The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1882-11-26
ERICA'S SACRIFICE.
A QUESTION OF
Forgiveness or Dishonor.
a QUESTION OF

"There is no anger in my heart, my
poor child, he said, gently, and took
both her hands in his strong, tender
clasp. Not anger, only pain and re-
gret. so bitter that ! cannot give it ut
terance. For il was not your own
name. your own honor alone, Erica, you
cast behind you; You held these in
trust. No VOW could or ought to have
bound YOU to trample on your husbands
honor-and that was to shield your
husbands enemy. Did you ever think,
nv child, of the futureY Do you know
how hard it is to live down the worlds
condemnation: how hard TO win back
name lost? Even when this sorroWful
story. and will that not be an agony to
hear. is told before the world. there will
be some found to sheer, and TO doubt
its truth, And it is stainless name
Won bear Erica
The sweet. soft voice faltered little,
and he paused. bending down over the
stricken form bowed at his feet. she
raised a white, haggard face to his, and
he almost started back 10 see the an
cuish that spoke in the large eyes all
dim now With pain; they met his now
for a second, then dropped, and she
covered her face With shaking hands,
II have brought shame on you, she
said. hoarsely. Fit is my hand that has
drawn stain on your name, Oh, God,
help me. will 60 away and never
trouble YOU more. The world shall
never know me for the wife who Slnned
to wrong Won. Let ne SO, Philip. You
have forgiven me; ask no more.
She stroye TO draw herself from his
clasp. but be only held her closer.
only death Shall part US now, he
said, pressing passionate kisses on
brow. aud eyes, and lips My darling,
if all the world scomed thee, this
breast should shield thee, this arm de-
| fend thee this heart deem thee true
and pune. Have passed through these
| years Of torture 10 part after all; Won
| thee back white as SNOW, to yield thee
to sorrow? No, no, child, this is
wronging me. that is doubling my love,
my honor Oh, when, when mag | win
q perfect trust?'
AWed. almost terrified, by this pas
siouate yehemcmce the girl lay passive
in his arms, in her standardization she
had striyen to spare him; but an, 1t was
| sweet TO know that he wonld not ac-
cept the sacrifice, sweet TO feel still he
! owned would own her--his darling, his
wife, sweet to hear his dear voice WhiS-
per over her gentle words ef love, to
| feel his lips touch hers again and again.
Philip she murmured, forgive
me- trusted your love. only would
have borne the punishment, | would
have spared you, y
~ know it, darling. Forget my last
l,s FY.N No
by my own dark distrust. You know
| my htG-so barren of love and faith;
only YOU are true, know that now y
lie drew her down 10 the couch and
sal softly smoothing back the bright,
clustering curlS from her brow, and az
ter long silence she sad, shiverlng a
little:
"Who told you, Philip"
"ThiS evening POINTER came TO mo
| ana tUlu NC oil, IIo aocurci partly nc.
tuated by remorse. more 10y the fact that
Murray had not kept his word with
him. He had met Murray that day, he
told him with insolcncc he should have
no more money from him. Pointer
has been i'll, and was almost starving
when he found me out"
And Arnold the girl interrupted,
quickly, catching her breath, rs he
taken?n
He will surely he, Erica
philip she said, convulsively you
will not follow this 10 the bitter end:
Spare him. forgive
His brow grew dark the firm lips
stern. the old hard look she had seen
that made her shrink now,
do you know what you ask, Erjca|
he said, Spare him--a man doubly
cursed-the man who took from Inc the
only beings ! loved. No, | will neither
spare, nor forgive - forgiveness here
would indeed be dishonor Unless thi:
he all told To the world, your name--mN
name-stands dishOnored.'
He rose up, and began pacing mp anC
down the room; he was deeply moved
Ever passionate and impulsive, ever
now for moment he was touched L
something like anger.
Has he been to you, here?' he said
after moment, scarcely noticing hel
dropping form and sowowful attitude
Yes" she answered him, her lip;
quiverng, the tears springing 10 hei
eyes.
He has dared"
lie stopped abruptly and added:
You know where he is then"
Yes, = she said again.
And then he came TO her and laid his
hands on her shoulders
You must tell me everything
Erica" he said, quietly. And she gave
him one swift glance into his face and
recoiIed.
no, no, cannot. Philip, spare me
He trusts me-my oath.'
Your oathln lie set his teeth hard
crushing down words that would have
been cruel, but when he spoke II wa!
still quietly, but perhaps little sternly
Enough has been sacrificed 70 that
Erica II Is hard to lay this on you
but there is no help for it; III this yol
must obey me!n
She struggled for moment with her
self. She knew he would not yield, AM
that this was the only atonement sh
might make. Then she turned, an
went silently to the table and took fron
her desk a paper and laid 1t IN hi
hand, half hesitated, and then with
sudden impulSive burst Of sorrow
threw herself on his breast,
"Oh, Philip. Philip. speak kindly t
me; ! cannot bear your anger now.'
His lip quiyered and lost all its stern
ness, the dark eyes soltened as he dreN
, her close in his embrace.