The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1880-04-01
vain he pleaded for me to return; l

vain ne picaQeO LOT INC W io'uin,
would not. 1 could never trust him
again. He pleaded for one glimpse Of
his boy. would not permit it, saying
that l did not wish him to remember
the father who had disgraced him. l
might doubt his love for me, but l
could not doubt his love for his boy, and
l knew it was cruel blow 1 dealt him
with these words; but had grown hard
toward him and he had made me So
He left me, vowing to take away the
boy.
Who Harvey was, was soon to be.
come known, and. i was again the sub
ject of talk, either of censure or pity.
l could not endure to be made the topic
of conversation for the house, neither
could endure the constant dread of my
husband; so l left my situation, so shut
down my own misery that l could not
give even one sigh Of regret for the
beautiful scenery that at one time would
have filed nv soul with rapturous Joy.
I chose far distant village this time
as place of refuge. I was successful
in getting situation as seamstress for
one of the Summer visitors to that
place, and when she returned home for
the Winter I accompanied her was
happier with hel than had been since
leaving my own home. She knew my
history and did not blame me. She
loved the boy and SO won the heart of
the mother
The next Summer we again sought
the mountains. One day l was reading
in secluded spot, when gentleman
dressed in hunting costume approached
me. I had been slightly acquainted
with him the previous Summer and
knew his name. 1t was Stevens. He
raised his cap cautiously and made a few
commonplace remarks. He made no al
fusion to the past or the fact that we
had been acquainted before; yet l knew
he recognized me. He was stopping at
the same hotel with US and that evening
1 saw him bringing Chester up the
steps; and from that time they were
firm friends.
l could not help liking Lawyer
Stevens. He never threw himself in my
way, never questioned me, and was al
ways kind and obliging. One night he
handed me a paper; there was a marked
paragraph in it which | read, and knew
that henceforth l was free. caught
my boy in my arms and fled into my
own room, and wept the only tears l
had ever shed for the man who had
wronged me. do not think l forgave
him even then; but death had brought
pity for his misspent life; and in after
years I could say forgave, even as l
hope to be forgiven. He left his prop
erty to my boy.
1t was long time before l saw
Lawyer Stevens again, and when I did
thera wns no allusion made to the paper
by either of u.s. Before the Summer
was over he asked me to be his wife. l
refused, telling him that I could never
trust any man again. 1t was in vain
he pleaded; 1 was firm; SO we parted as
friends, not lovers.
1 met him again in the city. l had
learned to miss him since We parted and
welcomed him cordially, while Chester
climbed upon his knees, saying:
81 love you almost well enough for
my papa; don't you mammal
That gave him q new argument, and
one that could not resist; SO for my
boys sake promised to be his wife.
I have never regretted my second
choice, while my boy loves him devot-
eddy. He is the only father he can re-
member, and be is truly o worthy one.