The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1883-03-02

was mad. bought pretty toy,
aud thought to while away with il
my hours OF meditatieR-tO use il
rs a charm to Danish memory. In
stead, 1t shows me every hour the
talsity OF my reasoning, aud holds
NJ TO my tortured sight the might
have been.' Why do | still love
youi Why do | not rather curse
youf Why do you come here, day
after day,to add fuel TO tue flame.
81 will never come again. Pierce;
thought | prayed you had long
ceased to love me; but in this last
moment | will tell you the truth.
did not deceive you; you were mad
with jealous doubts, aud /, too
proud TO explain TO sou the truth.
sent you from me. | thought you
would come back; | did not
dream
Her voice choked.
"That | could he such a mad,
insenate fooi,r he finished, taking
up her words. ''Ah, Pauline, my
one only love- he added, under
his breath.
" Hush!" she commanded, impe.
riously. "Be u man and tue to
your manhood. Edna loves you
better than know how to love,
perhaps-better than any man
deserves. She is a simple child /;
honor her for ". will not come
here more; l will make to her
some excuse. But, oh, make her
happy, Pierce! What matters il
to you aud me I Our happiness is
lost, but do not let that tact lead
hers astray. See, l tall on my
xnees-I plead TO you-I kiss yonr
hand! BY all that is pure in her
pure life, do not let her dream
Tyour chai s are not of flowers! Ii
would kill her, rs the cruel wind
blasts With single breath the
shrinking, sensitive plant. Ionr
soul Is noble; prove it so. Be
gentle, be loving, be tender. BY
the memory Of your every hope for
the future, by the memory, il that
may sway you, OF your once love
for me Il"
At that instant the porticre was
swept back. Edna stood upon the
threshold, but an Edna transformed
from the timid, shrinking girl into
. lioness. Her eyes flashed /; heI
slight figure was almos tall in its
indignation, drawing to its full
height; her voice rang out, cleaI
and scorniul.
"You need not fear" she said
81 have only heard your last sen
tcnce. would not play caves
dropper single instant--not even
to more thoroughly expose the
falsencss of the woman who thus
plays traitor to my husband. By
the memory of his love tor you how
dare son say thati He never
loved youi Pierce, tell me that
you never loved her!"
She sprang to his side and twine,l
her hands about his arm.
"Edna,r he said, ",ou are doing
the bitterest wr0ug-l-"
Another minute and he would,
have told her ull the truth, but
Pauline had by this time regaiued
her feet.
:" Hush," she commanded him,
"Not a single word! What could
yon say that would not further
wreck her happiness I Nor would
the storm which devastates her
drive our ships into harbor. Good
bye, Elua! Think OF ne gently
as you eau. We both loved him
Let that plead my excuse"
Once her glance fell Oh his face
Again 1t entreated him in its voice.
less eloquence to leave her IN her
belief, then she turned aud left
them. Without all was dark, but
thank God she might yet look
within.
The mans own unwor.hine,
smote him as Edna fell weepin,
pite0usly in bis arms. He felt
, coward, that be dared not viudicat,
! the noble woman who had left them
but the blow wonld strike witt
cruelest force OH her who had don'
: no wrong. His silence was hi
! own bittsrest punishment; bur a
least he might atone.
!, Very gentle, very tender, he wa
0 to his child-wife. She no lOngcl
0 shrank at an impatient word, o
5 missed a something in her life. l
r seemed full to reblrtion-so ful
I that when, Mt the close of one NOR
1 short year, God called her to la,
d 1t down, she clung to the swee
boon with arms close pressed abou
Q her husbands neck.
uYou never loved herlr she salt
Q In that last hour. "Tell the, dar
D lingI She tried to win you fron
me, but she tliled n
: aShe never tried, my love. Sh'
: taught me, rather, to love you.n
. She thought he meant that b
s thus had judged between thenI
y and was consent.
aTell herr she whispered, sstha