The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1881-10-27

assured of his goodness and manliness.
Strong he was. and brave. and grand
hearted, yet as gentle, rs sympaihtic
as delicate as II woman i'm hiS feelings.
After the bridal tour they settled
down in the old St. Omar mansion
which stood in the suburbs of the Town.
1t was dreary November day and
Charlie had gone into town, leaving
his young wife alone.
The rain beat drearily on the win
dows, and an east wind sobbed i'm tit.
full way about the corners and down
the chimney.
A feeling of gloom and nervousness
crept into Mrs. ST. Omar's heart; a
feeling which she vainly endeavored to
throw off.
Shadows were beginning to gather in
the long drawing-rOom where Charlotte
paced to and fro. listening for the
sound of her husbands step at the
door.
A tiny bronze clock on a corner
bracket struck Two silvery notes.
s.Half-past fourr' sighed Charlotte
impaticntly, as she threw herself down
upon a sofa and loaned her head upon
one arm.
Presently loud peal of the door
DCll GiOO LEC cCHOcS LIO RICdt
front hall, and. after some delay, an
unimpressible-looking footman in liv-
! cry brought in, upon little silver tray.
| q note for his mistress.
| At the sight of the address upon the
| envelope, Charlottc's heart gave q
great throb. She had barely strength
to motion the servant from the room;
and, left alone, she sank shivering into
one of the velvet-covered chairs, and
stared ut the innocent-looking missive
as if it hal been ghost.
When, at last, she gained courage to
open it, she read these words:
mrs ST. OMAR,-Doul.tless this note will Re
a surpiize to you, as was supposed to huve
peri hei with tn, other p sserg,rs of thu III
fated Claudia. You wi i not be lteresed to
read in detei. how was saved and thiak Gf
calling upon you. L. is not, however, my IN
ten. ion to cl i'm you rs my wife; for you may
as well know tuat ours w ~ mock marriage,
and 1 ha l a wifr En- ia d at the time il was
performe Tnerefore you are truly wedied
to thu man whose name you now bear But
tn. fact ia, nv dear ma am, must have
money. You may have notes or .wes to the
for me when call tomorrow ut three o'cl ok.
or make up your mi al taat your HUI .band
shall know the whole st ryf 1pr Hp iPp,imaSy Pan1ssy
The calmness of desperation settled
down upon her as she read this dread
full mole through to the end.
The footman brought her second
note-this time from Charlie. who wrote
that he should be detained in the city,
and advised her not to wait dinner
for him.
James," she said quietly, ''dinner
need not be served. Your master will
not return until late, and Twill have a
cup of coffee in my own room."
She went up the grand staircase, her
long. rich robes trailing heavily behind
her, and her hands clasped tightly one
within the other.
A maid brought the requested cup of
coffee, and then she was once more
alone.
Seating herself at the writing desk,
she penned q long, sorrowful, tear
stained letter to St. Omar, confessipg
all that had hitherto been withheld
from him, but assuring him solemnly
that she had believed herself truly
welded to Dallas. just as much as she
had believed Dallas dead when she
married him (St. Omar). She en-
closed Cliff Dallas's note for him TO
read, and, realizing all her shame and
disgrace, she was going away where
Charlie would be troubled no more by
the sight of her.
Hastily folding and sealing this, shes
laid it upon her husbands dressing
table. and, changing her dinner toilet
for shorter aud more serviceable
dress. she wrapped herself in a long
cloak and stole unobserved from the
house.
There was anguish and despair in
her heart as she paused for one mo-
ment on the threshhold before stepping
out into the storm. All the folly of her
girlish blunder arose before her, and
taunted her with the memory of what
might have been.
Within were home, and love, and
warmth, and comfort. Without, storm
and darkness, a cold and cruel world
of which she had no practical knowl-
edge.
She ran down the steps straight into
the arms of Charlie, who was coming
up. He held her close, and she
screamed:
e.Charlie, Charlie-save me!'
"Wake up, little wife! What are
you dreaming about?"
Charlotte started to her feet. The
stately drawing-room was filed with
gloom. BY the sofa. whcreon she had
fallen asleep. stood Charlie. his hand
some face close to hers, and his honest
eyes full of tenderness.
1t was a dream, then; nothing but a
dream. Dallas was not alive, Charlie
was there beside her.
She burst into a passion of tears
which nearly frightened Charlie out of
his wits.
But the dream opened Charlotte's
eyes to her own weak deception, and,
drawing her husband down on the sofa
beside her. she told him of that old Sc
cret. and of her reason for keeping it
from him, and received finally his full
forgiveness for all.
No ghost of Cliff Dallas has arisen to
disturb them, and Mrs. ST. Omar is the |
proud and happy mother of two lovely,
dark-eyed boys.