The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1875-04-30

is within easy distance, and possession
has become a certainty.
But Mark Dillon started back with
amazement, as Dora answered him:
calmly, scornfully and decisively, in
the following words:
/" shall not deceive the man to whom
1 owe all the happiness I have ever en-
| ioyed in this world-the man whom
| love, honor and reverence, as only a
nature like Melville Austin's is worthy
of being regarded. When married
him, Mark Dillon, acted upon my firm
conviction of your death. Now, I know
| myself to have been in error, and a
single course remains to me. The in
slant that Melville Austin returns
home, shall inform him of the truth. -
Are you mad, Dora Dillon?" he
exclaimed, every trace of his supercil-
ious manner gone, and nothing but a
sort of furious surprise remaining.
!" Are you mad, thus to throw away the
position you have won ?-to make of
yourself q beggarly outcast Ito"
Enough of this, Mark Dillon" she
interrupted hsughtily. "Your game
was bold one, but it has proved a
failure. All, my husband u
Melville Austin had suddenly entered
the apartment. Glancing at the ashen-
pale countenance of Dora, a look of
amazement overspread his own. Then,
turning toward the stranger, who stood
beside the chair in which she was
seated, Mr.. Austin said, "It strikes
nae that I heard your voice, raised in
rather disrespectfully loud tone, as I
stood in the hall moment ago. Were
you addressing this lady, sir ? Dora,
vino is this person ?"
A slight tremor shook Dora Austin's
frame, and her CHASTITY lips quivered
for an instant. But only for an instant.
She had risen now, and was addressing
Melville, who listened silently until
she had ceased speaking, stupe6ed,
doubtless, by the dreadful import of
what she uttered.
That man, Melville, is my husband.
Five years ago, before you and | ever
met, poverty had reduced my mother
and myself to the last stages of want.
On my mothers death, and while was
still almost child in years, Mark Dill
Ion asked me to become his wife. We
were married, and I soon discovered
that my wretched, friendless position
had been exchanged for one OF still
greater misery. l had become united
to man from whose vile, wicked life
my whole nature turned in loathing.
One evening, in a fit of drunken fury,
he struck me. That night I fed from
his house. During the year that fol-
lowed, 1 succeeded in supporting my
self comfortably on the proceeds of my
needlework. Two months before chance
had made me acquainted with you,
Melville, Ihad learned accidentally of my
husbands death in France. You know |
what followed. To-day I learn, for the |
first time since our marriage, that Matk |
Dillon lives"
"Oh, God, can this be true?'
The words seemed wrung from the |
very depth of Melville Austin's agon-
lied soul. Staring first at his wife, and |
then at the moody, crestfalien man be-
side her, his face expressed the keenest |
of mental suffering. And now
the icy calmness with which Dora had
spoken melted to passion of sebs.
Stealing toward her husbands side,
she murmurea, brokenly: "Before we
part, Melville, say that you forgive me
for being the cause of so much future
wretchedness-for having brought to
your noble heart a sorrow it has SO little
deserved"
"Part Dora We nAasst not-we shall
not part -
He had drawn her to his breast, with
a wild, impulsive movement. AT the
same instant the door of the studio was
unclosed, and woman's voice
cried out in clear, ringing tones, ''Mark
Dillon lies, Mrs. Austin, when he dares
TO call himself your husband /
deserted, outraged as have
been, am none the less his lawfully
welded wife, married to him seven years
ago in Manchester Let him deny it
if he dares. You need not scowl and
glare at me-" the woman went on,
hotIy; "what I speak is the truth,
and do not fear to utter ii"
A low cry of rage escaped Dillon's
lips, as he sprang toward the woman
who had spoken. But with blow of
ron Melville Austin's hand hurled him
stared at his wife's protector with a
DOS eyes, and then, like the coward he
-Aallv was, skunk from the apartment.
And from the house, too, never en-
L
wife, Ellen Dillon, followed him,
against the earnest entreaty of Mel
lille and Dora.
"He will beat me when 1 return to him,
perhaps" she said, with a mOnrnful
smile on her exquisite face, but must
20, nevertheless. It seems like curse,
sometimes, that in spite of his brutality
md wickedness, I cannot hate Mark.
7 nF oh af |
nome, 1 believe that this weakness is
against initiating his father; and who
iuture years ?"
Her sad words left Dora Melville
grave and thoughtful for long time
lfter her departure.
"That woman loves him, Melville"
he wife murmured, at length, in slow,
nusing tones" loves him in spite OF
lis villainous treatment. What mar
yelous mystery love is -
"Marvelous, indeed, Dorsl"
' Did you really mean, Melville, that
lothing should part us-not even the
of being another's wife
Vhen you spoke so passionately just be-
ore Ellen Dillon entered from the
tudio?"
Her soft hand had stolen into his,
Ter fearful eyes were fixed upon his
'wn, with Sager questioning in their
Dlue depths.
Melville Austin's answer was spoken
With Hnhesitating fondness 60 meant
hat, if all the world had striven to sep
rate US, Dora, I should still have
truggled to regain you. Until to-day
never have known the strength and
,ower of my love"
His arms were clasped about her
low, and she was sobbing forth her
upon his faithful breast.
Insular Flora.