The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1884-05-09

honor with his dishonor, and tainted
him with being what he was, liar and
o coward; and yet he could tell me an
other lie after that, that / must not go
to Hester, for that she would not see
meme to whom she had told the whole
story; and we had cried together, and /
had so hated, so loathed the man who
had brought her to such misery"
And IL 1t had been /, not Frank,
what then, MadcapY" said Mr.. Eyre:
''could you not have loved me still, been
faithful to me-never changed?"
"Yes."
sand still CLASP, me in your arms as
you sS did just nowF"
"And so we were to live together, we
just now of leaving me-"
"And you could have left me?" he said
abruptly.
She did not stir or speak, as she stood
apart from him; then something very
like groan burst from his lips, that
seemed to shape itself to the cry of
Frank! as with hasty steps he paced the
room, Madcap almost forgotten in the
deadly struggle going forward in his
breast. AS his figure passed, and re-
passed her in the gloom, she seemed to
herself to be standing in the midst of q
reality of which all that had gone before
was but as the portent.
The time seemed long before she felt
his arms about her, and then not with
the old masterful grasp, but more as the
dying soldier who, with relaxing hold,
clings to the sacred colors that have
cost him all save honor; for Mr.. Eyre
knew that Madcap had beggared him
even to that, when he felt her heart
beating against his own.
poor, pretty Madcap!" he said, "and
so you can love nothing but a good man.
Did ever tell you was that?" And
an the sin; and you can't make allow
ances-women never can. And Think
there is a little jealousy at the bottom
OF it, too-more If it had been I, but o
little for Frank as it is. And man
sins through thoughtlessness, or be-
cause he wants woman's pure eyes to
see the thing in its proper light-with
eyes like yours. Madcap-if women only
knew how much is in their hands, how
they may confirm man i'm his i'll opin-
ion of them, OF make them reflections
of what he remembers his own mother
to have been. And so you can't forgive
Frank Poor lad! poor boy!"
He is not sorry" said Madcap, her
heart still heavy, knowing that forgive
ness was yet denied. II could be sor-
ry for him if he were-it is the thought
of her misery that makes me bitter
against him. She has lost all-even her
little baby-and he will not be kind to
her; and he would not even let me go
to see her; but will go now. with YOU"
"Her child died-did she tell you
how?" said Mr.. Eyre.
mo; but l think that some one had
been unkind to it; and she shall love
Dody as she pleases."
"And so you kissed her, Madcap," he
said. "HOw sweet! how wOmanly! And
you always loved children; but don't re-
greet that one-it might have grown up
bad man like its father. Why have
and your smile? And here you have
been suffering for other peoples sins:
and an unselfish nature like yours needs
no apprenticeship to suffering-it I'M
derstands and enters into each throe.
And so you kissed her, and she loves
you, to be sure; and now you'll KISS mel
And if I'd committed every crime in
life you should have no chance of run
ming away from me after to-day. Well
dine together, and I'll dress you for it
in white, though my father is dead; but
you can wear black for him tomorrow.
can't see you in this darkness--I must
have light" And he rang the bell to
summon her maid.
The woman started back at sound of
|. his voice, but he babe her light candles,
and lay out white gown for her mis-
tress; her shoes were to be white as
well, and white flower was to be
brought for her hair; and when all this
was done he babe the woman hasten
dinner, for that he was very hungry.
When he had put on her little shoes,
and arranged the flower in her hair,
clasped q string of pearls about her neck,
and silken ribbon round her waist, he
brought wax candle and held it above
her.
LET me look at you" he said. "And
80 you were going away from me. How
exquisite you are! seem to have for
gotten you, and your whiteness and
beauty come upon me with surprise.
1 am as one who has lived so long in the
light as to forget how beautiful it is,
and wanted a sudden plunge into dark
ness to make me realize the precious
ness of it. And could you have left mep''
he added, as he set the light down, and
caught her to his breast.
She did not reply, only wondered as
she chung to him, how she could ever
have thought existence possible apart
from him, and knew that if he had been
guilty, she yet could not have sent him
back to Hester.
you'll take me to her?" she whis-
pered, presently.
"I'll make no promise, "he said, hold
ing her from him, but you'll make me
one; that you'll not seek her out, or see
her without my consent"
And Madcap lightly gave the promise
that was kept so heavily.
CHAPTER XIII.
The haaf a rasf ia slaan