The tribune. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1874-1876, 1876-12-20

he could hardly believe the wrecked old
man was his brother.
But what struck me, even then, as
strange, he did not shrink from me, nor
act as though he had injured me.
Robert" I said, when We were
alone, and calmer, "I've forgiven you
long ago. We won't speak of the past
let me only be happy in the bliss of
seeing you once more. I'll never come
around to trouble you"
Forgive me ?" he said, inquiringly.
trouble me-and we'll not speak Of the
pasta Why didn't you write to us,
Ralph Your poor little wife -
Don't speak cf herl" I cried, in
sudden agony. i" I can bear anything
else-spare me thatp
But, Ralph, there's something very
strange here. Why didn't you let us
hear from your Why can't speak of
her Since you are not dead-as We
supposed-why did you desert her9"
Desert her My Godl" and I
fairly laughed.
A horrible laugh, I dare soy, for
Robert turned pale. I could see he
thought was mad. I resolved to con-
troll myself, and since we must have it
out, talk it over. So, after turn or
two, came back. and stood by him
once more.
"Now, Robert, if there is any mis-
teke here. lot us understand it at once.
1 left you twenty years ago, in charge of
my wife, i'll San Francisco"--
" You did, and r.
"And you" interrupted, took
good care OF her, and did not hear from
M; and she grew tired of waiting, md
( loving shadow; and you-and you
loved her ~
"Hold !" he shouted, his eyes blaz.
| ing. "Who told you that infamous
lio p
"And she," went on, not needing
him" she grew faint and tired; and
sho saw your love, and she-returned d
| it -
Robert seized my arm as though he
would murder me but I went on,
cuoliy
" Hush, till have done. When you
received the money I sent. you were too
fpr gone to go back. She got divorce;
you married her, and left the city.
don't blame you."
| "And you you've believed this
| thing for twenty years 2" he said, calmly
| now, though it.was the calmness OF q.
| snothered volcano.
81 have"
"You have for twenty long years be.
lieved that your wife and your brother
We're infamously false to your
81 have"
I" Then hear me, Ralph, while I
sSear"-and his form seemed to fairly
dllate, and grow grand, as he said
" solemnly, that the whole story is a
most infamous falsehood That your
wife is as true to you to-day as she was
| fIla 6Qv laff har ~
| "What do you mean :" cried, franti-
cnly, overwhelmed by his manner and
his words.
"What do saw, Ralph. Oh there
has beeu some damnable mistake Hear
my story. After you left us, l strug-
gied on with the business, though not
succeeding very we'll. Susy dropped at
frst, but soon grew cheerful, and begun
to plan for your return"
| His words brought the dear little
creature 30 plainly before my eyes, that
l sunk TO the ground and covered my
| face.
AS weeks and months and years
passed on" he went on, slowly, "her
cheeks grew thin snd pale, and a hun
g,y look came into her eyes, I saw she
WAS pininS, and wrote letter after letter
to you, but no word's could we hear.
There came to me in simple envelope,
rected TO both of us, draft of five
Il ousani dollars, with not a word to
te II how or from whom it came. Or
O. urse we knew it was from you, but
W iether gift or legacy, who could tell2
"We instituted new inquiries. Moth
ii g that love could suggest was left un-
drne. At last we were forced to con-
ci tde that you were dead. By my ad-
Vice the money yas ipvested in a farm
so me distance from San Francisco, and
S''sy went to live on it, while started
out on q sort of vagabond, wandering
Ii 9, in hopes at least to find your grave
for we never believed you could be
alive these long years and never let us
hear. That life have lived for fifteen
" ars, returning once in three or four
" ars to see to the comfort of Susy; and
now find you"-
You find me-" I interrupted, "a
w'eck-a miserable wreck. who has
bilsted three lives by his criminal weak
ness, his childish credulity in believing
evil. and who will soon rid the earth OF
his presence" and started to 20, for
verify despair had seized upon me.
That / should have believed that hor-
ror for 80 many years, and find it all
stupid mistake; that I should have
thrown away my life, the blessed love of
my true wife, the warm affection of nv
brother, for an idle scandali It was too
much to endure.
Robert laid OBTAINING hand on nv
arm.
"But susy, Ralphi what shall say
to the loving little woman who has suf.
fered 80 much for you9"
Let her still believe me dead" I