Daily Republican., 1881-02-04

IpoisON Ach w q bOIH
way; hence her position with MADAM
70 Everett.
Six months after her marriage t.
Homer the old lady died, to the gfea
griet Of both Homer aud Kstherane, TO
the latter, in her service, had grown b
have a reversnt Affection for MADAM
Everett.
During the winter In which my stor,
"opens, Katherine met In society & mai
whom rumor declared was her old love
During the evening Homer overheard
lsome malicious whispers which opened
his eyes. Mad With jealousy and de
jspsiring love, he watched the tw'
Iolosely.
3 The nan, Dwight Livingston, wa
Handsome, villsinously handsome
Thought Homer 6ercely. He had a isc.
and figure united with polished snd
fascinating manners, which made him
favorite in society; but underneath
heart so black that Katherine shud
, ldered when she remembered how nea,
her footsteps had strayed to ruin in the
/; dangerous magnetism Of his presence.
Homer, marking her paling cheek as
her gazo fell upon Livingston, groaned
4, In spirit, 80 sure was he that this
! handsome, smiling villain still! held his
wife's affections. And for hours after
thelr return home, he lay prone upon
the couch In his own private apart.
ment, fighting out terrible battle with
his agony.
| He laid no blame to Katherine. He
was sure OF his wife's purity and honor,
but he vas Wild with longing TO posseps
her lOve-her true and stesdtas, affsc-
ton and IL seemed TO hinl--hidsous as
he was-thRt she must ioathe the sight
Of him, and 0hafe under t1e bonds
(which compelled her TO live under his
roof.
On the night when he played and
sang the sweet old song which cpsns
my story, and which appealed so
strongly to his heart, Katherine, r.
turning home from her visiting aue
was q sort OF Lady Bountiful among the
poor people of the parish--came sud
ldenly upon Dwight Livingston.
There passed some stormy words be.
tween them, for Livingston endeavored
TO reinstate himself in her affections,
and Katherine Tepulsed him in iudig-
nant soorH.
Then Livingston, haffied ard angry,
swOre TO show her letters, which he
still retained, to Homer-l4tters the
tners thought OF which filled Katherine
with shame and anguish, for they were
written when, a young and unsOphis-
.icated girl, she had poured out her
whole sUu4 al the feet OF the man whom
she had believed 10 BE- all noble and
generous. However, she made DO com
promise with him. She hastpncd hUmeI
TO find her husband still at thu piaro,
playing over softly the air Uf his song.
Katherine's good angel whispered 70
her, then, and she listened.
Kneeling beside Homer, she laid her
head upon his arm and sobbed out the
story which had lain so heavily upon
her heart for weeks.
He listened in mingled wLIrl oil
doubt and rapture.
my wife," he said at last, 81 feared
yOu still loved him.
katherine shuddersd.
Thank Heaven that can trnly say
| do not" she replied. "Bnt, Homer,
you will hate and despise NE when you
See these letters--fOr he Will aurely
bring them to yon."
'l shall never read them, Kathe-
rine."
At that moment the bell rang ont al
impatient peal, and presently servant
announced "Mr. Livirgstou."
lie came in, smiling, graceful, ard |
insolent, in bis hand small package. |
which he gave TO Homer
"Mr. Everett" he said, with the
fainte5t possible snepT curling his
handsome lip, you will find enclosed
letters written iu your wife's cbirog-
raphy, which will no doubt be inter
esting to you. My motive for return
ing then will be appreciated by Mrs.
Everett"
Homer's hand closed over the pack
age, and lock Of intense satisfaction
flashed over his features. For o mo
ment he looked noble beside the other
man, despite the lstter's physical
superiority.
Dwight Livirggton," he said 'I
thank HeaveR that hold iu my hand
the last link between my wife aud
yourself. 1t is our wish never TO look
upon your face again. Ny wife has put
her trust in me-thus do / prove my
faith in my wife"
And with sudden movement he
placed the letters upon the glowing
cosls which leaped into little tongues
Of flames about the closely written
pages, while Livingstone, dumb with
fury, bowed low to hide the pallid
wrath in his face, and turning left
their presence.
That night Homer Everett was taken
with a violent hemorrhsgs of the lungs
Il was but the beginning Of the end that
was coming.
Gradually he wasted away, growing
weaker and weaker as the days Wentby.
His last days were his happiest ones;
for although he knew it TO be imposs!.
BILE for his wife 10 give him the first
passion OF her heart, he was satisfied =
hat she at least loved none other, and
hat she had quiet affection for him
1t least, 0
AS for Katherine, an autumn calm L
jettled over her lite-nOt unpleasant.
yet not free from a gentle sadness that h
ettled over her. =
She made the last days Of the man
Who had loved her SO well, happy be-
'ond mt asure; and he died blessing
Ter.
A fair and sweetly sad-facsd woman =
nth silver threads among her golden
resses, she dWells alone in the great
lansion.