The star. (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1874-1875, 1875-02-08

whole world as the price OF my honor
and fair name, should have despised it.
Now can you tell me why this happened?
why my life is to be one long shameW
She spoke with such passionate eager-
ness he could hardly follow her.
"You forget" he said gently, "that do
not know " hat has happened. Will you
not tell me-"
A crimson flush came over the de.
spairing face; she flung herself upon the
! ground.
81 can not, | can not" she cried. II
can not sully my lips with my own
story"
MI. Douglas looked at her, not know
ing what to do. He would not leave her
there. He bent over her,
"Have you father or mother livingW
ne asked, and she answered him thather
father had been dead manv years, but
that her mother still lived far away,
though, far away.
"Tell me wherer' he asked patiently. !
| "Away in England--in Kent, among
the hills and orchardsw
for her2o
NO." she replied; 81 shall never look
upon my mothers face again. Oh, sir,
| if you would but leave me-leaye me to
diel can not, indeed l can not, bear
my lle."
"Have you not looked up to the minis
ters OF God as holding any authority"
he'asked grayely.
eyes," she answered with q weary,
Woe-begone expression deepening on her
| face.
"Then, by virtue of that authorfty,"
he said, II command you to tell me your
| story"
"l was seventeen" she said, "and
curSed-llsten to me--cursed with %
beautiful face, when stranger came to
our town and married me. He was hand
some and clever; alb me! all me! there
is no one like him. He asked me to mar
ry him and my mother said 'Yes.' L.
loved him; how can tell you how wor-
SHIPPED him? you would think it wicked.
lie was the very light Of my eyes, the
pulse Of my heart. l said l had done no
wrong; | had forgotten. NV mother
wanted US to be married at the church
i'll our town, but lie was not willing: he
told me he expected some money lrOin
relation, who would never leave it to him,
if he found that he had married. He
asked me if l would consent to keep the
marriage secret for some time, and Told
him Yes He asked me If, instead Of
being married at my house, | would 90 to
Scotland; there was danger for him he
sad, in being married in England.
Il was INNOCENT OF all wrong, of all
guile, OF all harm as a little child; bus
| did the greatest wrong OF my life when
| consented. He pleaded 50 earnestly
with me; he asked me not to tell my
mother, lest she should be unwilling,
for she would not understand as / did
the need for secrecy. l must have been
blind-but then 1 was so young. | left
home with him, leaving alelter lor>my
mother that explained all; and l, poor,
blind, infatuated child, thought 10 harm
and knew no wrong"
She paused fer few moments: the
words came from her lips in such
burning torrent that he at times could
hardly hear them.
II came with him to Scotland, sir, and
we were married. believed really,
honestly and truly married. If | had
not believed that, sir, dearly as loved
him, | would ten thousand times rather
have died than have done as | did. T
have lived ior nearly two years in q
wnirl--a dream of happiness. Thought
often and often that Heaven could not be-
fairer. brighter or -sWeeter thanseaI tn y
and when my baby came my heart melt
ed with gratitude to God.
.Sir, listen to me. l. was brought IN
modestIy-to love God, to value my soul,
to value my fair name above all other
gifts. | loved this man, VINO wOoed me
myself his true wife. Now tell me why
1 am SO cruelty punished. There has
come TO me to-day II letter from him, and
he tells me | am not his wile--that he
purposeIy deceived me-that | do not
know his name, his rank, or anything OF
him; that he has left me forever, left me
to marry lady in his own rank of life;
that he has left me money, as though
money could repay me. On, GodI' cried
AL n.,,I IL; Il
me die? How am to bear it?''
4 The kindly face of the good minister
grew very white as he listened; he rails
ed MS hand as though he would fain pro-
test against the selfish cruelty, the sin,
the crime OF men.
/ elbow long, Oh, Lord! how long?" he
sighed, for it amazed him how the good
God had patience with men.
then he laid his hand ON the bowed
head.
ut is very hard, cruelty hard, terribly,
hard for you, my poor child" he said;,
''but it will be harder for HIM on the day
when he must answer for his sins. You
never had the least suspicion then, un-.
til now, that your marriage was d false
one"
81 never even dreamed of such thing
how should /, how could |. should as
soon doubted Heaven as doubted HIM."
/ 1t was nef HfSC experience OF tl9y
worlds wickedmess, but it was not his.
He had seen heart-broken women and,
wicked men before, yet he had never
been brought face TO face with such
sorrow as this.
( "You must not add to his condemna-.
tion by adding to his sin," he SAID, grave
ly. IF you destroy YOURSELF your death
will lie at his door.''
''Yct-how can live?'" she cried pas,
sionately. She plucked up the long roots.
and flung them away. Sne looked so
wild, so bewildered, that he felt afraid
she ould lose her reason.
"Others have had the same to bear
others have been thrown On the world.
You must make the best of it. You take
morbid view Of your own case. Even
suppose that all he says is true, you have
been deceived. l cannot see that YOU
are guilty Of any sin; and il your own
conscience be clear, and you are inno-
cent before Heaven, ah, cllildl you must,
carry your burden ravely, before men.
What has happened is your MISFORTUNE;
not your fault. Listen to me. Let me
try to give you more hopeful views. A,
long and happy life may yet be before
you, though you are friendless and
thrown Oh the world"
The continuation of 'SsfThrOwn I'm Tho