Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1881-06-23
be gates and up the steps to the pOrti-

Then across the wide hall she
dragged him, laughing and chatting
gally The while, into luxuriously furn-
ished room, where her mother sat.
A beautiful woman, with dark hair
and Oriental eyes. rose from an otto
man at their entrance and came toward
them. At least. she came half way,
and then tottered hack, with a death
ly pallor overspreading her counten-
auce; while he-Ernest-dropped Lii.
ans hand and stood gazing at that
agonized face.
'Marian-my wlfeI
Ernest! Oh, is it possible that we
meet at last 2
There was a dreadful silence, during
which, at sign from her mother, Lili-
an fled, and those two were alone-af-
ter seven long years.
The stern, grave face OF Ernest Dar-
rell was sterner and graver still-even
Lillian might have shrunk from 1t then,
and Marian, the woman who had
blighted his life, fell at his feet.
oh! Ernest, my husband-mv much
wronged husband-forgive mel! she
cried. 1 have suffered deeply, ever
since that day left YOU.
Suffered repeated Ernest, in cold,
rigid tones. Have you ever thought
of what l have suffered?
Yes, yes; ten thousand times, re-
piled Lilians mother, in voice we'll
nigh choked with emotion. But nine
has been the undying worm of an ac-
cusing conscience. Oh, Ernest, | have
been Justly punished for my wicked
ness. l never knew how dearly |
loved you until / had lost you, until l
had sacrificed that which l would have
given the best years of my life to bring
back Remember what l had always
been-a spoiled, petted child, with new
er wish ungratifed, and it seemed so
hard to face poverty even with you. l
was very young, only seventeen. re-
member, Ernest-an6 all through the
DIM vista of years that lay before me l
saw nothing but want, penury and de-
prlvation. l fed in moment of mad
ness, dellrium-anything you like to
call it-leaving behind me that cold
note, in which | bade you never seek
me. l did not go home, for my par
ents would have Immediately COM
lnunicated with you. went to an un-
Gle, who loved me only too well--sin-
full wretch that | was-and told him
a lie that you had deceived me, and
that married beggar whom ! be.
leved to have been rich. He was a
bachelor, and lived secluded life, a.
way from all relatives and friends l
think was the only creature he loved
on earth, and we two lived alone At
his house my little child was born, and
it was then that l began to think and
long for you. wrote and told my
parents, as soon as was able, of what
had done, and bade them to seek
you, and bring you back home. They
wrote, know, but never received any
answer; and SO Isthought you had
Etreated he asI dsse&ed; and had re-
solved to forget me forever. When
Lillian was three years old my uncle
died, leaving me his heiress, and took
this house, in which have lived ever
since, alone, quite alone, with my child.
Oh, Ernest, how have longed for you
and prayed to heaven to send you back
to me? l have seen your name in the
newspapers sometimes, and know
that as an artist you have risen to
fame. And now Ernest, for our child's
sake, forgive me, take me back, and
try to think of me as leniently as pos
sible. l know that you can never love
me again. l don't expect you to
but
Indeed, Marian, you are wrong; l
have never ceased to love you, inter
rupted Ernest's cold, stern voice. 4
have been as truly your husband in
heart, all through these bitter years, as
if we had never parted. | have wept
for you and prayed for you too, over
and over again. but
But you cannot take me back. No,
moi exclaimed Marian weeping. 4
was wrong to ask it; only thought
for Lily's sake
And, for Lily's sake, will said
Ernest. Il love my child too we'll to
part with her now. Rise, Marian, my
wife--my we'll -beloved--the past shall
be forgotten; blotted out as though it
had never been, and we will begin our
marriage life again
i am not worthy. Oh, Ernest, I
have never deserved such love as this!'
said Marian, as she was clasped in her
husbands embrace.
You shall make yourself deserving;
it is all in your hands now, remember
he said, with grave tenderness, and
looking into the depths of her beauti-
ul eyes.
How long they remained thus, in
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