The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-09-27

IL seemed 10 me as II the last year OF my
life were left behind"
"And You never thought of my misery
and despairW
"No; l thought of nothing but my re-
lease from all the wearing anxieties and
wretched stint which had been my por-
ton lately"
"And your daughter?" questioned Mr.
Roper, sternly.
"She was nothing to me then. The
mother woke in me for the first time
when | saw Mabel yesterday, and an odd
yearning | could not account for took
possession of me suddenly. 1t seemed to
me as if l could have gathered Mabel to
my heart of hearts, and held her there
forever"
"And you never guessed that she was
your own chidT
"How should l? had never heard her
name; and was too absorbed by her mere
presence to ask any questions"
"And you did not hear mine eitherW
"No. By some chance it was never
mentioned. Margaret Cell gave me some
kind of warning, which did not under
stand, about my having to buy the silence
of another person at Braybrook; but l
fancied it was but an idle threat, and
paid no heed"
"You see, Euphemia," said Mr.. Irwin.
with great gravity; "you have never been
favored in your sin and deceit. Your
conscience alone must have been to you a
daily, incessant scourge; and now that
the summit of your ambition is attained
and you have gained the riches for which
you would have sold your very soul, fate
interposes, and brings you face TO face
with the only person in this world who
can say to you with perfect authority,
you shall renomce all this instantly
this very hour-and 60 forth to worse
shame than the most terrible poverty
can ever bring"
Euphemia clasped both her hands i'm
ploringly together.
| "You will be merciful," she said, "for
the sake of the past"
eyes; will be merciful; but to be
merciful is also to be just. Mr.. Roper
is the only one now who requires the
most consideration at our hands, and if
the terrible shock of this discovery should
kill him, who could wonder? The worst
of my sufferings are over now, but my
heart bleeds at the thought of his agony,
for already his deep, tender love for you
is the theme of every tongue"
"Hush" exclaimed Euphemia, piteous-
1y. HupI tnrt,ra p,o foo Yy,I1nb ~
"Not half so much as I must torture
him when | tell him that the woman
whom he has cherished so truly was my
wife all the while, and was conscious Of
her own sin."
Euphemia covered her eyes with her
hands, and moaned faint depreciation
of his reproaches. But Mr.. Irwin hardly
knew how to pity her fall, for he had not
had the self-same temptation, and resisted
it manfully. He had not seen or heard
one word Of his wife for years. Bessie
Weston loved him. and in his heart he
was forced to own that he loved her;
and yet, not for one solitary second had
he compromised with his conscience, and
tried to persuade himself that amp such
marriage was possible.
Therefore, how should he sympathize
with temptation which his own princi-
pies had resisted without effort? There
was very little softness in his voice as he
went on.
"There is only one thing I can do for
you now, though heaven knows youmerit
Uarv 1ittln at INV haDd "
Euphemia looked up at him inquiring-
ly with her dim eyes.
II will ask Mrs. Weston to take you
in tonight, and to morrow will myself
restore you to your parents, and explain
everything to them. Mrs. Weston knows
the fact Of my marriage; and therefore, I
shall have very little to tell her. Whilst
you are collecting your things | will 60
and prepare her for your arrival"
81 can not go there" exclaimed Euphe-
mia. 81 can not indeed! l will do any
thing you bid me but that"
"Unfortunately, I know Of no other
place."
"Why not your house?' she asked,
suddenly. 'If everything is told, people
will know that I have right to be
there"
Mr.. Irwin shook his head gravely.
81 have already told you that Mr.. Ro-
per is my chief thought; and therefore,
it is impossible that you should pass even
an hour under my roof all the while he is
alive"
"And if he were dead" said Euphemia,
eagerly; for listening to the tones of Mr..
Urwin's voice-seeing him there before
her, a severe judge, and yet SO faithful
and pure himself-her old love coming
back to her with four-fold force, and she
loft as if she could make any sacrifice to
obtain the renewal of his confidence.
TO BE CONTINUED