The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1881-12-03

aptly to surround her; but still, he is
relieved to think her days are not all
spent in this baroness.
And then his gaze goes back to her.
While he looked into her face, he was
not able to heed her dress or her sur
roundings; but now he sees that the
deep mourning she wears is of the very
cheapest, although fresh as if recently
put on. His heart is stirred within him
at the sight. He says in a low voice;
"Your father"
"Died three weeks ago."
This she answers, not uncovering her
face. ..
He says, after another pause:
"And removed here afterward?"
"No. Long, long ago. When first
we left the dear old home. The room
in there was his; he was never able to
leave it after | first brought him here,
until he left it for his grave"
"And this was your room, BessyP'
She understands him. She looks up
with faint, wan smile. "What mat
tersP He never knew what it was
like; and could cushions and carpets
and sofas make life any easier to meP"
my love could have made it easier
can make it. if you will have it."
She has tried to interrupt him with a
hurried gesture; but he will not be in
terrupted. The he adds:
81 came tonight to say it. would
have said it years ago if you had not
lost yourself to me-"
''Lost-yes; but not I. John Hes
keith, you do not know There, why
should say more? 1t is so long ago
since | was lost to you, you cannot care
much now. So we will part to-
night"
ave will not, Bessy" He says it
resolutely, drawing her hands away
now, holding them fast in his own. For
he cannot be mistaken; there is look
in her eyes that tells him how hard to
her would be the parting-as hard,
perhaps. as to himself ''We will not
part"
She yields to him in so far that she
does not free herself when he draws her
to him. But then she turns her sad eyes
on him.
John, will you make it harder for
me? Let me 60 in silence-l have kept
IL all these years.
"You should not, if / had known
where to find you, my darling"
81 do not know. / think l should
have kept it, even if l had not heard OF
your marriage just before"
"Keep silence still then, Bessy. You
are speaking in riddles; but it is not
their answers | have come for. l have
come for the answer to Just one ques-
ton: Bessy, do you love me?''
A faint smile crosses her face, but
does not tighten its sadness. She says,
softly:
eff you care to hear it-yes. Stay"
her sudden movement disengages her
from him. Il love you, and l will not
marry you. l would rather you would
not ask me why"
"You require too much of me-" he
interrupts her hoarsely. ''You tell me
that you mean to spoil my life and
yours, and that l am to take it on faith
that you are right. 1 will not take it
on faith. l tell you plainly, you must
prove to me that you are right, or
will never give you up"
Again that wan smile crosses her
lips, but does not touch the shadow in
her eyes.
81 will prove it to you. then. 1t is
easily done now. If you had come a
month ago l might not have spoken.
But now, that he rests in the grave, l
may tell you that am Richard Lestre.
the swindler's daughter. 1t has been
long time since he was convicted,
and served out his term of punishment;
but, perhaps, not so long, that in your
boyhood you have otheard his name"
He has; she sees it in his face. She
goes on: 81 heard it for the first time
when the paralytic stroke came, which
impaired his memory; SO that he went
back to the years before he came to this
country, under the name you know him
by. When heard it, you will under
stand my one aim and end in life was
to pay back the people he had ruined
in the old life-to pay them back out of
the fortune he had amassed in the new;
know he meant to do it. So much /
have gathered from his rambling speech
from time to time. The sum is nearly
cleared off now, and my poor father
but will not speak of him; l cannot
expect you to feel with me there
ado not?" He has come to her
he has drawn both her hands in his.
"And this is what you would have part
us, BessyP / cannot bear your burdenP
you must suffer alone?'
She raises her head quickly.
II do not refuse your pity, John;
take it gratefully. But will not have
it in the stead of love. And that you
should love my fathers daughter -
81, who loved your father, Bessy"
s'John-John-"
He draws the sobbing woman closer
to him.
1--WE will not make light of the sin,
my dear one, but neither will we of the
repentance. And, Bessy, remember
this; if you withhold yourself from me
you withhold the one thing / have
looked for and longed and waited fol-
every day of all these years since we
two parted"
l am still sitting in my window, where
/ my opposite neighbor in that low room
next the roof of the clearinghouse across
the street. comes to her window and
draws down the blind. And see no
more shadows lowering about upon the
| wall. They are only shadows. after all,