The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1879-01-23
Goodness! how that letter stunned

Goodness! how that letter stunned
me! Bella was by that time married
She and her husband were to be with us
on New Years day, and they should
bring with them a New-Years gift for
Cousin Adela, as a thank Offering for
bringing them together. Their photo
graphs were inclosed.
saw only one. Yes, it was Edgar's.
There was no mistake.
The house was at once in hustle of
preparation. Again 1 slipped out to
hide my agony and prepare myself for
the coming trial.
Dreamily / went along. l saw moth
ing before me but that meeting on the
morrow and the revelation it was sure
to bring. My mind seemed chaos, in
which thought was lost.
All at once [ found myself on the
reedy margin of the lake, as the silver
circle Of the moon was rising above the
mountain-tops. And there I stood,
looking on the dark waters, while some
thing seemed to whisper to me that
there was peace; that I need not meet
the proud bride and my ineonstant love
unless chose; that 1 might hide my
SORROWS and secrets there, and none to
be the wiser
My foot was on the brink. There was
step on the stones behind me. I
turned; and I think my half-forned
purpose was visible in my face, as [
once more confronted old Elspa, weird
and witch-like in the MOONLIGHT, warn
ing finger held up.
Sharp were her words, sharp as my
need. She babe me go down on my
knees, and thank God that he had sent
her to save me from my third peril-the
peril Of body and soul. What was I
pulling over? What right had I to
fling away the life that was given for
the service of others? How dared
tempt death, loving the creature more
than the Creator? She had heard me
raving to the winds when I thought
myself alone, and had kept watch
upon me. And she babe me go back
home, and pray to be forgiven, and to
trust the Lord to make His dark ways
plain" ID. Of. .....
She took my hand and led me back
like penitent child; said to my aunt
that she thought / was not well, aud,
by her leave, would watch me- through
the night. Something, TOO, she gave
me, and slept.
When / awoke a chaise was at the
gate, and, before ] could fasten my dress
with my trembling fingers, Bella had
burst In, radiant with Happiness, and
flung her arm around me.
"Come, Adela, make haste!" said She
Edward is all Impotence to see you
and show you our New-Year's gift"
+ Edward! I gasped.
eyes, my dear, Edward! Did you not
know his name?"
1t was all a tangle. followed her to
the hving-room below, where the great
holly bush was hanging, and there stood
q stranger, who was introduced to me
as James Edward Neville, my new cous-
in-and surely, too, Edgar, my own
Edgar; for he held out his arms and
caught me as I was falling.
He had been best man at his cousins
wedding, and Bella had only seen him
few days previously. The postman
must have lost another letter, one Ed
gar had sent to me. The photograph
had been inclosed by mistake. The
other would be in the lost letter.
Old Elspa kept my secret WE'LL. But
| never forgot the lesson she had taught
me; and, though Edgar carried me
away from Cumberland as proud wife
as Bella, we took good care of old Elspa
for the rest of her days. Casselps
MGgazi11e ./