The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-04-28

| married; that he had written TO you
instantly, and got no answer?'
ale spoke of his letters in the one
that reached me--the one that told me
he was coming here, but not of his mar
riage. Since il was not true, the report
may not have reached his ears"
"And you-did not you speak of itY'
"No, John"
"No! What explanation, then, did
you give of your marriage with mer
81 told him l was married, and bade
him go away and forget me"
"What! No more than thatH And was
he satisfedY Did he ask no explanations
-nothingY"
"No, John; he was not satisfied. Do
not talk about it--please, do not"
81 will only ask you one thing more,
Mizpah. | know that you will answer it
with perfect truth. Why did you do
this? Nay,"-as she hesitated-"I wish
TO know
"Because | was married woman, and
my husband trusted me. Because-oh,
John, forgive mel loved Gerald so dear
ly he loved Ile so long, that dared not
tell him any excuse for my apparent
falsehood. | knew his perfect honor; |
knew my own innocence; and yet could
not, John, dared not trust to either while
we loved each other Please do not think
i'll of me. knew that / loved Gerald
more than my own life; and because
loved him, / sent him away"
She is on her knees now, weeping bit
terly with her face hidden on the wrink-
led hand in which hers is clasped, Very
slowly he speaks
81 thank God that the sin which dooms
me has purified one saint more for heav.
en-. You have made your confession,
Mizpah: listen to mine. 1t was | who
kept back your lovers letters; | who
stopped yours; | who had that advertise
ment inserted in the New Brunswick pa.
per; who invented all the uncharitable
gossip which 20 worked upon your sensl.
tive delicacy. And did this because
loved you-because | thought that time,
and patient idolatry, and every luxury
that riches could supply, would win your
love away from the remembrance of a
young fellow who probably did not love
you half 80 well, and could only have led
you into poverty. God only knows how
| have been punished, not only now, but
in every hour and moment of these seven
years which have seen you mine and not
mine"
"Hushw she interrupts. She had
sprung to her feet long before, shrinking
back and away from him, with hands
clenched upon her bosom, and face white
and horror-strcken. "Hush, for PHYS
sakel begged you not to tell me. Oh,
why, why did you do it now, when it is
all over, all ended past any recall?'
"MizpahI" he begins, feebly.
!.'Not now, John, not now" she cries,
breaking into bitter tears.
He makes no answer. The shadow is
darker on his face, and she has turned to
the door, when something, some tender
womanly impulse, ma,.es her come back
to the side Of the bed.
"Don't think me unforgiving," she
says; 81 do forgive you--I shall soon
when have thought of all your love and
kindness. John, do you hear me-
JohnH
But there is no answer still. The
freight has died down in the CRATE
The rain beats and walls against the win
dow Outside the wind raves, and the
branches creak; but within all is silent
for earthly love is gone, called out tC
meet its God.
y Z
"Mrs, LIE Feuile, may introduce my
husbands cousin, Mr.. Dacres? He i,
quite lion with us; only just returned
from two years travels in distant
lands"
Mizpah looks up. She is sitting Sigh,
and graceful in her widows dress, one Of
a fashionable crowd in fashionable Lon
don drawing-room. Two little sp is rush
into her cheeks, and her eyes leap W
with a sudden light, as she puts out hel
hand, saying:
"Mr Dicres md I are old friends"
He does not act like an old friend. HI
docs not seem to see hcl hand, but bow,
with grave formality; and, after wore
or two of commonplace civility, he move
quietly away, and leaves the room.
So they meet again, and 50 they part
, The lockct which bears her name-tht
name with its quaint, sacred meaning
"The Lord watch between me and thee
, when we are absent one from another,stiI
hangs al his watch chain; but he has no
forgiven her yet He never will.
t Twilight again. Indoors, wood firt
t sparkling merrily, an open window
s draped in lace curtains, beside the win
dow, Mizpah seated in a low chair
There are steps in the passage, and tht
Q flush grows deeper. The bells keep ring
, ing, but Mizpah's heart beats too loudly
t to hear them. The doors open, and sh,
Y on her feet, her beautiful eyes shinin,
through dazzling tears, her clasped, quiy
ering hands outstretched, Gerald sees he
standing, like some medieval saint. TIL,
! next moment she is in his arms foldet
down upon his heart as though he coulc
0 never let her go again.
1t is not tor long time that an,
sensible word was spoken. The bell
| have rung their joy peals all unheeded
and up above the purple hills the mool
? hangs like lamp of gold on high.
"My darling" Gerald says, "do yol
know | could scarcely believe it when
got your letter this morning. | neve
t deserved such an answer, Aizpah-in
deed, | scarcely dared hope for one a
s ALL"
!; glove does not go by desert" Mizpal
+, answers, "and you see could not bel
loving you, Gerald. 1t grew in me. BE
! sides, | felt it would came right some day
y But, oh, / am glad it was not delaye
muCh longer"