McCook weekly tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 188?-1886, 1884-02-21
"such, then, is the case," she said,

nats Muriel ARE you mdu! Lou
love me, do you notP"
"No!" she said.
And then, turning away with averted
face, she fled hpmeward, leaving him
stunned by her words and unable to
understand them.
1t was falsehood, and she knew it,
but she had spoken for the best.
81 will 60 away from him." she
thought, ''and then as he thinks 1 do
not love him perhaps he will learn to
forget me-"
The next week the following para
graph appeared among the provincial
items of theatrical paper:
ave understand that Miss Mervyn
has seeded from the Hamilton Shakes
pearean company, an amicable arrange
ment having been come to, and intends
resting for short time to recover her
health, before accepting another en-
gagement."
Another year has passed. Hamilton
is still on his prolonged tour, and
Muriel is playing at London theatre.
On a wet, cold night in early spring,
as she was leaving the theatre, her
quick eye saw woman's form leaning,
as it were, against the door.
Thinking she might be the bearer of
some message, possibly for her, Muriel
asked:
"Are you waiting for any oneP'
The woman looked up helplessly,
shook her head in reply, and attempted
to move on; but as she did so she stag
gered and would most likely have fallen
had not Muriel caught her.
"You are ill.," she said. "Can do
anything for you?"
"No," said the woman in weak,
hollow voice, ssI am very i'll I know, but
1 wanted to purchase some things, so l
had to come out tonight"
81 hope you do not live far from
here"
"No; in John street,
"That is my way" said Muriel.
"You will let me see you home?''
The woman consented-in fact, she
seemed too weak and i'll to resist-and
Muriel left her at what she said was the
door of her home.
1t was evidently very poor place,
in which she rented but one back room,
but it seemed respectable, and Miss
Mervyn, whose pity was aroused, said
at parting, ''Let me call to morrow to
inquire if you are better"
After this she often called, and was
soon very much interested in Mrs.
Smith, as the woman called herself.
She had only been in her present lodg-
ings few weeks, and was evidently
miserably poor, very ill and quite alone.
She would never talk of the past, ex-
cel.t that once she told Muriel that she
had been an actress.
"Miss Mervyn, we may be sure, did
not 60 empty handed to that poor lodg-
ing, and she even persuaded Mrs. Smith
to have doctor.
But all was of no avail; and one day,
in the middle of May, when Murie
called, she saw a terrible change in the
worn, pale face.
s'Miss Mervyn,' she said, as Murie
entered, "the doctor has told me I shall
not see another day dawn. Do you be-
lieve it?'
eyes; 1 fear it is trne," Muriel said,
gently.
swell, I am glad of it. 1 have taken
the doctor at his word, and sent for one
I should never dale to meet if 1 were
pot dying. He may, perhaps, be here
soon, for 1 telegraphed last night; but
I feel my strength is ebbing fast, and
before he comes q may have no time
afterward) l should like to tell you the
story of my life. Will you listen?"
s.Certainly," said Muriel, gently;
''tell me anything if you think it will
make you happier"
mine is tale of sin too bad, per-
haps, for your ears" went on the
woman, 'but 1 must tell it. married,
when very young, man who loved me
far better than deserved, for after we
had been married two years listened
to the sophistries of man who tempted
me with his'wealth, and fled with him.
There was the usual result. After
time he grew tired of me, and year
after the divorce was decreed I found
myself alone and penniless in London.
What my life has been since l must
leave you to guess; and at last l found
myself i'll, dying with a small sum of
money in my possession. l came here,
and by your kindness my path to the
grave has been smoothed. Miss Mer-
vyn, have repented, but 1 cannot die
until have had my husbands forgive
ness. have telegraphed for him, and
All! that it is his step on the stairs"
The door opened and man entered.
Muriel suddenly drew back into the
shadow.
s'Alice," he said, coming forward,
."you see have come; but why did
you send for me?''
81 ask with my dying breath for
your forgiveness
''Impossible!" he said, shortly.
"You wrecked my life, Alice, betrayed
my love, dishonored my name! can
not forgive!''
"But with my dying breath I ask it"
cried the women. "Oh, grant it to me,