Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1882-01-05

| sue Tell GUdlue Oh blluI Olu hudltg Il SA
haps he would not love her if he knew
all. She could not lose him. She
would put the past behind her, and hive
only in the present.
Accordingly, when he came for his
answer, she went straight to him, with
luminous, wistful dark eyes, and claspeo
her slender hands about the tall brown
head and drew il down on level with
her own.
Deer. will you love me always the
same?" she querried.
For all answer he held her close, and
kissed, with the ardor of young lover,
the girls shining black tresSes,
her questioning eyes, aud her red
mouth.
"Can anything come between us,
Charlie?" she persisted.
"Only another lover, sweetheart, -
he said, laughing in sheer ight-heart-
edness.
The shadow of cloud passed over
her face ut his words rs she recalled
that other lover, but he was dead. No
doubt of that. Cliff Dallas had no
power to trouble them.
"What is it dear 2" said Charlie,
as he noted the change in her counte-
nance.
II suppose ought to tell you," she
began hurriediy, with saverted eyes, -
"When was at boarding-school, /
Charlie laughed, and kissed the words
off her quivering lips.
"Never mind, Charlotte. Ill over
look all the love-affairs you had while
at boarding-school for l fancy that my
own record of those days is not quite
clear.
So Charlotte weakly allowed herself
to be silenced; and Charlie, thinking
that she referred 10 some gmlish flirta-
ton, deaI to the hearts of boarding
school misses, gave the matter no fur
ther attention.
In the following September they
were married; then followed two months
Of unalloyed happiness.
For Charlotte put all unpleasant
memories aside. and devoted herself TO
her young husband whe loved her so
tenderly. Every day she became more
assured of his goodness and manliness.
Strong he was, and brave, and grand
hearted, yet as gentle. as sympathic,
as delicate as a woman in his feel
ings.
After the bridal tour they settled
down in the old st. Omar mansion,
which stood in the suburbs of the
town.
1t was a 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 in fit
ful way about the corners and down the
chimney.
A feeling of gloom and nervousness
crept into Mrs. ST. Olar'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 sllvery notes.
"Half-past four!" sighed Charlotte
impatiently, as she threw herself down
npon sofa and leaned her head upon
one arm.
Presently loud peal of the door
bell startled the echoes in the great
iront hall, and, after some delay, an un-
impressible-looking footman. in livery
brought in, upon little silver tray a
note for his mistress.
At the sight of the address upon the
envelope, Charlotte's heart gave great
throb, She had bare strength to notion
the servant from the room; and, left
alone, she sank shivering into one of the
velvet-covered chairs, and started at the
lnnocent-looking missive RS if it had
been a ghost.
When, at last, she gained courage to
open 1t, she read these words:
''MRs ST. oNAR.-Doubtless this note will be
surprise 10 you, as Twas supposed to have perish
ed with the other passengers OF the faed Claudia
lou VIII not be Interested TO read in detail how
was saved and think of calling upon you It is
uot, however, my intention 10 CLAIM you as my
Wlle; lOr You may as well know that ours was q
mock marriage, and had a wife in England at the
tllne was performed Therefore you are truly
Seaaea 70 the man whose name pou now bear
but tue Lact Is, my dear madam, must have
money; You may have notes or jewels to the
amount OF five hundred pounds in readiness for me
whe III Call to morrow at hree O'Clock, or make mp
your m4nd that your husbandshall kn ow
"CLRy DA11NR"
The calmness of desperation settled
down upon her as she read tbs dread
full note through to the end.
The footman brought her a 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 will have u