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

There was no reason to delay our we'd
ding. and made every preparation to he
married on the 18th of May, and sail for
home early in June.
Aunt banished me to another hotel for a
week before the ceremony, to have kate's
undivided attention In the trOuSSedU, and
other details of the wedding, for we had
many friends invited, and had resolved to
have grand breakfast after the return
from church.
On the llth OF May | received "a letter
from my guardian. He wrote:
my DEAR BoY,-You will be as glad as
| was to hear that Girard is an innocent
man. l cannot be too thankful that new
er openly accused him of the forgery
Evans died last week-cOmmitted suicide.
He has been robbing me Systematically
ever since | took him into my full conf
dence. The forgery was committed To
cover a loss by speculation, but he has gone
on from one venture To another until dis
covery was inevitable, and suicide seemed
his only escape. He lett full confession,
and fortunately | knew where TO find Hop
kinson. | wrote TO him at once, and he is
now in Barton III Evans place, and with
his salary. Need | say he Is still faithful
to kateI | enclose his letter to her.
There it lay, the letter that was to des-
troy my whole scheme of happiness.
put Girard letter unopened into the
flames of the gas burner, and watched ii
burn To ashes.
Then folded away my guardians letter
which had some business details intended
to copy before destroying it.
What excuse could make for delaying
our return to Bartonl
Worn out already by mental excitement
left that question open, undecided
whether to take aunt into my confidence
in go far as to tell her OF Girard's return to
Barton.
| heard more than one comment upon
my pale face at the wedding breakfast, but
everything passed Oh well, and Kate was
my wife.
With Kate my own l had thought to
defy fortune to injure me, but before the
honeymoon was over | knew that my wife
would be dutiful and faithful, but never
loving.
We had been married nearly two months,
when one morning Kate came into the
room of our London hotel, where | sat
reading.
Upon one preteXt and another | had de-
layed our return to Barton, and We had
been some weeks in London.
looked up as Kate came in, and her
ghastly face and set lips absolutely fright
ened me.
Before l conid speak, she held out to me
my guardians letter.
You asked me to clear up your table
drawer" she said, and this was folded in
another paper, but SO that read one line
-'Girard is an innocent mani Then
read the letter. only ask you one ques-
tion-did it reach you before we were
marricd2"
could not lie to her, with her eyes riv-
eted on my face.
Before" | said.
And you destroyed the incIOsure9"
"Yes."
She uttered no relroach.
She simply put the letter on table be-
side me, and left the room.
But it killed her.
For months she faded away, coldly duti-
ful to me, gently affectionate to her mother,
but crushed by the weight of her misery.
Her only hope of happiness was gone
when her quiet affection for me turned to
bitter contempt, and faltered in every at
tempt to win back even the dull semblance
of love she had tried to show me.
am writing this IN my own home at
Barton.
Kate's dying wish was to be buried here,
and we brought her home to place her be-
side her father in Barton cemetery.
Yesterday the coffin that held my heart
was lowered into the grave.
Aunt knows all; she has forgiven me.
and will share my home.
1t was her hand that burned the fatal
letter, and no one has questioned us about
it.
My guardian has the idea it reached me
after my marriage, and Girard shares this
belief.
But know that my treachery has killed
the only woman l ever loved, and that my
life will be one long agony of remorse.