The Dawson journal., 1883-07-26

CT recovered from that wound /
received in the affray in which
} they reported me to have been
} killed. Dissipation helped the
J work along-though since that
night no drop of liquor has touch
ed my lips. When man stands
50 close to death, that he recog-
nlzes his icy breath, he sees things
with a new clesrness. During nv
long and desperate illness, I
thought of you, with a longing
you can never dream of, but | dar-
ed not send for you. / felt that
all my right was forfeited. Nor
will | trouble you now. When /
am dead, you shall learn of your
freedom. Until that time, you
will not hear of or from me again. +"
He stopped as be finished. She
knew that he lifted up the material
OF her dress and pressed it mo-
ment to his lips.
Slowly and falteringly he again
crossed the room. His hand was
on the knob of the door, when She
broke the spell that bound her,
and rose up to her feet.
"Stay, Harold" she said. "Your
place is here. 1t was you who de-
serted me. You shall not say that
l deserted you"
He staggered against the wall.
ooh, my God!" he cried; sis this
an angel or a woman who thus
speaks to me?'
ut is no angel" she answered;
only a woman, striving to do the
duty SO plainly marked out before
her"
But the strength which had up
held him III the hopelessness now
failed him.
With great cry, he threw him
self at her feet, striving in vain to
check the sobs which SO cruelty
rent him.
Very gently she soothed him.
She had no time to realize her own
misery, until, at last, she left him,
quiet and sleeping, in room be-
meath her roof.
How the time passed, she never
knew. With her locked hands
clasped before her, she sat wateh>
ing the fire till it persisted, watch
ing the dawn break, conscious of
neither heat nor darkness, until, !
at nine o'clock, her maid brought
cup of coffee to her door. The |
servants had been appraised of the
masters return the night before.
She took the coffee now and
drank it.
"When Mr.. Winston comes"
she said, "admit him yourself,
Marie, and bring him Immediately |
here to me-
An hour later her door opened.
"Not dressed, my darling" cried |
a happy voice. Sydney, III Gods
name what has happened?"
For he saw the white haggard
face appraised so piteously to his.
With marvellous strength and
calm she told him all. He listen
ed silently until she had finished,
and then, with one bound, he had
gathered her to his arms.
"What is this man to you, that
he should take you from me? You
are mine-mine, l never will fore
go my claim"
At the old, tender masterfulness
of his tones, her wofhaiihood re-as-
serted itself. She bowed her head
upon his breast, and burst into a
passion of sobs.
My love-my ownP' he whis-
pered, "this is but the chimera of !
the darkness. Our wedding day
has dawned-your are mine. Oh,
my darling, come to mel"
But how she lifted her face.
"He is my husband, George"
she said. "My duty lies with him
Now, leave me. I can bear 10
more. You who have always said
you loved me best in my wamon-
hood-you would not tempt me to
sin? Now, dear leave me and for
get me. You are young-you
have but to look for happii6Ss and
to find it,"
"No, Sydney. I cannot resist
your words! you Bid me go, and !
obey you. But first, love, / exact |
promise-when you are free,
send me word. I will leave an adj
dress, where a letter will always |
reach me. I must put the ocean |
between us-I could not stay here |
and prove obedient else; but my
own, Inever viii renounee MY claim |
and be it one year, or ten, or
twenty, one line will bring me to
your side, to leave it never again.
Then with a thousand mad kiss
es, he sealed the promise he had
exacted, and went from her believ-
ing that earth held no wretched
man as he.
Five years had passed-fv
years to Sydney Reed of faithful,
devoted duty-fve years, during
which her love and care alone fos-
tered the feeble spark of life in
Harold Reeds remorseful heart,
and then he laid the heavy burden
down and with his last words muir
murs Of grateful love and bless
ing, the tired eyes closed, shutting
o,it fo,,avar tba vision which oil