The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1881-03-31

tracts?" she asked, in harsh, ruined
voice. '"Take them away then. It's too
late for them with me-"
But Helen was not one of those who
satisfy starving wretchedness with mere
words.
What she said or did hardly matters. It
was what most needed. No pharisaical
pride made her shrink from contact with
fallen sister, There was food and wine
and decent linen in that poor room be-
fore many hours were over; and she did
not even ask the woman's name. 1t mat
tered not who she was to Helen. She
suffered-this was enough for charity.
So for days and days she ministered to
this poor creature, who grew to yearn for
her coming; who prayed her to stay
longer when she came, but who often
looked at her in a strange way, quite I'M
accountable to Helen; who sometimes
began to speak, and paused and said,
another time, as though she postponed
some conference.-the story of her life,
perhaps. Only God knows what it
might be.
So the autumn wore away. Winter
came and went; and in the spring the lit
tie life in that poor creatures breast was
smouldering out. Helen knew that she
must die. It seemed right to tell her so;
but the task was q wOeful one.
She sat beside her, thinking of this
one day, when the poor soul caught her
hand.
81 shall go soon, shan't II" she asked.
81 know it is so. But promise me that
when have told you my story you won't
leave me-that you will still be kind to
me, and not turn from me. Promise"
IT promise" said Helen.
"You are George Chesterfeld's wife? 1
know it. You need not answer. You re-
member ten years q receiving letters
written to olivia"
Remember! The wife's cheek paled.
She remembered it always.
go on" she said hoarsely, bitterly;
her whole woe upon her now as it had
never been before. go on"
81 am Olivia" said the woman. 81
sent those letters myself. 1 did it to
make you wretched, to revenge myself
upon him. He was young when he
met me. I, married woman, though
no older than he-I lured him on; l
delighted in his hopeless love-in those
lttUcTS-lA ITO PlOUCoVoVAohos JOJCN
in the receipt of that one written on
his wedding night. Pure women can
not understand how wicked women re-
ioice in MASKING hearts they do not
care for; in running young mems lives
for a petty triumph. Lady, do not
turn from me; I've not done yet
Had you not enough ?" gasped the
wretched wife. "Could you not bear
to keep it from me? You ruined my
young life. You killed me; yes, you
killed me as far as heart went"
"Ah!' cried the woman; sit was not
when he wrote love to me that l be-
trayed him. Revenge prompted me.
Six months after his marriage 1 re-
ceived this. Read it. When that
came I sent you the others. 1 was a
fiend; 1 knew it; but perhaps l can
undo my work even now. Read this
and see."
Helen seized the faded, dingv en-
velope that the woman drew from her
bosom, and hurried with it to the light.
She tore it open and looked upon the
lines within. This was what she read,
dated six months after her marriage:
Olivia, my Friend: told you would
never write to you again. l wrote like
fool. told you that l married woman
that did not love, and l should love
you forever. Being so true friend as l
believe you are to me, you will rejoice to
know that was quite mistaken. have
forgotten the unhappy passion of my
youth, as you so often bade me, and man
never loved wife so fondly as l love my
darling Helen. She is the life of my
life, the soul of my soul, and l cannot
leave you under the false impression l
have given you. Love came after mar
riage, it is true, to me, but its germ was
in my heart. You will be glad to know
of this, and wish me, rs l wish you,
every happiness.
GEORGE CHESTERFIELD.
She read it through-she read it twice,
this poor wife, to whom balm had come
after so many years-snd sank down upon
her knees, forgetful of all else, and
thanked God for it. When she turned
once more toward the bed she saw that in
that moment the death-angel had come,
and that the unhappy Olivia had passed
into eternity.
When George Chesterfield met his
wife that night he hardly knew her.
Her girlhood seemed to have returned; ;
her smile charmed him as of yore; her
eyes were bright, and her lips red once
again.
"How happy you look" he said. And
she answered: II am happy" Nothing
Il H. H. ~. L. all