Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1884-06-07

Had I not reason 10 submit to any
thinr2 Whatever might come TO me of
misery, had not more than deserved it,
/ gave myself no hope for the future, for
even If this appearance of love on Max's
part were real, and not remorse, which /
believed it to be, had that to tell him
which would destroy the deepest love
man ever felt for woman. Not even to
keep the only happiness which could
ever make life precious to me could
keep my terrible secret from him. So
Law and waited very quietly, my nurses
said. until the doctors would let me see
Max-very quietly, for despair is never
loud, and only those who still hope make
clamor over their grief The morning
came at last when was to see him, and
/. dressed in a white wrapper, with
blue shawl over my bandaged arms. was
lying on sofa in the little salon next
my bedroom, when Mrs. Butler entered
with an exquisite bouquet.
Evelyn dear, Mrs. Wharton sends
you this, with her love, and wants to see
you, as she is going to Rome this even
ing"
81 can mott can not; it would kill
me ~ cried, turning my hot face against
the sofa, with wild feeling that l must
never dare see this woman, whom | still
hated, for her gratitude would force the
horrible truth from me, and, for Aunt
Kate's sake as well as my own, no one
but Max must ever know how nearly |
had been a murderess. So Mrs. Butler,
afraid of bringing back my fever, yielded,
and sent Mrs. Wharton away, while Aunt
Kate, having settled my blue shawl more
picturesquely over my white wrapper
kissed me and left. the room, saying:
81 shall send Mr.. Enroll to you; he
will do you more good than we, doctors,
and all.
''Will he?n / said to myself, with a
shiver. and lay waiting in such calmness
as one under sentence of death might
wait for the coming of the executioner,
only that no death could ever be so terri
BILE to meet as the horror and aversion |
must read in nv lovers face when had
tcld him ALL When the door opened,
and | knew that he was there, my heart
beat so loudly that could not hear his
step; but even my dizzy eyes could see
the passion of pity and tenderness which
kept him wordless as he bent over me.
''Maxl Max" l cried, "you do love
LlC, dlOCT ais
'Love you, my darling2 How could
you ever doubt it2 l was a brute that
night; but you had hurt me so the day
before"
81 was mad. Maxn-I began, and then
broke off and looked up at him with
such dumb misery in my eyes that he
kissed me.
s'My poor little hurt love-" he MUIR
INJURED
"You will hever call me that again, :"
cried. And then, in gasps of words
he never could remember, the story of
my sin and its repentance was told.
His face was hidden in his hands when
had finished, and I could not stretch
out even one of my helpless fingers to
make him raise his head that might
know my fate.
MAX" whispered, piteously, 1T was
mad, and it was only one little moment. !"
/ had meant to say no word of excuse,
to utter no syllable of pleading, but
could not bear the silence.
He turned and laid his face, wet with
mans bitter tears. softly against mine
on the pillow. Forgive me, my own, !"
he said, with sob. 81 shall never for
give myself"
oh. my true lover, my ring of men,
whom | had so loved and so wronged,
not all the love of all my life can repay
! you for those words l-Harper's Weekly.
i