Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1876-04-06

me talk about it,"
''Are you, then, not the little dauch.
ter Of Mr. C.f" asked. somewhat as.
tonished.
II am my mothers daughter" an.
swered the child, with grave dignity in
one so young, and minute after she
arose and quietly left the room. I sat
watching her white robes fitting through
the long shady walks opposite my win
dow, and knew that the child broodel
over some dark sorrow, for her ewes
were filled with tears. why was it, /
questioned myself, that painful thoughts
took possession of me as 1 sat there |?
IL seemed rs If / were sojourning in IN
enchanted spot, and that some horror
vas suddenly to break in upon me. At
my side, nearly covering beautiful Ia
bic Of letter-wood, were several costly
gift books. took them up carefully,
for have reverence for books, and
turning to the fly leaf of a splendidly
bound copy of Shakespeare, read ITO
Mary Frances F., from her devo-
ted husband, Henry p"
A thrill of surprise and anguish ran
from vein to vein. NV thoughts seemed
paralyzed. The truth had burst upon
me with such suddenness that the blood
rushed with shock to nv heart.
knew Henry F; had known him
intimately for years. He was friend
. toward whom all my sympathies had
been drawn, for he had seen such sor-
row as makes the heart grow old be-
fore its time. His wife, whom he had
loved, deserted him. She had taken
with her his only child She had des-
olated household; and, forgetting
honor, shame, and everything that per-
tains to virtue and to God, had fed
from the country with the man whose
arts had won her wanton love. How
could remain under this roof that now
seemed so accursed {? How meet the
destroyer of virtue-the fiend who had
reveled in such a conquest l could
only think of the evil they had done,
not what they might suffer through the
tortures of remorse. 1t was some time
before the seducer came into the room
where l still sat with the child, determ-
ined to meet him once more before ]
left the house. Oh how guilty how
heart-stricken his appearance Re-
morse sat on his forehead-looked ont
from his eyes-spoke when he was silent.
will You come to dinner:' he asked.
l hesitatcd. Should l partake of his
hospitality ?-the hospitality of one of
those fends in human shape whose steps
take hold on hell ? knew his guilt
why delay to declare it -? Why not,
at once, in burning words upbraid him
for his villainy and flee, as from pes
thence, his sin-cursed house The man
noticed my hesitation. He could not,
of course, interpret its cause. As he
repeated his request, the look of dis
tress upon his face excited n feeling Of
pity which, for a moment, slightly dis
armed my resentment, and under the
influence Of this feeling, almost unccn.
sciouslv, | passed into the dining groom.
Il am sorry little Nellie's mamma
q was glad he did not dare to use the
sacred name of wife)-is not able to
sit down with us. he said. 1T is many
months since we have had her presence
at our meals. She is suffering from
the effects of a slow fever, induced by
the climate he added gravely as he
motioned me to a seat before him
The table clittered with silver plate.
Obedient servants brought, on the most
costly servers, delicacies such as | had
never seen before. But the ske Teton
sat ut the feast. could not talk save
in monosvl bles. Nv host ate astily,
almost carelessly-waiting upon me
with many abrupt starts and apologies.
Wine came. He drank freely. Soon
he sent the little girl and servants from
the room. and seemed striving to nerve
himself for conversation.
You are from -- city. believe
he said nervously. l answered in the
affirmative.
Did you ever know gentleman there
by the name of Henry F-?' i
knew him SIR / said sterniy, looking
the man steadily in the face. and
know him also as ruined. heart broken
man. With an ejaculation of anguish
he put his handkerchief 10 his ewes. 1t
would have seemed hypocritical, but the
suffering on his face was uumistakable.
Perhaps You have suspected, then
he began i'll quivering voice Not
calmly, but with the words of an accu-
Ser. i told him what i had seen, thought
and felt.
Sir said he, in tones which / shall
never forget, If have sinned, God in
Heaven knows that have suffered: and
if in F.s bereavement be has cursed
me. that curse is fearfullv fulfilled
Poor Mary is dy;ng-has been diving
for months and l kave known it. 1t
has been for me to see the failing step
the dimming eve; it is for ME now to
see the terrible struggles of her nearly
worn out frame; it is for me to listen 10
her language of remorse that sometimes
almost drives me mad Yes, mad. mad.
mad : he said in frenzy, rising and
crossing the floor with long hasty strides.
Then burving his face in his hands. he
exclaimed, Too late tco late l have
repented" There was a long pause and
he continued calmly: No human
means can now restore nv poor com-
panion. Her moral sensibilit:es become
more and more acute as she fails in
strength. so that she reproaches herself
constantly. \ weary. mouruful sigh
broke from his lips as If his heart would