The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1876-04-07

$50 proud was she Of her gentle in
fluence over Walter, who had confessed
that he had lacked such love as hers
10 be his guiding star and keep him in
the right path, that | could not find il
in my heart TO daunt her with forebod-
! ings; and when health breathed in at
the windows in Hampstead, left her
busted with preparations for her mar
riage the following spring.
"There were hyacinths in bloom i'm
the colored glasses on my wndow-ledgc
in Camden Street when | received "A
sharp summons from Mrs. Gray.
"Miss Royle had had shock ard
broken blood-vessel; 1 was wanted
Immediately.
"Never shall | forget the change in
her face.
"She was reclining on the shoulder
of her trusted old servant (who was
generally intrusted with her mistress =
secrets), her clothes bedabbled with
blood. There was large travelling
trunk in the middle of the floor, which,
like chairs, table, and piano, was strew-
ed with bridal robes and other para
phernalia which she had been packing,
and some Of the fine embroidered linen
was likewise flecked with crimson stains
"Near the trunk was a crushed letter
of which | took charge. II was from
Walter Smithson, and told the old story
alt was wild and incoherent con-
fession of vice and folly, of entangle-
ments he could not free himself from,
of passionate love for her, and "A repu-
diation of his promise to marry her, on
the ground that he was utterly unworthy
of her, and their union would bring on
ly unhappiness to both!
"Youth, health, the blessing of God.
and n good doctor pulled her through
that time; but she never was herself
again.
"She sent his letters and his presents
back with never word; helped me to-
pack her wedding garments carefully
away; said jestingly There were a.
good fish in the sea as ever were caught,
and she lad best take care of them in
case Mr.. Crpfton went down on his fat
knees TO her and proposed
"Out into company she went, rs she
had never gone before; and as she paid
for Mrs. Gray's cab and tickets to thea
ter or concert that lady never objected.
People, Mrs. Varey among the number,
said Bessie Royle had soon got over her
disappointment, and was "A terrible tlirt,
until little Elizabeth got old enough to
tell how her godmother had 'kyed over
her new frock and poied it'--a beauti-
full braided blue French merino, with
which she had herself bedecked the
child.
"But the proud fire burning within
consumed the beautiful casket. She
wasted away, the hectic on her cheek
lighting up her white, transparent skin
and brilliant eyes.
s. was sent for as soon as she need
ed attendance. Mrs. Gray considered
she had quite enough on her own hands
as il was. Bessie Royle did not keep
her bed long.
"The day she died she sent for her
little namesake, had her seated on the
white coverlet beside her, and with her
own thin, transparent hands suspended
round the child's neck gold locket,
engraved with her own name and the
date, and containing a curl of her beau
tiful hair. As she was kissing her god
child and wishing her happier fate. /
heard "A noise AS if man was forcing
his way upstairs.
"As presaged, il was Walter Smith
son. haggard, untidy, with blood-shot,
Withholding eyes, resisting Mrs. Gray
and Mrs. Varey, who forbade his ap-
proach TO the girl whose happy life he
had blighted
"With the authority had years be-
fara a~arrisaI .,vn,- hin, -, a e;... .lor ~,
casion, led him back into the parlor
below, where he begged most abiectly
to be permittedto ask forgiveness Of the
angel he had destroyed But for an
abusive letter, which he owned he de-
served Git must have been from Mr.
Crofton), he would not have known the
mischief he had wrought.
81 went up stairs, prepared to- break
his wishes to the invalid.
"To my surprise, That is Walter
she said. II knew / should see him
once again before l died. Let him come
up
81 gave her a stimuant, took away
the reluctant little one, and passed the
conscience-stricken man into the room
with caution. saw heavenly smile
break over her face as she family ex-
tended her hand to him, and I closed
the door on sacred interview.
ain about half an hour the bell rang
violently. was in the room on the in
slant, followed by Mrs. Gray. Walter
Smithson was on his knees by the bed
side; the face on the pillow wore
strange unearthly smile.
"The thread had snapped-the heart
had broken in the very act of forgive
ness, and Bessie Royle lay dead before
her perjured lover, who rushed down
stairs like a manoc.
"Fearing some tragedy from his vio-
lence, hurried after him, and found
him rayinv and statnnnp callipev him,