The Morning herald., 1876-11-03

~
Ing me In The lane, whsn be wonld know
me 70 be- alone 81
Mortimer was still gazing at her, when
something like great conviction suddenly
dilstsd his syss, and cause her to pause ab-
ruptly, and cry: gEsg !.
"aOh, Mortimer, are you angry"
mot at all my sweet wife, pray 80 on.
Did you love him2"
mo; but sometimes I thought l might
have done 20, had he not left US 10 sudden.
ly and whimsically, and has taught me to
learn your superior WORTH"
Mortimer did not evince any tender ap-
preciation of her confidence. He lapsed
into such distracted thought that the young
wife almost repented her openness. He
spoke again:
Maggie, my darling, could and suspi-
cious circumstance ever make you believe
evil Off"
She gazed at him in some alarm.
Because" he went on, as though she
had answered, I'VE have heard OF such
things, and it has just occurred to me that
a suspicion may yet arise in your mind.
/ and ~ distort my acts as to make them ap.
pear criminal. Should such suspicion
arise, do not doubt me"
When Margaret and her husband took
up their residence in the snug homestead
Of the Ironwood's she had forgotten, or en-
tirely put away this little episode Of her
wedding night. and more blythesome
couple had never before been known to
make merry at so many social parties got
ten up in their honor But things changed
when the bitter winds Of winter swept down
from the northwest. Mortimer was !oosing
flesh and growing pale.
W'lispering wonders began to aoatabout
as to whether the young couple lived hap
PLY together.
Margaret had felt this great change for q
long time, together with the fact that his
mental trouble would only be increased by
questions; yet, in spite Of ner tender care,
she saw MIN day by day shrink within
himselfand begin like some guilty creature
to dread all communication even with his
nearest neighbors.
One night the wife lay awake thinking
of this great cloud of blackness that had
been cast ever her happiness, when Nor.
timer suddenly started up in his sleep and
shrieked out:
"Oh, Dick! Dickl my brother, I did it
to save you!-ugh! where am l.
His wife laid still and pretended not to
be aware of the occurrence.
Margaret was about her duties the next
morning, q shade paler than usual, and
perhaps shade more solicitous for Nor
timers ease, if that could we'll be; and
having occasion through the day to 60 to
her paternal home, she was greatly alarm
ed to be thus bitterly addressed by her
father:
80 see by your white face that it has
come to you at last! l wish to heaven, girl,
that you had died on your wedding day."
She was so taken aback by this stormy
reception that she could only gasp:
! "What does all this mean, father?'
"What does it mean" reiterated the rich
man, gaining passion with every word
"Can YOU stand there with your paid face
and ask me what it means, when suspicious
are stirring the whole village? Can you
pass day after day after in the company OF
bis mother, yet see nothing in her crafty
silence? Can you behold your worthless
husband eaten up with remorse, while con-
firmations of his GUILT is hemming him
| in on every side-and yet ask me what it
means 1t means you and l are the dupes
of hypocrite. That; Mr.. Ironwood has
pawned his word to save his brother, and
that the vagabond, Dick, is a murderer,
for whom an innocent man has sunered.-
That's what it means"
"For shame, father! for shame! to thus
stigmatize my noble husband. You talk
to me Of suspicious care they, were
| not first bred in your own mind, and then
tainted others. My face is pale, and rye
heard the evil rumors; witnessed his moth
ers detected silence, and his own breaking
heart; together with your coldness ond the
aspel sions cast upon poor Dick-yet II al
the world believed him guilty, l would
! know him to be innocent, and never finch
| from declaring it either. He forsweal
himself who never, even as child, broke
his word. Oh, father, shame-for shame!
u One boisterous night, nearing the apring
| time, Mortimer grew SO weak that all save
one irue heart took him to be dying. Hel
faith was too strong in Gods justice fol
that.
| His mother sat weeping, heart-broken
in a corner, while Margaret unable to trus
her voice, Or, her burdened eyes to NEE
her husbands, sat silently patting his war
hand within her own.
Mortimer raising himself, gazed loving
|ly on his wife, and that which she hae
waited for so long had come at last:
II am dying with remorse for having
made myself perjurer. That's all !
thought was strong enough to have con
cealed my secret. On, ought TO nav'
been more sure as 10 who struck the blow
before I gave my word"
At this iuncture of affairs, loud knocl