Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-06-24

strong opposition to the tranquil confidence
of her tones and mien. You must indeed
go away and forget me-"
Forget you p he returned, in voice
trembling with earnes.ness. My darling,
l shall never forget you while the world
stands
Moving her head from side to side, as
though seeking some visible refuge IN which
| to hide her distress, she stood in silence fol-
a few minutes, while her companion
awaited her next words with an impatient
anxiety.
"If you only knew it, am unworthy Of
your least regard; of moments interest!
she said at length, with a cry of anguish.
g Pat me out of your thoughts give me nc
! place in your heart" she resumed, after a
| space of silence. ~ do not want you to
hate me, but you must forget me. And lei
| this interview be our last meeting" she
added, in broken voice. Then, giving
one quick, deprecatory glance into his face,
which pain and trouble were beginning to
darken, Marion stole from the room.
".
Avoiding the drawing room, with its
cheerful atmosphere OF talk and music,
Mr.. North chose to pass the evening OF that
momentous day alone in the library, an
apartment little affected by any member OF
that unstudious household. Long he sat
there immersed in thought reviewing the
events of the afternoon. a sanguine man
by nature, and desperately anxious for sue
I cess in this matter, he was very 10th to give
| ~ -har
for his wife, yet the conviction would force
itself upon his mind that her refusal was,
as she had declared, final.
An interruption came at length In the
shape OF light tap at the door, starting
/ North in the midst OF his gloomy retiec-
tons.
Come in, ;" he called cut, impatiently.
Thereupon the handle of the door was
softly turned the door itself was next
pushed wide and carefully again closed and
latehed, and then North raised his eyes to
see who the intruder upon his sad solitude
might be. Immediately a great change
came over his eounteaance and smile
sprang to his lips.
His visitor was his own fair beloved,
looking lovelier even than her wont as she
advanced with a slight flush of crimson
upon each cheek, and her slender fingers
intsrlacing themselves in palpable embar.
rassment. Observing her expression and
hesitation. Mr.. North came to happy
conclusion in his own mind, and going for
ward took her tenderly by the hand. She
made no resistance, but, whatever saying
she had come to deliver, it did not seem
easy of utterance, for, although her lips
parted once or twice, no sound came from
them.
You mistook your own feelings this
morning" cried North, at length, in the
face of her silence, his voice subdued, joy
thrilling in every tone. "You have come
to tell me that you are going to bless me
with some morsel of hope.
81 should hardly come TO tell you that, ="
answered Marion, giving faint smile I'M
der the sense of amusement that some trifie
will often furnish il the midst of deep
suffering.
As she made the announcement North
saw Miss Lockhart start violently-theD
her ewes met his in one burning gaze, in
which their very souls met, and the truth
was confessed. Prom that moment North
knew that her life was no less wrecked
than his own ; that the parting was no less
grievous to her than TO him; and he could
not have told whether the knowledge were
more bitter or more sweet.
81 beg your pardon; thought that
perhaps of your goodness you wished to
bestow crumb of comfort upon me before
l went away" said North, with the meek
ness of great love.
"No, it is nothing of that nature, Miss
Lockhart made,reply, sinking into the chair
that North placed for her. " But | have
come to inform you of fact, because to do
so is the only atonement | can make you.
And pray" added she, momentarily rails
ing her sad eyes to heaven, 81 pray that
the confession may undo the consequences
of my sin. have nothing else to hope and
pray for.
"What have you to tell me ;" demanded
North, hoarsely.
But the blow had virtually fallen. North
already knew from her countenance and
her words, by some sure instinct ne felt,
that Marion Lockhart's mission, be it
what it might, was of nature to separate
them wide as the East is from the West.
Il am married /; that is what came to
say" said Marion and as soon as she had
spoken she hid her face in her handker
chief without waiting to see the effect of
the communication upon her lover.
"What !" shouted he. What do you
tell me %
81 am already married." repeated
Marion, in broken voice of infinite weari-
ness and sadness.
Talbot North grasped her by the shout
der he almost shook her in her bewilder.
ment.
"Do you know what you are saying :?
You tell me that you are married p
Z" 1t is the simple truth was married
some years ago"
Good heavens all is indeed over"
groaned North.
After that there was pause. The
young man was wrestling with the anguish
of his wound in absolute stiffness, while
Marion only stirred at intervals to wipe
the tears that were coursing down her
cheeks.
The suspense was becoming intolerable
to Marion, and at last she rose to end the
interview. But her movement aroused
North, who had hitherto remained, his
head supported on his arm, motionless
against the mantelpiece. She had looked
for some harsh speech, words of contempt,
hatred but the face that he now turned
toward ner was seVerer punlsILnsnI tnan
any reproach his lips could have uttered.
She gazed at him in stricken amazement
it seemed as though years of suffering must
have passed over his head to have altered
his features so greatly.
"Why did l never know this before q
asked he, huskily. Why have you kept
it secret p
"Mine is very unhappy story" an.
swered Marion, with quivering lips.
"When was very young l made most
unfortunate marriage my husband proved
utterly unkind, unworthy and after very
sew months left him. Wishing toput it
cat of his power to trace me, took my
second name, that of Lockkart. I have
never seen or heard of him since"
"Is my sister aware of these circum.
stances ?"
"She knows nothing, answered Marion,
a streak of crimson flashing across the pal
lor of her cheek. Sometimes, while Mrs.
Montagu has treated me with such conf
dence and kindness. have felt myself
hind Of imnoster Rut oftener I foroet-