The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-09-29
THE HISTORY OF al LIFE.
~ THE AUTHOR OF CAPTAIN GERALD" 1.-THE
RIGHT OF WAY" ETC
CHAPTER XX-(CoNTINUED.)


you back, for the sake of our child and
the past"
at is enough" she replied, more calm
ly. "But must not have you think my
life has been free from thorns all these
years."
And then, in few quick, burning
sentences, she told him Of her martyr
dom; her wretched fears and devices all
that time since Margaret Cell, finding
her out after years of search, had pusi ed
her way into her room Just before her
marriage with Mr.. Roper.
"And you endured all this for the sake
Of Mr.. Roper's wealthT' said Mr.. Irwin,
reproachfully, when she had concluded.
"Any moment you might have freed
yourself by the simple revelation of the
truth; and you refrained, and went on
boldly in your sin and shame"
at was so difficult to draw back"
~ should have fancied it had been
more difficult to 90 forward"
II never loved Mr.. Roper" she began,
but he interrupted her hastily.
"Hush for Heavens sake!' he said,
In stern tone. "That was your only
excuse"
He paced the room backwards and for
wards for few minutes, ponderng deep
ly and painfully, and then he came back,
and stood before her with the air of a
person whose resolution is taken.
"Euphemia," he said, II am sorry to
force your inclinations. but it is impos-
sible that you should go anywhere
else but to Mrs. Weston's. 1t lis neces-
sary that the whole affair should be con-
Quoted as quietly as possible--for Mr..
Ropers slke, and Mabeps, hereafter. 1t
must not be known why you are leaving.
We ought to avoid anything like scandal,
If we can. People will find a version of
Of the affair that suits them, but no ink
ling of the real truth need transpire if
we are only careful and discreet. This
we owe to Mr.. Roper, who, after all, was
more wronged than ["
The gray shadow came over his face
again as he spoke this name. She knew,
even better than he, how terrible the
blow must be, and what sense the
last hours agony had left her was directed
to one point. She would break these
tidings to Mr.. Roper herself. Who
should tell him as gently as she? It was
her duty to wound him herself, that she
might soothe him herself. Terrible as
were the words she must speak, they
would come better from her lips than
from the lips of any other living creature;
and so, in mercy to the man who had
loved her so truly, she would take this
task upon herself. She told Mr.. Irwin
this; and, to her surprise and relief, he
made no objection. Indeed, it had been
his own thought this would be kindest
but he had not believed that she would
ever find courage for such confession
"Tben," said Mr.. Irwin, "you will
await here Mr.. Roper's return; and nc
sooner have you told him your story, thar
you will go to Mrs. Weston's, where you
will find everything in readiness fol
your reception"
"This is hard, too," said Euphemia
iercely, ''when you know how l hate
Bessie Westonp
"Hate Bessie Westonp' repeated Mr.
Irwin, with the hot blood rushing in
food to the roots of his hair, "when she
is the best, and truest, and most estima.
bic Of women!"
She knew his secret then, and though
ihe did him the justice to acknowledge
even in this moment Of insane rage, that
he had never fostered or confessed to Bes
sie that she bore her-she had wild, pas
sionate, awful longing to stand between
the two-to march boldly up to Bessie's
very face and claim the place she coveted
10 much.
The thought sped through her like a
whirlwind, uprooting all her better prin-
ciples silencing conscience, possessing hel
fully, driving her to the verge of mad
ness
'1t shall not be-" said Euphemia, in an
awful inner voice, that sent a sudden
chill through the fever of her veins.
Mr.. Irwin looked at her, as he began
to feel some kind of compassion. She had
the air, crouching there, of some hunted
animal, who is at last captured. Only
her uplifted eyes had life in them; the
rest Of her face was as white as death.
II am going to leave you now" he
said, touching her arm to attract her at
tention. "Do you hearw
eyes, hear" she answered, languidly;
'sbut | may see the child firstw
"No; am sorry to refuse you, but
that must not be. She would know by
your manner that something was amiss,
and make all kinds Of inquiries it would
be difficult for me to answer. As she
must never know you are her mother, it
wouldnot be right she should be made un-
easy by any suspicion of the truth"
"How should she suspect% said Eu-
phemia, imploringly; "and yearn, above
all things to touch her hand once again
now that 1 know she is really mine"
Mr., Irwin shook his head again, still
more decidedly.
"Mabel is a excitible child, and more
over, a very intelligent one. The disor-
der Of your locks could not possibly
escape her observation, and consequently
! do not think it right to expose her to
such an ordeal"
"But if were to return TO you again,
she might know all then?' inquired
Euphamia aorarIy