Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1880-12-02
My Punishment.

| ice in my bosom, and my life seems only
long, dreary waste-a punishment.
All, If my sin was great, | was sorely
tempted, and my punishment will only end
with my life.
When was it l first loved my cousin
Kate2 1t might have been when aunt
Barrie offered her soft cheek out of a
bundle of flannel for my boy lips TO kiss
the baby.
was wealthy, my father having left me
fortune when | was SIX years DID, that
had been nursed carefully by my conscien-
tious guardian till it nearly trebled in value
when | came Of age.
| Aunt, my mothers sister, had only the
smallest income from her dead husbands
estate, and lived in cottage not far from
the great house that would be my home
whenever l choose to occupy it,
My own mother had died when | was
| baby, and all home affection in my heart
| centered in aunt and cousin Kate.
Yet it never was brotherly love | gave
Kate after | was old enough to think of my
own home and future happiness.
knew that my beautiful house would be
| to me desolate and empty if Kate refused
to share it with me, and although she
laughed at me if l made love to her, nev-
er ceased to hope until Girard HopklHson
came to Barton.
| He was, without exception, the hand
soonest man ever saw. Yet he was with
out dollar in the world excepting his sal
ary as clerk in my guardians mandatory.
the Gordon Mills.
| had been all winter visiting my grand
mother, who had written me most I'M
ploring letter, begging to see me once more
before she died, aud seeming so heart
I broken whenever proposed to leave her,
| that / remained Intil she died early in
May.
had left Barton in November, and just
one week after my departure Girard Hop
kinson came to take position IN my guar
dams counting house.
There was nothing of the snob about
John Gordon, my guardian, and finding his
new clerk TO be gentleman. he invited
| HIM TO his own house, and introduced him
to Barton society.
Everywhere he met Kate, the belle of
| Barton by universal consent.
When l came home in May aunt told me
that Girard and Kate were engaged.
| l will not dwell on what | suffered.
Ny whole life seemed to me blank, but
| | had no word or thought of blame for
| Kate.
hid my pain as best could.
Aunt knew all, for my heart had been an
open book for her loving eyes all my life,
and when we were all together she accepted
my attentions as q matter of course, leaV
ing the lovers to take care of each other.
To aunt only confded my plans for
opening my own house in the winter. and
she consented to come and share my home
after Kate's marriage.
La October l went away to nerve myself
by absence for the wedding, and to pur-
chase many additions to the modest trous-
seau aunt was making for my cousin.
1t was ike thunderclap TO me when
nv guardian wrote to me that Girard had
robbed him.
''It was very clev, forgery he wrote,
land it has been traced directly to Hop
! kinson. Evans, who has been with ME
thirty years, has my perfect confidence,
detected the forgery, and traced it up. Of
course Hopkinson denies it, but it is too
clear case. Still, for his fathers sake, |
shall not prosecute him. He is the sen of
one of my dearest friends--dead many
years-and pared this disgrace. l have
discharged Girard, of course, and he has
left Barton, but shall keep the whole af-
fair secret. / have told your aunt and
cousin-no one else"
Kate knew then.
My heart ached for her, for l knew she
loved Gjrard, even as loved her.
| wrote to aunt, and received letter after
letter, telling me of Kates's grief, and her
firm faith in her lovers innocence
The weary winter passed, and Kate's
health failed, In her pain and humilia-
ton.
All Barton knew of her engagement, but
no one knew tie cause of her lovers deser-
tior, 80 that there was the bitterness of ap
pearing to be Tilted ID addition to the bur
den of knowing the truth.
| was shocked when | returned to Bar
ton to see the shadow of my bright beauti-
full cousin in the pale languid girl who
greeted me with Sisteriy affection.
| consulted our old doctor privately, and
he strongly advised change of scene"
''She is fretting here" said he, ''and
everythings reminds her of her faithlt SIS
laver. If she went away for year, she
would come back herself again.
Armed with this opinion | laid siege to
aunt, and the result was that we went
abroad, no time being set for our return.
1t was labor of love with me to win
my cousin back to cheerfulness, and if l
was lover like in my attentions l was at
least sincere in my devotion.
believed Girard to be a forger, one who
had robbed not only his employer, but his
friend, and honestly held the opinion that
Kate's happiness would be best secured if
she could forget him.
With this conviction and my own love,
| hold myself blameless that | tried to win
Kate's heart, even though l knew | never
could be first there.
Yet it was two years before ventured
to ask Kate to be my wife.
We were in Paris when she put her hand
in mine. saying
''You know all. will be your true
faithful wife, since you love me in spite of
knowing that my heart was giving to Cir
ard"