The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1878-06-06

shadow--I did not know how impene-
trable: until that might, when, out in the
pale-faced moonlight, We stood beneath
the magnolia trees. Isaw him gasp for
breath as his eyes met the look of; pain
in mine; he trembled violently, and drop
ped my hands witha passionate gesture.
"Jessie," he cried. suddenly, facing me
in desperation, "you love M, aud 10,
God, love you so! And yet am going
to break your heart. This summer has
been dream of heaven to me; a. wild
hashcesh dream, in which such wretches
GO I ought never be permitted to indulge.
All, we'll, it is over now! Jessie, say that
you love me-oncc-just .Onccn'
;. I looked into his dark, sad ewes. II
do.''I answered, firmly. Ay, come what
might, that was true and earnest and un-
altcrable. He threw both arms around
ne, and, drawing me closer to him,
pressed one kiss upon my lips. No one
else has ever kissed them, no one else
ever shall.
"Cani you bear to. hear my story to-
night?" he asked, as loosencd the clirg7
ing arms, and stood before him, trying
hard to calm the wild, tumu|tuous throb-
bing Of my heart. Because he contin-
ued, you must know it; and !, shall go
away Tomorrow"
II can bear it," My voice sounded far
away, and faint. He pushed the dark
hair from his forehea' and, turning his
face away from my eyes, leaned against
the magnolia tree.
Give years ago." he began, in cool
dreary tone, "while travelling in Europe;
met the woman who has ruined my life
I can not tell you how she entanglcd me
in her meshes, throwing the net around
me with consummate art and skill suffice
it that she succeeded in her schemes, and
I was bound to her, pody and soul, in
chains Of CALLING iron. You cannot i'm
agine what my life has been since then
until a few months ago, when / received
letter from foreign land, telling me
that she was dead and was free. Then
met you, and our. friendship grew and
ripened every hour, into something that
can never die. To-day, Jessie"-he
paused and: clenched his hands fercely
together. ito day l received letter from
her-this woman-my wife-do you un-
derstand? telling me the report Of her
death was a mistake, and she is now on
her way to this country to join me. All,
God you cannot dream CT the agony that
has been mine since then! i am wild
with anguish and despair; it seems as if
l: should 20 mad or dle" .i,,
He paused, and once more turned his
eyes toward me. The moonlight was
pallid on his face, and showed the dread
full suffering which was his: / did not
speak; had no words; who could speak
at such time7 5.''' t.
"Jessie," he went on, brokenly, ''while
she--that woman Lives, I am fettered with
heavy chains. 1.cannot appeal to the law
for my freedom, for, vile as she is, she op-
crates within its pale, and justice cannot
reach her. There is no hope, Jessie,
none; we must bear our heavy burden as
patiently as possible, remembering that
life must end sometime." go:
Then he drew me to him for moment
and gazed silently into my eyes. No
word passed bis lips; he: pressed my hand
convulsively to his heart, and, turning,
went away through: the moonlight. ::.:".
All night eltat'my window, with my
head upon the sill, in trance of woe and
agony. When the morning cahe;1 arose
from my knees, and, throwing myself
upon the bed, slept from shce,
exhaustion. -
A few weeks later, in company witt
nv mother (she was all I had in, tht
|world), I started for Europe. I hopec
in other lands, and amid new and chang
ing scenes, to find some ,surcease to, mi
sorrow. I did not know then how hart
it is, to rid ones self of haunting .griet
for sorrow follows, like a gaunt spectre
whithersoever your footsteps tend; stalk
by your side, claims admittance to you
heart, and will net leave you.
We were on the sea at last-the beauti
, full. smiling, treacherous sea, 50 clam an
blue and peaceful above, but with sue
depths of woe and dispair within hi
: bosom; when the white faces turn upwar
to the light, aud the sea moss tangles i
!, the, floating locks, and the coral inse<
: |;builds where the mortal rest remains {
! /" those who 60 down to the sea in ships
= For the first day or SO I was confne
- to nv statcroonl, very i'll and dreary an
. hopeless. On the evening Of the secon
. da7 / came up on deck, determined
q obtain breath Of fresh air. Lying on
pile of rugs. with book in my ham
not Tor the readings, but rather as a
7 excuse for silence, familiar voice fe
on my ears. Trembling and agitated,
turned my head, and saw standing 4
my John Vandeleur! He put o.
his hand, but motioned it away; I da
. ed not touch it; T felt that it was mo
s than could bear. He stood gazing u
on me for moment. - -
i. i. "How came you here?" I faltcred,
= = last. ."..
u A spasm of pain crossed his white fac
"She!" he m,l+tered, savagely-" she
~ here-on bord. For the sake Of spari1
:, YOU the pain of chance encounters, 1 "
- going to Europe, But we met again, al
e and on board Of the same vessel. The
~ -. is strange fatality in it, Jessie" ~.
y. That night / was wakenedr from n
- sleep bv the rushing and roaring 'of t
- storm -fiend, the hoarse commands OF t
~ captain, and the s2rieks and prayers
terrified women. arose, and ,throwi
of on wrapper, I aroused my mother, a
at together we sought the cabin. It was
to scene of terror upon which I had ne,
berore gazed, and which hope nver