The daily gazette., 1877-08-22

with the letter in her hand. The mis- :
| chief was all done; it was too late to re-
pair her own handiwork. She had part
ell man and wife; she hal made them
both wretched; for, in her heart of hearts,
she believed that Marian loved Paul
Thorpe as truly as If he had been a CAV
young man of three-and. twenty, instead
! Of three-and-fifty.
~ dare not tell the truth now" she
thought. "I dare not confess that nv
self took the signature away from the
letter, and that it was writtensby that
ne'ertdo-well brother, of hers, outiu Aus
tralia, that she never speaks Of, because,
poor fellow, he forged check once, and
| had to fee the country. But dare say
1t will all come right after o while-and
M arian ought TO suffer something to pay
her for laughing at me once.
But even the callous. heart of Miss
Phemy reproached her for her craft,
when she saw the roses fading away
| from poor Marian's cheeks, the elasti-
city deserving her light, graceful figure,
as day by day crept by, and no word or
message came from the absent hus-
band.
"If ] only knew what it was had
| done" sighed poor Marian.
But one day Miss Cldrissa came home
from the Charity School, pale, lam
guild, and heavy-eyed, aud within a day
or two the disease declared itself de fl nj
tely-small pox of .the most virulent
| type.
Servants fed the house, neighbors dis
covered that she needed change of air,
friends and acquaintances contented
themselves by sending cards inquiry
through the post, and even a profession
al nurse could not be obtained.
"I'm sure don't know what we are
to do" said DR.. Maynard, when it was
| discovered that Miss Euphemia, too,
was stricken down by the baneful di-
sease.
al will take care of them, doctor" i"
, said Marian, simply. az have had the
disease, and don't fear it,"
young lady," said the old physician,
"you are undertaking great care"
"They are my husbands SISTERS" said
| Marian. at is all can do for him no W."
The doctor thought it was a singular
speech, but he could not stop to analyze
| words just then; and so Marion took her
place at the pillows of the two sick wo-
men.
And through long days and nights of
! anguish and delirum she remained con-
stant to her charge until the balance
turned and they recovered
"You would both of you have been in
your graves, under six feet of earth, if it
hadn't been for this girl" said blunt DR..
Maynard. "She has nursed you As ten>
derfy and faithful as il You were babes
In her arms. Under Providence you owe
your lives to herr"
Miss Clarissa silently leaned forward
to kiss Marian's .blanched countenance;
Euphemia only drew sort of short
quick sob, and asked fer her writing
desk.
81 would not try to write just yet"
said Marian, gently.
"Unly one letter. l must" said Miss
Phemy, and Marian let her have her
way. SO she wrote thus:
"DEAR BROTHER: L have deceived
you about Marian, though l swear be-
fore Heavens tribunal L didn't know at
the time how much mischief was work
ing. She Is as pure and good as an an
gel, and through doing good to those that
despitefully used her, she has wrought
out her own salvation. / enclose the sig
nature myself tore off that fatal letter
which has estranged you both-the sig
nature of Marian's own brother, Guy
Russell. Do not reproach me, L have
suffered enough already for my crime.
Yours repentantly,
EUPHEMIA THORPE"
Directed to the care of his lawyer, the
letter reached Paul Thorpe at Glasgow.
where he. had Just arrived from Jana
da, and three days afterwards he stood
upon his own threshold. Marian herself
chanced to open the door to him.
"Panl! Oh, Paul My husband" she
cried out wildly.
"My Marianl" was all that he answer
ed
And then the reconciliation was COM
pltte.
Neither of them ever spoke word of
reproach to poor Miss Phemy.
sit is enough that we are happy once
more" said Marian simply.