The daily gazette., 1877-02-15

me. For time and for eternity we are
one." k
She began: "NIr. Wheatcliff-"
"My name is George. Call me by it.
You are Maude, and not Miss Ashley to
/ me-"
She went on, unheeding his passionate
interruption.
"George, have little history to re-
late to you. There must be no clouds
between us--no secrets. Once loved
another"
"No, dear Maude, you did not love him
you were only engaged to him. You
never knew the meaning Of that word un-
| til we met" 4 na - .-' rt i-4ri
She crimsoned slowly, her heart ac-
knowledging the truth. a .e5 r,l
81 was engaged to Paul Winchester.
The time Of our marriage was fixed. He
was to come to me on the evening train
OF cars. An accident occurred-many
were killed; he was missing. And he
has never been heard of SINCE"
eyes. know the whole story; have
heard it dozen times since l came here.
But that makes no difference. You are
mine. And though Paul Winchester
should rise from the grave and claim YOU
l. WONAN ooiAA AOCP my llSuls
She chung to him, weak and trembling.
A shadow fell between them and the
moon. t'......... I.
Maude looked up. A tall figure,gaunt
and spare, in solemn black, its CHASTITY
face bathed in the liquid moonlight, its
profile cut clear against the purple sky its
whole individuality-Paul Winchester.
Naude stood frozen motionless. Every
faculty was absorbed in gazing on that
ghostly apparition.
Following the direction of her strained
gaze, Wheatcliff turned, but the phantom
vanished in group of hemlocks, and his
eyes met only vacancy, lighted by the
pale, pure moonlight.
Maude's entreaties induced Wheatcliff
into the house--nor would she suffer him
to depart until the dawn began to redden
the eastern sky. She was oppressed by
terrible fear-vague and nameless bat
none the less terrible.
Wheatcliff was no tardy wooer, and
before he left her that night the we'd
ding day was fixed, and a diamond
cleaned on her finger in token of her
betrothal.
The night before the day set apart
for the bridal. Maude sat alone, at
midnight, in one of the great parlors
Of Ashley Hall. There was subdued
light in her eye and bright glow ON
her cheek which was not all owing TO
the red freight that fell around
her. H
| Wheatcliff's kisses were yet warm
( on her lips-she felt yet the lingering
charm of his presence. There was the
chair he had just sat in, the bunch of
scarlet fuchsias he had brought her
and there was one of his gloves lying
on the carpet where he had dropped
it. She picked it up and touched it
to her lips.
The door opened softly-so very
softly she was only dimly conscious of
some approaching presence, and she
did not look up until heavy hand
pressed her shoulder.
She stood face to face with Paul
Winchester. He folded his arms and
Regarded her with stern and gloomy
brow.
"Maude Ashley, is this your con-
stancy?" he asked, pointing to the ring
on her finger.
"God is my witness, Paul, 1 thought
you dead"
| "And had you known the contrary
would it have made any difference:
Answer me truly, do you love this
man?''
! A faint rosy flush broke slowly
over her face. He was answered. :.
Enough, Maude. l am satisfied.
Life will be worth little to me now.
But 1 must tell my story and obtain
your pardon. Nay, do not refuse t.
listen; it is the last favor / shall ever
ask of you. Before ever saw you,
Maude, was married. Early in life
met and fancied young girl in
one of the Middle States-the daugh-
ter of my landlady. She was fair,
simple girl, and / married her. ]
wearied of her full soon, and she had
never loved me. She had taken my
name only because her mother favor
ed the alliance. We parted at last
with high words, and / came North.
provided her with all the money she
needed, and when our little girl was
born settled upon her a life annuity
Just before !! met you saw notice
of my wife's death in newspaper.
was free, for the child had died some
months previously. When saw you
lOVcu IOr tue urSG Time, anu aIter
was raised TO the hight Of felicity by
your acceptance, l could not get cour.
age to tell you this secret of my life
feared your high, pure soul would
shrink from the man who had once, In
name at least, belonged to another. Sc
kept it hidden. Sometime would
tell you, said-somtime when I was
sure of your love. Well, took the
. the train on that night to come to
Ashley Hall. Judge of my conster-
nation when I tell you that entering
the car I sat down beside my own
wifel The recognition was mutual,
and think Alice was quite as deeply
Mortified as myself. 1t appears that
the obituary had referred to cousin
of hers bearing the same name, and
hence my mistake. The moments
that passed until l felt the stunning
shock of than terrible leap into the
river, were agonizing. The train ]
knew was express, and did not stop
until it reached Ashley. OF course
, could not think of going there then