The Morning herald., 1876-10-23

coming hers-but not Of his Marriage.
Since 4 VA not true, ths report may not
have reached his ear"
"And you'll Did You not speak Of it?'
mo, John"
"No? What explanation then did you
give of your marriage with me ~
"Her voice is faint with remembered an
guish bat the answers are ever straight
and true.
II don't understand you" he says.
"What did you say to him 2"
II told him was married, and bade him
90 away and forget me-"
"What! no more than that? And was
he satisfied Did he ask no explanation
nothingT r,- ree. ~-
"No, John, he was not sotisfed. Do not
talk about it-please do not"
The pain even now is greater than she
can bear. He pressed her hand more
tightly.
III will only ask you one thing more,
Mizpah. I know that you will answer it
with more perfect truth. Why did you do
this? Nay" las she hesitated), IL wish to
know"
because I was married woman and
my husband trusted me. Because-Oh.
John! forgive mel loved Gerald 80
dearly, he loved me so long, 80 well and
fondly, that dared not tell him any ex-
cuse for my apparent falsehood. knew
his perfect honor. I knew my own inno-
cence and yet could not-John, dared
not trust to either while we loved each
other. Please do not think i'll Of me. l
knew that I loved Gerald more than my
own life; and because loved him sent
him away.
She is on her knees now, weeping Bit
terly, with her face hidden on the wrin.
kled hand in which hers is clasped. The
freight fickers on the WALTON the bent
golden head. Only the shadows Of the
curtain fall upon the tortured face Of the
dying man. Very slowly he speaks:
81 thank God that the sin which dooms
me has purified one saint more for heaven.
You have made your confession, Nizpah
listen to mine. 1t was l who kept back
your lovers letters l who stopped yours !,
I who had that advertisement inserted in
the New Brunswick paper; l who invent
ed all the uncharitable gossip which 50
worked upon your sensitive delicacy. And
I did this because loved you; because l
thought that time and patient idolatry, and
every luxury that riches could supply,
would win your love away from the re-
membrance Of young fellow who proba.
bly did not love you half so we'll, and
could only have led you into poverty.
God only knows how have been pun
isned; not only now, but in every hour
and moment of these seven years which
have seen you mine, and not mine. For a
few months-not year, hoped. Then
you and he met; sn your fever you told me
that; and hope died forever. Each day
since then-every moment that has wit
messed your patient obedience, your silent,
accomplishing gentlensss; your sad little
face sobered into age SO early-has been
one long punishment"
"Hush!' she interrupts, she has sprung
to her feet long before, shrinking back and
away from him, with her hand clinched
upon her bosom, and face white and hor.
ror-stricken-"hush for PHYS sake l beg
ged you not to tell me. Oh! why did you
do it now, when it is all over, all ended
past any recallw
"Mizpah-," he begins feebly.
"Not now John, not now" she cries,
breaking into bitter tears. ~ will be good
in moment, but don't say any more just
this minute. Ican't think"
He makes no answer still. The shadow
ia darker on his face, and she has turned
to the door, when something, tome tender
womanly impulse, makes her come back to
the side Of the bed.
"Don't you think me unforgiving% she
| I have thought of all your love and kind
ness. John, do you hear me? John!"
There was no answer still. The fire.
light had died down in the CRATE. The
rain beats and walls against the window.
Outside the wind raves, and the branches
creak like the cries Of tortured spirit,
hut within all is silent, all still; for earthly
love is gone-called out to meet its God
and love unselfsh, love pre-sanctifed, is
left alone.
rHAPTER TIT.