The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1877-11-11

u
There was a dead silence in the room as the
! lying words left my lips, and she grew SO
| white, and gave me such n look of anguish
that repented of my cruelty, and forgot my
at do not mean that Alice" 1 cried, "You
look i'll and pale. Believe me, was only jest
81 can bear it, Francis. There is nothing
on this earth that cannot be borne-in one
way other"
she turned and left the room. quietly and
sadly The sunshine faded just then. and
only q white pale light came through the
window. I 40 connected it with her sorrow,
that to this day I can never see the golden
radiance come and go across my path. without
the same sharp, knifelike pang that felt then,
as the door closed behind her.
Alice became weaker and grew really i'll. A
tour on the continent was strongly recon-
mended by the doctors as the fikeffest means
of restoration. 1t was impossible for me to
90; but some friends of ours, one Mr.. and Mrs.
Warrener with young daughter, were going
to Italy for six months and it was arranged
that Alice should accompany them.
They remained abroad nine months instead
of six. People wondered and joked about my
wife's deserving me; but only laughed, and
said, should soon go after her II she remain
ed away much longer; and they thought we
were still a model couple. Bat. had they
seen me sitting in my Office at night, over
Afices letters FROM Rbroad,-th they would have
known what gulf had opened between US
two. l read those letters over and over again,
with aching throbs going through and through
my heart, at every word. They were fnll OF
incident and interest, and people called them
beautiful, who had not seen the mixture OF
womanly passion and child-like playfulness
in her character that had seen, and which
Was to see no more.
At last she returned. came home tired
enough one evening to find letter lying on
my table, informing me that she wond be
home on the morrow. 1 went down to the
steamer to meet her. Oar enlargement had
intO m MI
opce; she should love me again!
was worn, baggard. l took a bath and
made careful toilet after my buried journey.
As WAS taking my last look in the glass. the
hotel waiter oame to tell me they had arrived.
L followed him, more nervous than l had
ever been before in my life: Wsrrener grasped
rener-bless her kind heart!-burst out crying.
"Oh. my dear Frank! am so glad to ses
you. And we have brought you yeur Alice
home, so well'
Next moment she entered. q little King
Charles spaniel frisking about her feet.
had her in my arms at once, bat 1T was not
until she kissed me that knew how cold and
"Alioe, are you i'll ?" asked, holding her
away from me, and looking into her face.
Her eyes met mine, hut their old light was
Not in the least ill. Frank" she said
have not seen you for nine months, and you
MY household fairy had fed, and could
only mourn that should never look upon her
sweet, young face again. 1t vas vas smother 9
Alice, this. i had slain my own Alice, and no
| thing could reanimate her.
I was like one in q dream all through the
day and, when we came home, l could not
wake. I had made many changes in the
house, and ali for her. I took her through the
rooms on the day after our return, and showed
her the Improvements ts She was pleased with
the furniture che admired the pictures and
the conservatory and seemed delighted with
the little gem of a boudor wbIch L had
pleased myself by designing expressly for her.
She thanked me, too. No longer ago than a
! year. she would have danced through the
rooms, uttering Ii Thousand pretty little ex-
clamations of wonder and delight and
should have been smothered with kisses, and
| called dear old bear" or come snch h5
! name at the end all of which would have
been very silly, but also very delightful.
think 1 bore it for month; bn0oue morn
| ing, as / sat at my solitary breaktast-fOr
Alice took that meal in her room now-the bit
ter sense of wrong and unhappiness and de-
sertion came ever me so strongly that went
up to her room.
| Are you busyf' l asked as she laid down
| her pen and looked around.
4" Not too busy to talk to you," she said.
"Alice, how long are We 10 live this life r
! She char ged color.
| What life, Frank -
:" The one we are living now. 1t is not the
| happy, loving life We used To live. You are
no5 mine eut rely aoti Lovingly as you once
were"
II know it," And Ahe sighed and looked
| drearily at me.
"Wny cannot the old days come back again.
| If i made terrible mistake, can you never
forgive it'll thought it was foolish for Us
to love each oil or as We did-at least, to she W
it as we diG-but have found nov that love
is earth's only true wisdom"
| She SMILED sadly.
Give me back that love, Alice, which l
would not have. o., give me back the lost
sunshipe."
rose from my seat and stood beside her,
but she drew back and shook her bead.
"a Frank, don't ask me for that"
81 shall know how to value it now, Alice"
"That may be; but have it not 10 give
You my poor Frank"
clasped her to my heart. The passion in
that heart might almost have brought back
life to the dead but she did not move. She
WAS like q statue in my arms, and only looked
at me and sighed.
"Too late! Too late, Frankp
"Will you never forgive met"
"Forgivef Do you think have one unkind
thought or feeling towards you, Frankf All
no But am chilled through and through
My love is dead and buried. Stand away from
it's grave, and let US meet the world as we best
may"
Ileaned my head upon my hands, and my