The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1881-06-14

"Free!" be cried. "Aud, oh. Rose
need / tell you how ] have repeotei
the past! What day has there beer
thrssgh these Ioog ten years in which
I have not thought Of yos, looged fol
you. loved you, to NJ parliament
my misery and despair! Oh. Rose
my lovs!"
They he'd fosgostes nv Psesesce.
saw him seize her hands and coveI
them with kisss-saw her draw them
away and rise-white, agitsted
trembling.
"You ,nust not. you must u6e; II
10 too lAts-you do not know" she
murmured, and then the door sud
denly asw open.
Al elderly gentlemen sotersa-s
quiet. pleassnt-looking man. who
6osed to the lady and her friends
with easy. kindly foreign grace.
"Pardoa he said, a6ably. to "a
all; then, addressing Rose-"When.
ever you are ready. my dear. the
carriage waits; but do not let me
interrupt you"
She went to him instantly and
chung TO his arm. ] thought. - one
in peril might cling to Q steacfast
rock; there Vas Q disturbance in her
beautiful face that mirrored the
trouble Of her soul. Had her old
love come back from . dead Past into
the living Present to wreck her hsppi-
uess Q second time? feared so-for.
in some deep true hearts. the 6rst
lovs-though It may sleep, will never
die-and Of that number was Russ.
Honor. purity. self respect, the love
Of many would be hers. but what Of
|conteniment! what Of peace! Alas,
I fear she will know these no more
until her yearning heart shall fall
asleep again!
This is my husband" she said.
tremulously /; then to him-"Ernesi.
the gentlemen are old and valued
friends. but tonight. because / am
not we'll at all. they will excuse us.
Gvh-uisht. dear old friend"
with one sad. lingering look at Jacks
white face-"and good-tyew
hadn't word of comfort for Jack
when he came out Into the street nor
had he oue of complaint. Silently he
offered me his hand. "YOu want tn
he alone" l said. "All right. dear
old fellow" and he turned aud left
me.
Next morning he left the citv. and
remained away until Mile. Rnsits's
engagement ended. / was at the
opera often. and always noted how
her beautiful eyes lighted at sight Of
me. wistful, eager, looking for one
who never came. Once only she
asked me, "Where is he !'-and when
answered. "He has gone away" the
soft ewes swan with tears.
$50 best!" she sighed. "M.y God
give him what is denied ne-iorget-
fulness!"
Not one reproach. She would
have had him happy If she could,
although he had bliehted her happi-
ness. Truly, he bad cause to mourn
the madness that had cast her away
. pearl amongst wOmen-a pearl!
This was four years ago-Jack
wholly absorbed in business cares
heaping up wealth which 80 wife or
child will share-never spoke Of her,
and might have forgotten her. for
all ! know myself had we'll nigh
done so-when, last night, "A paragraph
in an evening paper recalled her To
my memory. She had died in some
southern city, and the paper described
her funeral. Poor. sweet Rose!
This morning Jack came int my
Office, looking baggard, worn and
pale. put the paper before him
without . ~ord.
He glanced at it and turned his
eyes away. then rose and stood look |
ing out the window toward the sky.
Il wac there. Bert, be said quietly. |
Il stood by when they lowered my |
darling into the grave. I've jus: come |
back. Do you know what ! thought
while they were burying her? Il
thought Of what you called me fifteen
years ago. If / had b~en an honor
able man. instead of . selfish |
my darling might have
been living and happy today, and
I-oh. God! l might have had .
wife whom l adored. a home that |
would have seemed like Heaven. |
children to cheer and comfort nv
latter days. instead of-this!"
He pulled out folded paper from
bis breast and showed me its contents
"A handful of grass from her erave?"
Was silent; what could say to
comfort him. when he had spoken
he truth? An old line went floating
through my memory-"Let him who
meets with pearl in the ocean Of life
AXE heed how he east il .wsy!"
Poor Jack had met With Q pearl.
indeed. and had played the part Of
he swine toward it. Remorse came
n too late. Dor will time comfort him.
Or now his youth and heyday are
'ast, and q Isnely old age awaits him.
suppose that handful Of grass from
loses grave will 60 With him to his
wn. Strs,ee inconstis iency of
uman nature! he loved her, and yet I
ierced her heart with q wound that
led forever in his own. An honor.
ble man in oil other relations Of =
fe. just. conscientious. honest. pure
, Rose Lestranee-a "pesrl among ].
and the one woman Of his =
we, he was-by HE own act and |;
d confeseed-a scoundrel! .
-Cheerfnlne-., courage and great &c