Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1879-05-15

ring in the New Year, whose burden
for Claudia would be just what the
old had heaped on her shoplders-
woe, woe, unutterable woe, almost
uncomfortable.
After that the days went ON and
on, and the January days freighted
with snow and ice, and bitter with
terrible cold, or days genial and sa-
lubrious with southern breezcs and
cloudless skies, were as nothing to
Claudia, because of her husband, and
her own fault. While he, wrath long
ago subsidized, but pride yet too warm
to go to his home, wandered all over
the fair face of the world, restless,
miserable, unhappy, yet, strange
paradox as it may seem, ever yearn-
ing for the woman who was his wife,
his darling-the woman who had
been so cruel, so crueli
But somehow his restless roaming
had brought MIN home again, and the
last of the bright winter days found
him in his hotel, not mile from the
mansion where he knew Claudia was
Claudia, who hated him; who had
said she hoped never to see his face
again.
And, I am sure he had utterly for
gotten he had sworn never to look
upon her face again.
They were so near, and yet so fal
so hopelessly severed, yet so fate
fully united!
Then, one day, it came to her SC
unexpectedly, so suddenly, that il
shocked her into white, trembling
fear-the casual report that Mr..
Merle was in the city. at the st.
Eustace, and not looking well-in
fact, very shockingly broken IN health
and appearance. Then her heart al.
most broke with loving sympathy and
pity.
81 will go to him! will 60 and
lineel at his dear feet for forgiven .ss
Oh, God, go before ne and prepare
him to take me back to his love
again!"
So, before she tasted another meal,
Claudia went and dressed in her qui.
etest dark dress, and IN an unosten
tatious little hired coupe was driven
to the ladies' entrance of the hotel,
and asked to be shown to Mr.. Robert
Merle's room
And then with pulsing heart and
eager step, she followed the corridor
to No. %, where she hesitated Sec
ond before she raped, her face fairly
anguishful in its intense anxiety, her
breath almost stopping, for fear lest
she might be repulsed.
She had dismissed the man who
escorted her; then, gathering all hel
courage, knocked on the door, sc
fearful, so hopeful-knocked, to hea
no answering summons to enter.
And then she raped again, louder
while q sudden deathly pain seizet
her at thought that came to her
What if he be lying dead within?
A little exclamation of unendura
BILE agony came from her, and in
desperation of fear she turned tn
door-knob, and found the door un
, locked, but the room empty Of til
dear presence to whom she had com
to go down on her knees before.
1t was such little thing, that b
had gone out, on business, for .pleas
ure, for health but it smote her t
the soul with an almost uncomfortable
agonized disappointment, and i
seemed to her like presentiment.
"ft is a sign,' she said, walkin!
about the room, and kissing the pill
low where his head had lain, and lay
ing her cold cheek against the cush
ions of the chair, drawn up beside
the table where his writing-desk stood
at is a sure token that this heart.
tinued. On, ,'TR5e9aaNapt is to be con.
ever woman suffer as l do?" "''
For ten, fifteen minutes she wait
ell, and then went back to the clerk
simply saying she would wait no lon
ger for her husband; and because ht
knew her SO we'll he was not at al
surprised when she begged him no
to mention to Mr.. Merle that she hat
been there.
Then, heart-sick, disappointed
despairing, she had herself taken Il
her magnificent, desolate home
magnificent and desolate as she hat
left, but desolate never again, for
standing in the. reception-room, ca
ger, expectant, her husband wa
waiting for her, to catch her in hi
outstretched arms.
/ "Claudia! my wife! have come
to be forgiyen!"
And, light shining suddenly ol
her tair face that might have been re
fiected from an angels, she clung
agitated, to him. ..s.
"Oh, Robert! God is so good t.
us, after all Can you ever forgiv
me, and love me again?''
And the latter life began, NOR
blessed aud beautiful than the former
for never again was it marred by dis
trust, or jealousy, or temper.