The Democratic advocate., 1878-12-28


came to her voice. "It was but for min
ute, as I said. Afterwards | understood
how impossible it was" She sighed bit
terly, and went on ID wonder if this is
to be the punishment for my sin and folly
that [ am never to know the fate OF
those | deserted 2"
"That girlish sin and folly, as you cal
it, dear wife, has been expiated long since,
was the answer. "Let the dead past bury
its dead. Do not make yourself misera'
able by raking up its ashes"
"I am not unhappy" she said, softly.
':Why should I be? Every wish is graft
fed save one-that of reconciliation with
my parents, and perhaps it is right this
should be denied me.
HAS it never occurred to you that they
may be dead ?" asked the gentleman, look
ing at her compassionately.
"Many times" she answered. "But L
cannot make myself believe it. Something
seems to tell me that they are living, and
in want"
"Oh, that is because the agent we sent
over to Ireland told US your father had lost
his property. You would naturally think
of him as poor after that.
"Yes, and when pride is joined to pov,
erty, the struggle is harder. Father was
a strange man; stern, and naughty, and OBJ
stinate; but under harsh exterior hid one
of the warmest hearts that ever beat.
can understand why he left ireland SC
suddenly, and covered up all the traces of
his flight, lest those who had known him in
his prosperity should witness his humilia-
tion. He could not have borne that; ii
would have been the added drop of bitter
ness that would have choked him. But
mother was different; so meek and gentle.
and was the only person living who knew
how to manage him. Every one else was
sure to see the worst side of his nature.
"Ah yes! you have told me of her be-
fore. But I cannot understand, Kate.
why she never answered your letters. You
we're but seventeen when you eloped with
that villain; mere child; and surely she
might have given you some words of help
and comfort when your heart was almost
broken by his baseness. True, he was
YOUR welded husband, and held you by a
bond stronger than that of parents; but
their silence was cruel, and l cannot for,
give them for it.
"You do not know how had tried their
love. My father warned me against the
man, NV mother told me of his falsehood
and wickedness, and l deceived, betrayed
them both. Oh, I was guilty of such base
subterfuges, it seemed as if demon had
entered into me, and was no longer my
real self! Whatever they said only in,
creased my obstinacy, and made me more
infatuated with the object of their censure.
Besides YOU must remember, my father
had reason to think robbed him the night
of my departure, though the theft was
committed without my knowledge, and by
the wretch into whose hands had trusted
| my honor and happiness. That | could
have been so blinded to his real character
seems impossible now, but he had win
ming, plausible manner, and [ was vain
and foolish, fond of 4attery and admira-
ton"
"You fed to America at once, did you
not: and wrote home from there ?"
dyes. My husbands villainy was first
revealed to me on board of the ship which
took us over, I accidentally came across
the money he had stolen from father, and
recognized the purse that held it as one L
had knitted myself. | asked for an ex-
PLANTATION; and he gave it boldly, gloating
over the idea of what he called just and
righteous vengeance, instead of the hate
full crime it seemed to me. Ii was then L
found out there had been feud of long
standing between him and my father, and
that it was for this he had married me,
and thus struck his enemy to the heart. "
"Though the villain is dead, it makes
nv blood boil to thinkof him, Kate. But
did YOU not mention all this in your let
terg-the vile plot, the stolen money.
eyes, and more too. | told of my des,
olate condition ip New York, alone and
friendless, for as soon as we landed L FED
from the wretch whom the law had made
my husband. He followed me, prosecuted
me, prevented my obtaining any respecta-
Bile employment; and oh the terrible life
that 1 led those two years that he lived
1t is dreadful to say it, but his death was
actually relief"
"And they never answered your let
ters?" said her husband, indignantly, II
cannot understand such vindictiveness.
"The first one was returned unopened,
she answered; "of others l never had any
tidings. But am sure they would have for
given me had they known ALL 1t may be
that the letters were intercepted. The sus-
picion has occurred to me lately that they
fell into my husbands hands, and that he
remailed and stamped the first one to de-
ceive me and prevent my writing others,
"Don't call that man your husband,
Kate. 1t makes me shiver. He was ca
pablo ofanything, and have no doubtyour
suspicion is correct But surely you wrote
after his death p
~ did not" she replied. II was so ut
terly heart broken by all that had occurred
as to believe myself an outcast from love
and kindness forever more. You know
what I suffered, and how went from
place to place, vainly seeking employment.
The stage was the only means of livelihood
that offered ITSELF All can I eyer forget
from what life you rescued me, the hum
bic ballet girl?"
"But, remember, you said it was from
love not gratitude, that you became my
wife. For 1 am old enough to be your
father, Kate, and had you refused me what
I craved. 7 would have adopted you as my
daughter
"Old in years, but young iR heart, she
answered. off my first marriage was o
wretched mistake, my second is indeed
blest, and crowned with such happiness as
never hoped to enjoy"
The carriage had reached the suburbs
of the city by this time, and now stopped
before large house, With an old-fashioned
hospitable aspect, very inviting,
@Home at lastI'' said the gentleman
jumping out as nimbly as if he had been
Younger. "Come Kate
She followed, leaning on his arm went
up the steps and into the house. No
further allusion was made by either to the
subject of their conversation during the
n II Al. ~ kont n