" he whispered, 81
swore to be revenged-I will keep my
oath %
He hurried to Nellie, and would have
borne her from the room, but Catharine
followed, clinging to his arm and striving
to thrust him aside, uttering still that
name, "sister, sister ~ .....
81 forgive you," she gasped, spray to
God for pardon, but will never see you
again p
Her head fell upon Mr.. James shoulder,
and he bore her away.
When Nellie recovered, she was in her
guardians house, but that transient wax
ing only gave place to the incoherent raw
ings Of brain fever, from which it seemed
impossible for one SO young and frail to re-
cover.
For many moments Catharine remained
standing where they had left her. At length
a low moan from the bed aroused her she
remembered that her duty lay there, and
closing the door she went back to William s
side. He was just recovering from that
long swooD, and calling feebly upon her
name.
81 am here" she said, "be calm, Will
liam, am here"
"What has happened ?-was that man
here?"
" He has just gone-oh, William, he has
taken Nellie with him !"
She sank down by the bed, hiding her
face in the folds of the counterpane, en-
deavoring even in that moment to change
the moan Of anguish which broke from her
heart into prayer for resignation and re-
pose.
William laid his hand softly upon the
golden hair he loved so well, and few
tears wrung from his weakness coursed
down his cheeks.
Bear up a little longer for my sake,
Catharine," he said, "you will not fail me
now"
She rose, with the prayer still on her
lips, very pale, but strong and uncom-
planning.
"The end will come" she said, cat least
we are together %
Together" he repeated, sat last, to-
gether !"
owe must so away from here, William,
as soon as you can travel; we will find
some quiet nook in the country, and will
nurse you well again"
Yes, we will go Poor, little Nellie,
will she never know the truth-oh, that
man, that man p
"This cannot last always William, am
sure it cannot-but it is hard to bear, very
/ hard p
CHAPTER XI.
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