Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1881-03-12


ments those passionate love letters, ana
that final one which seemed her death
warrant-the whole cruel packet that
had brought her so much woe-and
burned them to ashes in her hearth, ana
vowed that while she lived her husband
should never know that she had read
them.
'For he has not deceived me, she
said to herself. Gle has been true to
me, honorable TO me. That he has
been sorely wounded should not make
me hate him, and he shall never know,if l
can help ii, how sntier. He is always
kind--eh, God, pity me always kind
that must suffice me"
And she met him, with her babe IN
her arms, ascalmly as she parted from
Kim.
He never saw the great change in her.
He never knew that from that hour life
lost its beauty for her.. that even the
brightness flove for herbabe hadfalled,
because she knew that tsfather had not
loved her.
People called the Chesterields happy
couple. Women envied her, for he SEEM
ed model husband. She locked her
skeleton carefully up, and gave no one
y peep at 1t.
Years flew by. Two other babies took
the place of the first baby. George
Chesterfield grew rich. She had helped
him to becOn.e so 10y frngality and
now it was n pleasure to give her the
means of doing good among the poor.
Helon Chcsterfeld's carriage was oftener
found waiting at the door ofsome wretch
ed tenement house than of her tashlOna-
bic friends. One day woman in the
most wretched haunt into which she
carried her pure presence spoke to her
of another lying i'll in the next room.
"She's been lady, ma'am," she said,
'but she's come down dreadful. | think
you'd do her good"
And Helen Chesterfield followed hel
into a room. where. upon bed, lay the
wreck of the loveliest woman on whom
Helen's eye had ever rested-a blonde
with black eyes, and whose golden hail
swept over her pillow down to the tloo1
as she lay--a creature with white hand:
and snowy throat, but with ''lost'
| stamped upon her features as though i
had been written there.
She looked Mt Helen angrily. "Mor'
tracts ?" she asked, in harsh, ruine'
voice. Take them away, then. IT.
too late for them with me-"
But Helen was not one OF those VIII
satisfy starving wretchedness with mer
words. What she said or did hardl
matters. 1t was what WIS most needed
No pharasaical pride made her shrlnl
is from contact with II fallen sister Their
was food and wine and descent linen i
IL that poor room before many hours wer
- over: and size did not even ask the We
mans name. It mattcrcd not who sh
IS was TO Helen. She suttered-tlls wa
enough for charity.
So for Aays and days she mlnlstcre
TO this poor creature, who grew to year
tor her coming; who prayed her to sta
longer when she came, but who ofte
., looked ut her in Il strange way, quit
>, unaccomtablc to Helen; who SOM
:, times began to speak, and paused an
7 said: "Another time" as though 81
postponed some conference.-the story
~, her lite, perhaps. Only God know
va what it might be.
nj So the autumn wore away. Wlnt
came and went and in the spring Il
., little life in that poor creatures brea
- was smoudering out. 1t seemed rig
80, to tell her so: but the task was q w0et
one.
Il, She sat beside her, thinking of this o.
.so day, when the poor soul caught II
cy hand.
to ~ shall 60 soon, shan't 7" she aske
Oh 'T know it is so. But promise me tn
Ter
when | have told yOu my story y
wont leave mc--that you will still
Is, kind to me, and not turn from Ii
me Promise"
'o- 81 promise,' said Helen.
me "You are George Chestertields wifi
ars know it. You need not answer. "
II remember ten years ago receiving Sol
it letters written to Olivia "
as Remember The wife's cheek pal,
ten She remembered it always.
IN. 600 on" she said hoarsely, bitterl
lhe her whole woe upon her as it had ne,
been before. 600 m.'
Il 81 am Olivia said the woman.
ev- scnt those letters myself. | did it