The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1882-01-07

one fral hold upon happiness, and
cling to it as drowning sailor might t,
fragment of wreck. And my life, wha
is it but wreck Maud Maud, as yo,
may one day have need to ask for forgive
ness yourself, let me beg of you TO hea
me r.
'Release mel" was all she said.
With stihed groan he obeyed her
She was free.
But her arms dropped down to be
side; and after taking one hasty ster
toward the door, she paused.
At this instant the church bells ceased
with startling suddehness their c'angine
peal. The hour of midnight had almos
come.
Trembling in every limb, with hei
heart beating almost to suffocation, anx
ious to flee, yet feeling it impossible tc
move, she stood spell-bound, as it seem
ed, by the solemn stiffness all around.
Maud" said Bernard, brokenly, "tht
bells have done; they will not ring again
till the New Year comes. The duration
of the old year may now be reckoncd by
minutes - nay, seconds. Surely this
should be time for me to invoke all the
gentlest feelings of your nature BY the
love You once had for me, do not, oh
do not condemn me TO another wear OF
misery and woe am here, an almost
heart-broken suppliant, and my sole re.
lance is on womap's forgiving spirit. ]
have wronged you Maud; 1 confess to il
with grief, with shame. But how bitter.
ly have repented Of that act of folly
none can know except mys, lf--none ex.
cept myself; for could you guess how
bitter, how sincere has been my repent.
ence, you would at least have pity for me,
if not forgiveness. Do not leave me,
Maud, do not crush me with despair.
Ere the New Year comes let me hear one
word of forgiveness-only one-and ]
will be content"
Great as was the wrong this man had
done her. Maud felt that the love which
all her fforis had been in vain to cast
out was still dominant in her breast, and
urging her to crush down that resent.
ment which she had thought sic mus
ever bear towards him.
Her brain wLirled; she f,lt sick and
faint; and then came the SOLEMN stroke,
of the cid church clock striking the houl
Of twelve.
TN another moment," said Bernard
'it will be too late Maud Maud For.
give--forgive r
One after another came the strokes
upon the clock until the twelfth wa,
reached, and then for q few seconds
which sstmed like an ngr to those two
on the veranda, there WAS again that i'm
pressive silence.
Maud put her bands to her throat
she felt choking. She tried to speak, bu
not even murmur issued from her Inns
Down on his knees sank Bernard; will
outstretched hand he graspcd her dress
and turned his anguished gaze upon her
What did he see? Could it be real? A
mist came over Lis eyes, and then he ic !
a'trembling hand touch his. while voic,
in the faintest whisper murmured:
Forgiven Yes-y yes, Bernard "FSr
given T.
"At last r.
With one spring be was on his feet ant
pressing the loved one in those armI
which he had feared would never encircl,
her again.
Then with wild, mad peal the New
Years chimes rang out upon the frost,
air. Now low, then high, and anon fall
ing into softer cadence, but speaking t.
Beruard's ears with joy ineffable.
And now Maud clung to him, Will,
she sobbed and cried with hysterical VIC
lence.
Thank you, darling" said Bernard
huskily. Thank you for those words
This is indeed happy New Year's-day
for me Speak again, darling TIL me
once more that am forgiven ?"
Forgiven r. sobbed Maud. '.Forgiv.
en- freely; and what is more, the past
the dreadful past, which even nov makes
me shudder to think about it-that shall
be wholly and absolutely forgotten as
well as forgiven 1 will never speak OF
it-never allude to it in any way. Prom
ise me that no mention of that subject
shall ever be made again.
"Heaven bless you, Maud 1 fain
would spsaki for if you knew all, you
would ind some pity for me r.
mo, no-not word Not one We
have both suffered, but the suffering is
over now.
Aud you will trust me again ?"
Absolutely and entirely l have al
ways felt that l could never do so, but
love oonquers, and know that you are
as dear to me as You ever were r.
Again and again did Bernard clasp the
generous woman TO his heart. and when
she heard his VOWS. uttered with an i'm