The Canton advocate. [volume] (Canton, D.T. [S.D.]) 1877-1897, 1881-06-02

J had thought dead beat suffocatingl
with the cruel torture, even while sh
smiled and welcomed this woman t
her welcomed her, it is true
with cold, frigid courtesy-even in he
presence in a measure dropping he
mask, which covered her domestic
misery, as though she would say, "Se'
your work glory in it.
But all the time this dull, dead pail
was weighing down her spirit, until sh'
felt that she must break her letters
must free herself from the man whom
spite of his baseness and her own self
scorn, she still loved.
The time of Miss Cartoons visit was
drawing to close. Pierce had grown
strangely moody of late. Was the ole
regret still so keen within him? she
wondered.
Entering her house, late one after
noon, her butler respectfully detained
her as she was about to pass up the
stairs.
Pardon, madame, but Miss Carlton
called to bid madame good-by, and is
awaiting her in the library"
Retracing her steps, Elsa drew aside
the portiere Of the drawing-room, and
walked slowly toward the room beyond.
On its Threshold, voices arrested
her. For the second time in her life
she was an involuntary evesdropper.
Miss Carlton was speaking, and the
tone was low and subtle, and danger
ously sweet.
Pierce" she said, "you misunder-
stood me then. Do not misunderstood
me now. Pity rather than blame me.
Think what l have lost in losing you.
And you-you are not happy. | see
it know 1t. Al, Fierce, say to me
just once that you share my regret"
Sc would turn away, thought Elsa
she would not hear his answer, the
recital of his unavailing regret and the
wretchedness of his life; but her
strength failed her. With pallid face,
and hand tight pressed to ner heart, as
she had pressed it on that awful day Of
her awakening, she waited for the con-
frmation of that which in her own
mind was already certainty, But was
she dreaming? What was he saying?
you say, Miss Carlton, that I am not
happy. 1t is too true. Unsuitable in
your desire for triumph, you wish once
again to place my name upon the list;
then you will turn away content. You
are right give you your triumph. l
am not happy; No more wretched
man exists. All, your eye brightens-
your cheek flushes Watt have not
finished. | am miserable, because l
have bartered substance for dross, gold
for tinsel, honor for contempt. A year
ago married-married (shall l CONFESS
it p without, as l supposed, love-mar-
ried child that, through this marriage,
| might make you feel 1.-THE of the
agony l had endured through you. My
wife loved me then. An, can YOU
know-can you dream-what it is to
man to lose heaven, nor know that he
possesses it until it passes from him.
How, it matters not, but On our we'd
ding day she learned all of my peridy.
found myself the husband, not of
child, to be moulded to my will, but
'cornful woman, whose deep, passion
ate love | had deservedly converted
into loathing, and contempt, and
hatred, which day by day has grown.
until the barrier between us my long
ing soul can never pass; for have
learned to love this woman with a
measurleess love, such as the feeling
which once swayed me for you COM
pares as little as mans feeble torch to
the God-given sun. Yet my love is as
hopeless as it is enduring. l never dare
tell her. I could not bear the scorn
within her eyes. You have your tri-
umph, Miss Carlton, though not, per-
haps, in the form in which you most
desired it."
With naughty bearing, the proud
beauty turned to leave him, but some
one on the threshold barred her way.
Pierce" said low, sweet voice,
you said you loved me, and love in
deed is blind. Oh, my love, my love
May come home at last?"
With glad light on his face, he
opened wide his arms, and as Elsa
sprang to their embrace, out from the
sunshine of their new-found happi-
ness as from the sunshine of their lives
in this their bridal hour, Miss Carlton
passed unheeded, with the knowledge
gnawing at her soul that she, too, had
cast away a pearl Of price, though with
her it had gone forever, never to be
found again.