Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1881-07-28

The stern, grave face of Ernest Oar
rell was sterner and graver still-even
Lillian might have shrunk from it then
and Marian, the woman who had
blighted his life, fell at his feet.
"Ohl Ernest, my husband-my
much-wronged husband-forgiYe mef'
she cried. 81 have suffered deeply
ever since that day 1 left YOU"
''SufferedP repeated Ernest, in cold,
rigid tones. "Have you ever thought
of what sufferedP"
Eyes, yes; ter thousand times" re-
piled Lilian's mother, in voice we'll
nigh chOked with emotion. "But mine
has been the undying worm of an ac-
eusing conscience. Oh, Ernest, 1 have
been justly punished for my wicked
ness. But never knew how dearly
loved you until lost you--until 1 had
sacrificed that which 1 would have
given the best years of my life to bring
back. Remember what 1 have always
been-a spoiled, petted child, with new
er wish ungratihed, and it seemed 80
hard TO face poverty, even with you.
l was very young-only seventeen. re
member, Ernest-and all through the
dim vista OF years that lay before me ]
saw nothing but want, penufy, and de-
privation. L fled in a moment of mad
ness, delirium, anything you like to call
lit-leaving behind me that cold note
in which / bade you never seek me.
did not go home, for my parents would
have Immediately communicated with
you. l went to an uncle that loved me
only too well-sinful wretch that /
was-and 1 told him lie, that you had
deceived me, and that l married beg
gar whom believed to have been rich.
He was bachelor, and lived secluded
life, away from all relatives and
friends. think was the only crea-
ture he loved on earth, and we two
lived alone.
"At his house my little child was
born, and it was then began to think
and long fer you. l wrote and told
my parents-as soon as l was able-oi
what had done, and bade them seek
you and bring you back home. They
wrote, know, but never received any
answer; and so 1 thought you had
treated me as l deserved, and had re-
solved to forget me forever. When
Lillian was three years old my uncle
died, leaving me his heiress, and i took
this house in which l have lived ever
since alOne-quite alone, with my
child. Oh, Ernest, how 1 have longed
for you, and prayed to heaven to send
you back TO mel l have seen your
name in the newspapers sometimes
and know that as an artist you have
risen to fame. And now, Ernest, fol-
our child's sake, forgive me-take me
back, and try to think of me as lenient-
ly rs possible. know that you can
never love me again. don't expect
you TO-; but"
Indeed Marian, you are wrong; /
have never ceased To love you," inter.
rupted Ernest's cold stern voice. IL
have been as truly your husband in
heart, all through these bitter years,
us If we had never parted. L have
wept for you and prayed for you, too,
over and over again. But"
"But you cannot take me back. No,
nor exclaimed Marian. weeping 81
was wrong to ask it; only thought for
Lily's sake"
"And, for Liy's sake, WILL" said
Ernest 81 love my child too well Ia
part with her now. Rise, Marian, my
wife-my beloved wife-the past shall
be forgotten; blotted out as though il
had never been, and we will begin Our
marriage life again"
81 am not worthy. Oh, Ernest. j
have never deserved such love as thisI'
said. Marian, as she was clasped in he1
husbands embrace.
You shall make yourself deserving
it is all in you hands now, remember -
he said, with grave tenderness, and
looking into the depths of her beauti.
ful eyes.
How long they remained thus, in
happy silence they might never have
known had not little hand, the
touch of whose lingres Ernest
Darrell had felt before, been placed
within his own.
He looked down and met the up
turned gaze of his child. In moment
she also was gathered to his arms
while blessing fell upon he fair younl
head,
And as she had fallen like sunbeam
across his path in the beginning, 81
did she continue to the end; anC
through the happy years long after
ward he could only look back, with jo,
and thankfulneSS unspeakable, to tn
day on which he had met her by tn
side of the brook, carrying her baske
of water lilies.