The Canton advocate. [volume] (Canton, D.T. [S.D.]) 1877-1897, 1880-12-23

word wound your wife, my dear friend
that you will guard her from all knowl-
edge of what has come to you tonight.
If you should ever hurt, Oscar-if
should know of your ever neglecting
her-I should feel perfect contempt for
you"
And now" he cried,-"oh,
Helen! we may never meet again-and
before God I promise all you ask
or husband; but let me hear you say
what is in your heart, Helen-just
once"
She looked up with dry hot eyes; she
came forward with swift movement
and stood near to him, but she did not
touch him.
Yes" she said softly, yet clearly
Eyes. Oscar, I love you; and now good
night, and good-by."
She glided from him, and went to
her room to do her packing Agnes joined
her few moments latter, and an hour
afterward she had left the house, with
kind, cordial words of farewell from
host and hostess ard promise to write
soon.
In the days and weeks that followed
life to Oscar Munroe was a strange eN
allied dream. He was conscious of be
ing kind and assiduous to his wife
whose secret he now shared-of per.
forming his tasks in a sort of somnam.
bulic state of feeling not the slightest
in the old pleasures, and beyond all
OF 4 steady pain and constant JOY
dwelling together, side by side, in hi:
| heart.
Helen was gone from him; Heller
| loved him. These two thoughts were
never absent from his mind.
So like dream was his life that he
did not see the grim presence tina
lurked at his threshold, waiting t
| enter.
You are very pale, dear" he said t.
Agnes; do you fell ill?"
And Agnes answered, No, only
tired-very tired Oscar"
you are too MUCH" he answered
Let us send for you mother7'
! ''As you please, Oscar" and thu
mother came-came to be alarmed ant
disturbed at the pale face and spiritles
manner of her naturally bright ant
vivaciOus child.
You are in an unnatural state
Agnes" she said, land 1 do not lik'
your cough Dc you feel ill?''
And again Agnes answered, No
only tired-very tired
Agnes needs change" said Osca
to his wife's mother Il think you ha(
better run off with her for few weeks
will join you every Sunday if you Dc
not 60 far"
So Agnes was taken down to the Sc;
shore, and for three weeks roamet
about for new strength and ambition
Then she asked to 60 home. Ant
she was taken home weaker and NOR
weary than she had left it.
\ few months later the child tina
had promised to gladden. home will
music, lay ike piece of marble worl
in its tiny casket. 1t never breathed
1T is lust as WE'LL" the pale mothe
said. Il shall find it in heaven to-moI
1ow.e
Agnes" cried the terrified husband
what do you mean? You are not &C
ing to leave me now-just as I have tn
mastery Of my self and can make yo'
happy"
They were all alone just then. Sh
drew down MS face to ners with he
fond, weak arms. Oscar" she said, q
am very willing to go, dear. [ know
ALL heard what you and Helen sai'
to each other that night. Hush, dear
I do not blame you'll might have seel
how it would be. I do not blame He
en-, either. She could not help lovin:
you-no woman could help that. An'
| know she did not mean to do wron
neither of you did. She save
you-saved you, dear, but, all tn
same, lost you. After l knew that,
did not care to live, and l am so gla,
God has been kind and will let me Gle
| would rather die and know you ar
a good man, too, Oscar, and a true hus
band to Helen, than to live and see yor
die drunkard So it is all right, dea
all right. Only it has been littl
hard sometimes to bear all alone
very. very hard when l feared Nigh
not die, and that might live on an
on, and know | could never claim you
heart l have felts lonely-so lonely
Oscar, but l am very happy now. Go
bless you ard Helen, and make 20,
very glad. Goodnight"
. And the arms fell away from hi
| neck, and she was dead
| Alone in his desolate home after tn
last dreary rites were over, Oscar Mon
roe received from a servants hand tina
ghastly thing-a letter addressed +
| the dead. 1t bore a California pos
mark
| He tore il open mechanically, an
read:
Ny DEAR AGSEs-I was married an hour az
and sail for China to morrow, Forgive me- dea
for not writing you before of my plans, but real
had none until very recently. | have been r.
ceiving the addresses OF 4 wealthy foreigner f
{ some months. but | never serious Y thought
marriage until week ago when he repeated h
proposals for the third time. Then decided
the affirmative, as you see. and he lost no time
keeping me to my wor,l He is very good ar
very wealthy, and loves me very devotedly, an
think shall be happy. We expect TO trav
most of this year. Write to me soon dear an
tell me of yourself and husband. Address
Hong Kong. Your faithful friend.
HELEN TYLER LAWRENCE"
And out under the silent stars Osca
Monroe walked that night, and kne'
what It was to be alone.
An Actress But not Artist.