Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-05-10
ouldn,t be long in corning. she felt 50 in

J she got UP to fetch timetable Yes,
the nail train passed through Middle
ba1nrton at ] O'Clock ii was only Il now,
and though she couldn't very wei under
stand the pulling figures, she thought 1t
must stop at the middle station just the
other side of the park.
She drew her blotting- book to her, ana
began to write fast. a big tear or TWO
splashed down on the paper, but she wiped
them patiently away; It must be Gear, tlat
Harry might read II.
"Tbey saw YOU only married me for
pity. she wrote; :" might have guessed
i. nv darling, but you were so good TO me
tbot ! never. never did. I can't make you
free again: but il Is better for US never TO
see each other any more, and perhaps l
nav die, and you can so back to the
woman they say you have always loved. |
saw YOU Just now, when you kissed her
hand, and said things might have been so
different if you had only known years ago.
Yes, they would have been different for rs
all God bless you, my poor, good BOY
you were not TO blame"
She paused and looked up.
What shall / sign it?'' she said. q I an
not his wife any more, for only love really
makes marriage"
Her eye fell on her little wedding ring,
IT'S brightness scarcely furnished yet. She
stopped and pressed her hips TO 1t gently,
soiemnly.
"Oh, Harry, my Harry r she whispered,
if it haG only been love, not pity J"
She rose, and slipped off the golden satin
gown, and put on 4 dark warm dress in
stead
q must even 90 away from him in the
things he gave me, she said, as she fast
ened her long fur cloak with It's silver
clasps / haven't single gown that was
mine before [ knew him. He has even
dressed me OUT Of charity. His pity has
been more generous than other peoples
love
She opened the French window in her
dresSing-room and stepped out on the bal
| conv, whence a fight of steps led down to
the terrace below. She glanced back at the
pretty room, with its japanese cabinets and
blue-and- white china, and the ebony table
where the letter to Harry lay, with the
| light full upon it, so that ne could not miss
IT, Then she shut the easement sharply
behind her, and resoluteiy turned away.
The moon was bright with titful bright
ness-now almost as light as day, now hid
den behind lurying clouds-and it was bit
terly cold. Nesta drew her cloak tighter
around her, and tried 10 walk fast, but she
was desperately weary, and could only
stumble along. Somehow the way TO the
little gate had never seemed so ircompre-
hensibly long. Surely She could not have
missed her way? The moon and the clouds
were playing such FRANKS that one could
not be sure. and her heart had been too full
10 I,otice all the turns. 1t was as black as
Erebus now = darkness that might be felt.
Nesta took q few steps forward, then stopped
short, by some mysterious instinct, Just as
the moon shOnC out clear and bright once
more, It's golden sparkle reflected as BY a
thousand broken mirrors in the waters OF
the lake which slumbercd al her feet. 4
strange sharp pain shot through her heart,
rs She Jaw the very ruShes Harry and she
lad been gathering yesterday. Yesterday
q thousand years ago; when She was
happy,
She mad wished TO die would it not be
better for Harry and for hersef-yes, and
for that other woman, too-it she were ly-
ing under those cold, smiling waters IN a
dreamloss sleep? 1t was only a moment:
her soul was too white and too brave for
more; she recoiled with i start OF horror;
but, al the bank was worn and smooth
her little feet slipped on the edge; she
threw ont her hands TO stop herself, but the
frozen grass slid through her fingers, there
vas one short, sharp cry, ana u pale, sweet
face lay still among the rushes IL the silent
moonlight.
Il vas dark aud warm and deliciously
resJful when She knew anything again.
She heard Harry's low voice before ever
She opened her eyes, and felt his clasp Of
ner hand-Hary' hand-clasp, there was
no other like ii anywhcrc-and thought il
must ne heaven, and was glad she had done
with earth, since this was 50 much better.
And 50 She slept again.
And when next She woke, she knew that
the clouds She seemed TO lie on, clouds soft
and hllowy, We're her own bed, nothing
more ethereal and she was aware it must
since it could be 50 ike heaven, Tor Harry's
voice and Ha1vs hand were there still
and she slept again, smiling gently.
But the next time she woke the hand and
voice were missing, and only HarTy's back
was visible IN the room beyond as she
raised herself on her pillows And as she
rose, She caught sight Of herself IL the
long Psyche glass opposite, and started at
the reflection. For all her tangle of brown
hair was cut short. and there was no pink
and-white prethneos now, only great dark
eyes. and a small white face. And as she
fell back on her pillows, half from surprise
and half from weakness. tor she was very
feeble. the bells burst out clear and sweet
and mystical. in pciect carol OF exultant
y . Christmas bellsl is il Christmas ?" she
said Why, it was November when l
died '
And IS Harry turned and hurried to Nor
side, she smiled up II him, and asked
Christmas Is it really Christmas,