Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1881-06-15

ana q muf10Q fomaIo uSuro entered. lie
stared up with bounding heart; he
hoped it might be Pearl, come at last to
testify her faith in him. The woman
flung back her wrappings, and Parthe-
nope, pale as some shadowy visitant of
that dreary place, stood before him. He
d1bw back from her with a gesture of
disgust.
care you here" he said, sternly, "to
mock me with the fate your own malice
has wrought upon me?''
CT am here to save you," she said,
gently.
CT will not take my safety from your
hands," he cried, fercely. "For some
evil reason of your own you have plotted
for my life. Take it; [ will not bargain
with you
"Luke," she moaned, "wretched as
you are, [ am a thousand times more
miserable. Death is all that threatens
you. [ would gladly exchange with you
if I might be rid Of the burden of re-
morse and shame that is bearing me to
the earth. You say true. I did plot to
criminate you, knowing you to be inno-
cent. I aimed to have your life in my
hands, that [ might save it and make it
mine. On the evil impulse of the mo-
ment, put the bar in your hand and
had you accusedof my fathers death. I
believed that I could save you then; I
know that can save you now"
But what was your object?' asked
Talbot, in wonder.
"Luke!" she cried, hinging herself
abiectly at his feet, "I love you. See
what an awful thing my love must be
when I can sacrifice every womanly
sentiment to it. But do not care. It
is too late to shield myself behind any
false pretense. More than life, or honor,
or pride, 1 love you, as l loved you
from the day you entered my father
house. With some women, Luke, love
is a gentle emotion-all meekness and
submission. Such love is my sister
PEARLS. Other women love like evil
spirits, and their love is deadly to them
selves and all around them. [ am one of
those women, Luke. But do not mis-
take me. I have nourished no vain
hopes since that dreadful night. There
is no longer any hope left me in this
world"
"Poor girl!' said Talbot, gently, eff
this be true, God knows forgive you.
My own heart is sore enough to urge all
charity for you. I, too, have nothing
worth living for
Yes," cried Parthenope, "you have
long life of happiness before you, bless
ed with PEARLS love. Weak as she is.
she has never been untrue to you. [
have poisoned her against you, so she
could not but believe in your guilt. 1t
shall be part of my penance to restore
her to you"
"Then all will beforgiven and forgot
ten, answered Talbot. "Rise, my poor
sister, and be comforted."
"Comforted," she said, raising her
tear-stained eyes to his, "where shall I
find comfort In this world %
He stopped to rise her up, and would
have kissed her, but she drew back with
bright spot on her haggard cheek.
"Not now," she whispered; "not till
all wrongs are righted. Luke
With bowed head and lettering step
she left the cell. Three days later Tai
bot was taken into court and formally
acquitted.
"Young man," said the Judge, with
emotion, "your life has been saved at
the expense of noble woman's. Go to
her and thank her for the sacrifice as
best you may, for your gratitude and
the worlds applause are as nothing to
her."
Fearing, he knew not what, Talbot
fastened to the Ulmer mansion. A sur
geon's gig was standing before the door,
and weeping servant admitted him.
He was led into room where he saw
Parthenope lying upon sofa, and beside
her, holding one of her wan hands,
knealt Pearl, her frail form shaking with
sobs. One glance at the white face and
hollow eyes of the elder sister told the
sad story.
"What has happened?" he exclaimed.
"There is blood on your dress
"She has received wound in the
breast,' said the surgeon, who stood
gravely by. "She is beyond human
aid"
"I have earned my pardon, Luke, F"
murmured Parthenope, with a faint
smile. ''Even you Will forgive me now,
as Pearl has, for [ have told her ALL
There was good in my heart, even if it
took an assassin's knife to find it. I
knew you were innocent that night, for I
saw that the house had been entered by
thieves, and my father murdered by
them. But I hoped, by casting the
blame on you, to bargain for your love,
when I could offer you your life for it..
It was mad hope. [ might have
learned how futile it must be from my
own heart. After you were taken away
I searched the ground beneath the win
dow and found coat which one Of the
Williams had flung off in his flight. I
recognized it as one which I seen on
one of the two Migrants who had
been lurking about the place during
the day. [ secreted it until my time
should come. But in my ignorance
OF the law I had made terrible mis-
take. AS your trial progressed I saw
that my plan must fail, and unless I
made the whole shameful truth known
you must die. I resolved to do it, and
save you, as I promised you in the
prison cell. But I was spared that.
Secure in your arrest and probable con-
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