Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1883-03-28

the fault was mine. I had ruined my
own life, and must pay the price Be
cause l had been forbidden the desire of
mine eyes, had sealed my fate. I had
bound NY hands, and had intoned
Phoebe Cary's wailing words:
/ have turned from the good gifts Thy bounty sup
Because of the one which Thy wisdom denied me;
L have bandaged mine eyes-yea, mine own hands
have made me darkness when light was around
me
Now 1 cry by the wayside o Lord, that might re-
ceive back my sight.
Peccavi," l cried, and my head sank
upon the organ and tears stained the red
roses at my throat.
"Helen!" and my head was lifted
gently and Alan Leighton's tender eyes
met mine. "Alan y was all my aston
ishment could utter.
"My girl, you have suffered" he
calculated, in tone of exquisite tender
ness. "Relen, my first and only love,
how we have been wronged. [ only
learned, an hour before [ embarked,
| that you were not the false woman that
had been painted to me. Mrs. Granger
wrote me eighteen months ago that you
had married Mr.. Dacre, and left with
him for Cuba A subsequent letter
without date CT signature, incIosing the
| tiny pearl pin [ had given you, left nee
no room for doubt. l left England for
ever, and have been on the wing ever
since, finding no rest for my heart on
sea or shore. Helen, [ suffered as few
men suffer because of losing you, and
| because of your apparent faIseness.
| But | could not waste my whole life be-
cause of woman's untruth, SO / tied up
the broken threads and tried not to look
| back. 1t was by chance [ met Herman
Sloan, and III the midst of mutual con-
| tidences he asked me why / had never
returned to America and to the beautiful
Helen Preston, who had declined all
sultors, and was still unwed. Helen, [
| embarked that afternoon, and I am here,
never to be parted from my darling.
When will we be married, sweet %
"Married! Alan, and the dreary pres
| ent recurring to me, / withdrew myself
from his arms, and almost unconscious
ly my lips framed the words:
had died for this last year to know
You had loved me- Who shall turn fate?
care not if love come or go
Now; though your love seek mine for mate
1t is too late.
"Too late! Helen, my only love, ex-
plain your meaning for Gods sake"
Then came a broken, disiointed tale
of my sorrow and temptation when /
heard Of his handsome and high-born
bride; of my WEAKNESS of the hall; of
Mrs. Granger; of myself; of Mr.. Dacre's
constant woolug, and at last of the little
note only this night thrust between the
leaves of his book, making Alan's COM
ing forever too late for my happiness.
Rapid hoof-beats along the road, and
my courtly lover came in sight.
Saved! Alan, " and my words came
thick and fast.
Engage him in conversation, Alan,
regarding the hall, Mrs. Granger, the
weather, stocks, ETC., etc. l will escape
by the vestry door, fly to the half Sc
cure the motel and then, O, Alan!"
My darling, my bright darlingl" but
/ broke from his clasp and sped away
like channels to the hail. I did not
heed that the roses fell from my throat,
that portion of my lace founce graced
thorn-bush, or that my hair, Embossed
from its fastenings, hung about my
shoulders. think if had possessed a
piece of paper / should have held it
dIOIl, anu SuOulu nave SOOuJ6u TO-
prieve! a reprieve!
Shall [ try to tell of how secured the
note and hid it in my bosom, of how l
ran upstairs and peeped for one moment
into the mirror, twisting up my shining
hair, and trying TO hush the loud beat
ing of my heart, of how rapidly ira
versed the path leading to the church,
lodging behind an Usage hedge to escape
meeting DIR. Dacre, hurrying on as soon
as [ was free, to be folded close to AIan's
heart?
"And you will not laugh at me Alan ?"
Laugh at you, my darling, and
wherefore %
ooh, for my mad flight, for the red
roses scattered all along the road; for
my unbounded Joy at your return; for
proposing to run and steal the note, and,
and-and things"
For answer came tender kisses pressed
upon brow and lips. and closed eyes, and
Mr.. Lord Lovel (Mr. Dacre) rode forth
from the castle gates alone.
Goke