Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-02-06

y
must remember that | am not
Maud Lee now"
GAS if | could forget that" he
said.
Then he burst out hot, aud fast,
and furious, though always keeping
his voice under.
"How could you serve me so,
Maud? How could you do this to
me?"
at was you who did it," she an
swered--" you Oh, man, can you
not understand what a woman,
wounded through her tenderest
feelings, must feel? We had quar-
relied you said cruel things to me
that Stung me to the qulckl"
81 was deluded by false ere
port" he said. "I was mad |
believed him. l."
eyes, | know" she said, sadly ;
"You have told me but what did
| know. l thought you had ceased
to love me. My heart was almost
broken. You had gone away, and
then this old man whom | had
known so long, who had been a
father to me, came to me. He was
rich, but that was not why l mar
ried him. He said that he was
nely-that no one ever loved him,
He asked me to be his wife. l could
give him esteem and tenderness.
had nothing more to give any one
and then, when ! did not conceive
what falsehood had moved you to
think i'll of me, l was very, very
angry-love had almost changed to
hate. l was alone in the world
The heart must cling to something.
| married him. Three weeks after
my wedding | knew the truth. You
wrote to me-begging my forgive.
ness-told me all-but it was toe
late w
In moment more | saw the
gentleman on his knees at my lady'i
feet.
cts not too late !" he said.
" Forget your great mistake, forgive
me- my folly. Fly with me to {
land whore we are unknown.
will never be ungrateful. My lilc
shall be spent in striving to repa,
you for the sacrifice you have mad,
for me. My darling, promise m,
this. 1t is right, anything is right
but that TWO who love as we dC
shall be parted"
And then | saw her tremble-
tremble all over and put out he
hands as though to give them tt
him. But it was all over in a mo
ment
FREDERICK" she said, slowly
"Once | heard some one say tina
we paid more dearly for our mis-
takes than for our crimes. We have
made terrible mistake; the price
is heavy-we must pay it. But i
in any wayI should pain or harm
that good old man who loves me S
If | should repay his Tenderness
by blighting his lite, should have
no hope for my soul"
"And II" said the gentleman
"and /? You do not care what
becomes of me? Well, l have de-
served IT,"
Then he covered his face with his
hands, and she put her hand on hi.
shoulder.
81 care-I shall always care,'
said she. eff | hear good of you
/ shall be glad. If trouble comes
near you, | shall grieye. l will say,
since we part here forever, that ! dc
not hope to forget you. All that
can do is to remember you in such
a way that l need not blush to dc
so. Now, go-go, Frederick, go!
He turned toward her with &
grave countenance, and held out hit
hand. She gave him hers.
And then she moved away, anC
did not look up again until he wa:
out of sight.
| did not dare to move then.
was III a terrible fright lest she
should see me.
Just then some one came gaily
along the path, whistling a dancing
tune. 1t was my mistress old hus.
band.
81 thought | should find you
here" he said. Glow pleasant il
isl How bright the moon shines
1t makes one feel romantic! What
have you been crying?"
eyes" she said, "Over something
that happened long ago."
Then he took her on his arm
and kissed her, and they walked
away; but that night l named the
day that | should marry Thoma;
Trefoil, for who knows what may
happen between lovers?
-ad.--1a--er-