Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1880-12-29
Ernest! where are you? Let go, /

say!
"Maud-Miss Brinsley, " said Bernard,
in those deep, thrilling tones OF his, 81
cannot-indeed L cannot-let you gol
Stay one momeDt-only one moment!'
How that rich voice rang in her ears!
Despite herself, it moved be strangely.
She had never heard it since that night
they had parted, as she felt, forever.
"Surely," she painted, breathlessly,
for she still struggled to get free,
"surely you will not be guilty of hold
ing me here by force? Release my hands
at oncer'
"Not yet" answered Bernhard, in
great agitation. "Not until you have
heard me speak. l feel that I have now
one frail hold upon happiness, and L
cling to 1t as drowning sailor might to
fragment of wreck, And my life,
what is it now but wreck! Maud
Maud, as you may one day have need to
ask for forgiveness yourself, let me beg
of you to hear me!'
"Release mel" was all she said.
With stifed groan he obeyed her
She was free.
But her arms dropped down to her
side; and after taking one hasty step
At that instant the church bells ceased
with startling suddenness their changing
peal. The hour of midnight had almost
come
Trembling in every limb, with her
heart beating almost to sufocation,
anxious to flee, yet feeling it impossible
to move, she stood spell bound, as it
seemed, by the solemn stiffness all
around
MAUD" said Bernard, brokenly,
"the bells have done; they will not ring
again till the New Year comes. The du-
ration of the old year may now be reck-
oned by m1nutes-nay, seconds. Surely
this should be a time for me to invoke
all the gentlest feelings of your nature!
By the love you once had for me, do not,
oh! do not condemn me to another year
of misery, of woei / am here, an almost
heart-broken supplicant, and my sole re-
lance is on woman s forgiving spirit. I
have wronged you, Maud; I confess to
it with grief, with shame. But how Bit
terly have repented OF that act of folly
none can know except myself-none ex-
cept myself; for could you guess how
bitter, how sincere has been my repent
ance, you would at least have pity for
me, if not forgiveness. Do not leave
me. Maud; do not crush me with depair.
Ere the New Year comes let me hear one
word of forgiveness-only one-and /
will be content"
Great as was the wrong this man had
done her, Maud felt that the love which
all her efforts had bfen in vain to cast
out was still dominant in her breast, and
urging her to crush down that resent
ment which she had thought she must
ever bear toward him.
Her brain whirled; she felt sick and
faint; and then came the solemn strokes
of the old church clock striking the hour
of twelve.
"In another moment" said Bernard,
sit will be too late. Maud-Maudi
Forgive--forgive!"
One after another came the strokes
upon the clock until the twelfth was
reached, and then for few seconds,
which seemed like an age to those two
on the veranda, there was again that
impressive silence.
Maud put her hands to her throat
she felt choking. She tried to speak,
but not even murmer issued from her
lips. Down on his Enees sank Bernard;
with outstretched hands he grasped her
dress and turned his angu1shed gaze
upon her.
What did he see? Could it be real :?
A mist came over his eyes, and then he
felt trembling hand touch his, while a
voice in the faintest whisper murmured:
!" Forgiven Yes-yes, Bernard For
given -
cat last !"
With one spring he was on his feet,
and pressing the loved one in those arms
which he had feared would never encircle
her again.
Then, with wild, mad peal, the New
Years chimes rang out upon the frosty
air. Now low, then high, and anon fall
ing into softer cadence, but speaking to
Bernard's ears with joy inefable.
And how Maud chung to him, while
she so5bed and cried with hysterical
violence.
"Thank you, darling!" said Bernard,
huskily. "Thank you for those words!
This is indeed a happy-nappy New
Years Day for me! Speak again, dar-
ling! Tell me once more that am for
given ?"
g Forgiven ?" sobbed Maud. 8. For
given freely; and what is more, the past
the dreadful past, which even now
makes me shuder as [ think about it
that shall be wholly aud absolutely for
gotten as VII as forgiven! / will never
speak of it-never allude to it in any
way. Promise me that no mention of
that subject shall ever be made again!"
Heaven bless you, Maud! I fain
would speak; for if you knew all, you
would find some pity for me!''
"No, no-not a word! Not onei We
have both sufered-but the suffering is
over now. 81 8 M
"Aud you viii trust me again %
Absolutely and entirely! have al
ways felt that could never do so, but
love conquers, and know now that you
are as dear to me as you ever were!'
Again and again did Bernard clasp this
generous woman to his heart, and when
she heard his vows uttered with an i'm
presslveness that left no doubt of their
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