Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1879-01-02

mere sne Is, my kiI-Joy, He hus'ViSu
under his breath.
On the morning before Christmas we sent
out our gifts. | was busy In the kitchen.
supernte uding matters, but just at dusk.
was seized with sudden illness and Tell
down 10 dead swoon.
The household was soon IN an uproar.
but as they told me afterward, Harold
came In opportunely, and catching me In
his arms. bore me up to my chamber
When l awoke to life again, the Christmas
festivities were over, and the New lear
had come in. Day by day my husband sat
beside me, and watched and waited to
hear something OF my Christmas gin.
was sure he meant TO get II, but Harold said
never word. At last | resolved upon
venture.
Did Kriss kringle bring me no gift at
all?'' asked.
Harold flushed and hesitated, and then
he went to the dressing case and brought
me a gold ring.
Il got this dear" he stammered, you
were so Ill, or would have got something
prettier."
let him put it on my finger, but was
inexpressibly disappointed. | had SO set
my heart on the emerald spray aud | was
hunt to the quick because Harold had failed
to get it for me-but said nothing.
A week after. my husband was suddenly
called TO New York to transact important
business matters.
Il am so grieved to leave you, Aine," :"
be said. "for you are weak yet. but the
matters are urgent; however, my stay will
be short, so cheer up dear, and have roses
on your cheeks 10 welcome me"
IL almost broke my heart 10 have him
go; a strange presentment that | could not
shake off. warned Tue that our separation
would rot be brief one, but kept my
fears 10 myself.
Two days after Harolds departure,
kathie received dispatch, requiring her
immediate presence at home, aud she pre-
pared to depart at once. While she was at
her packing. sauntered into her chamber
And when shall you come again2" /
questioned carrlessly.
We'll. with the blue birds, perhaps. I'm
sorry can't stay wiki you till Cousin llar-
old gets back. You look dreadinlly pale
and weak"
Size went on folding her dresses. and
presently she came TO her laces aud rib
bons.
Won't you smooth out my aces, dear'''
she said, putting the box ia my lap. 'Mam-
una will scold If she sees them la such a
iumble-O, dear, there goes my jewel
case"
Aud down 1t went. showerng lts bright
contents around my feet. Pearls, and ru-
bies, and rings aud brouches, aud, flashing
like the tail OF a comet. a spray OF emeralds
with a diamond solitaire in Its center. |
caught 1t up In amaze.
why. kathie." said, where did you
get thisg-'
She flushed aud stammeredviu utter con-
fusion.
80. didn't mean you should see that. -
she half sobbed, Cousin Harold would be
angry, II he knew"
did my husband give you that:'' ask
ed
''Oh. Allne. don't be angry She cntreat-
ed, Iii was no harm-he gave 1t 10 me a
Christmas gin, aud told me not to let you
know. | know II was wrong To take il, but
II VAS 50 pretty"
And then she threw her arms about me
and sobbed upon my shoulder. But put
her from me and iottered back TO my room
with pain at my heart sharper than death,
itself He bad given 10 her, the gem | 50
coveted.
A. noon she went, aud In the wane OF the
afternoon entered her chamber. There
were bits OF ribbon and faded flowers
strewn upon the carpet, aud amongst them
the scrap of q torn letter. | picked one
up and glanced over it. scarcely knowing
what did. 1t was kaihe's own writing.
No, Harold Davenant," it ran. don't
ask me to do mat. l cannot meet You in
New York, and yet, o, Harold, | love you
l love you. All, God, why did she ever
come between u.s.
Standing, there, with the crumbed frag-
ments 10 my hand, saw it all, Ms hus.
band was false to me, And then and there
/ fnOk rHsnllfinn n lnns
his face again. The sunset OF the next day
found me at my girlhood's home. and In "A
week my uncle and | sailed for Europe.
In Rome, the grand, old city of the Ca-
sars. with the murmur OF the Tiber IN my
ears, and the soft italian sunlight stream
ing In through my windows, my little babe
WAS born, my boy who WAS worse than
fatherless. But despite our desolation he
grew and thrved.
For two years We wandered. we three.
my uncle. myself and our little one. and ia
ali that time l did not even hear my hus-
bands name. Then we returned to our
native land and TO our old home. There
were letters in our agents hands, one bear
ing fresh date, for myself.
Come 10 me, Aline, | am dying" Ii RAJ,
land ! must see you. -Cone! III mat
ter Of life and death. Come! KATHIE"
went down TO her home amid the or
anse groves. She was gaspng in life
last sgonies when l entered her chamber,
| her pearly face scorched with fever, her
violet eyes sunken and dim. She knew me
| in All instant and caught my hands eagerly.
'Aline," she painted, "it is almost too
late, and / must tell you-God will never
| forgive me unless do. told you false
| hood; Cousin Harold did not give me that
emerald spray-he got it for you. and had
| II when he came home that afternoon and
found you i'll. In his fright he threw of
his coat, and the casket fell from the pock.
| ct. found it and the devil tempted me to
keep it. He searched for it everywhere.
but would not let him know. hated and
| you because thought he loved me once,
and then you won him away from me. So
l kept il, and when he had gone, told you
it was my Christmas gift; then | wrote the
letter that you found torn on the floor.
But Ii was all a lie-yOur husband was true
to you; now you know all-will God ever
forgive me. can you forgive me Aline?'
| She died with my arms about her, and
| my words OF forgiveness in her ears, and
then went back to nv babe.
dread even to think Of the days. the
months. the endless years. that followed
l advertised for my husband. Watched
prayed. waited; but he did not come
Then took my boy and went back to the
| old sea-hOme.
| found it inst as he had left it. On the
table In our bridal-chamber, was letter
full Of love, explaining everything, how
he had lost the emeralds, and grieved SC
because l was disappointed. With it was
an instrument OF writing, which made me
mistress Of all his wealth. My dear, true
husband. and l had wrOEged him So
Should never see his face again?
| We settled down in the stately old home
my bOy1and l, and day by day told him
of his father, who would surely. surely
come back to us some day. But spring
followed spring. the pOmp OF summer
crowned the ocean heights. and winter
winds walled along the desolate sand reefs
and still we were alone. All our prayers
and tears seemed of 40 avail.
At last there came q November night
wild with storm and darkness. The sky
WAS like ink. and the thunder of the surf
and the hOarse cry Of the sea, shook our
old home to its very foundations.
l soOthed my boy to sleep. but all night
sat 1t the seward window listening 10