Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1884-04-25

might have been 50 different ~ Might
they not still What il she were to 90
away that very night and never trouble
him again She had not 4 friend Ii the
world except her old Brighton school
mistress; she would go to her and beg
her to take her in, and let her teach the
little children. And perhaps she might
die soon and Harry could be happy with
the woman he had always loved. Nesta
felt as If death wouldn't be long in COM
ing, she felt so i'll now. s.9ss
She got up to fetch timetable.
Yes, the mail train passed through
Middlehampton at i O'Clock 1T was only
10 now, and though she couldn't very
well understand the pulling figures,
she thought It must stop at the little
station just the other side of the park.
She drew her blotting hook to her,
and began to write fast. A big tear or
two splashed down on the paper, but
she wiped them patiently away; it must
be clear, that Harry might read it.
"They say you only married ME from
pity" she wrote; 7 might have guessed
it, my darling, but you were so good to
me that l never, never did. 4. I can't
make you free again; but it is better for
us never to see each other any more,
and perhaps I may die, and you can go
back to the woman they say you always
loved. I saw you just now. when you
kissed her hand, and said things might
have been so different if you had only
known her years ago. Yes, they would
have been different for us all. God
bless you, my poor, good boy You
were not to blame"
She paused and looked up. '....
what shall I sign it?" she said II
am not his wife any more, for only love
really makes marriage"
Her eye fell on her little wedding-ring
its brightness scarcely furnished yet:
She stopped and pressed her lips to it,
gently, solemnly.
"Oh, Harry, my Harry!" she whis-
pered, ''if it had only been love, not
PITY" Vii.
She rose, and slipped off the golden
satin gown, and put Oh dark warm
dress instead.
Il must even 60 away from him in
the things he gave me-" she said, as she
fastened her long fur cloak with it's
silver clasps. II haven't single gown
that was mine before I 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 balcony, whence flight of steps
led down. to the terrace below. She
glanced back at the pretty room, with
it's 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 he could not miss it.
Then she shut the easement sharply be-
hind her, and resolutely turned away.
The moon was bright with ftful
brightness-no almost as light as day,
now hidden behind hurrying Clouds
and it was bitterly cold. Nesta drew
her cloak tighter round 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 incomprehensiblyl long.
Surely she could not have missed her
way? The moon and the clouds were
playing such pranEs that one could
not be sure, and her heart
had been too full
to notice all the turns. TWAS as black
as Erebus now: o darkness that. might
be felt. Nestsa took few steps forward,
then stopped short, by some mysterious
instinct, just as the moon shone out
clear and bright once more, it's
golden sparkle reflected as by a. thou
sand broken mirrors in the waters of
the lake which sl11mbered at her feet.
A strange sharp pain shot through her
heart, as she saw the very rushes Harry
aud she had been gathering yesterday.
Yesterday? A thousand years ago;
when she was happy.
A wild thought flashed across her
brain: she had wished to die; would it
not be better for Harry and for herself,
yes, and for that other woman too, if
she were lying under those cold, smil-
ing waters in dreamless sleep? It
was only moment, her soul was too
white and too brave for more; she re-
coiled with a start of horror; but,
ali! the bank was worn and smooth;
her little feet slipped on the edge; she
threw out her hands to stop herself,
but the frozen grass slid through her
fingers; there was one short, sharp cry,
and pale, sweet face lay still among
the PUSHES in the silent moonlight.
-
It was dark and warm and deliciously
restful when she knew anything again.
She heard Harry'slow voice before ever
she opened her eyes; and felt his clasp
of her hand-Harry' hand-clasp, there
was no other like it anywhere and
thought it must be heaven, and was
glad she had done with earth, since
this was so much better. And she; slept
again.
And when next she woke, she knew
that the clouds she seemed to lie on.
clouds soft and billowy, were her own
bed, nothing more ethereal; and she
was aware it must be earth still, but
felt it did not matter since it could be
so like heaven, for Harry's voice and
Harry's hand were there still; and she
slept again, smiling gently.
But the next time she woke the hand
and voice We're missing. and only Har-
rvs back was visible in the room beyond
as she raised herself on her pillows.
And as she rose, she caught sight of her.
self in 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 pref
tiness now, only great dark eyes and
small white face. And as she fell back
on. her pillows, half from surprise and
half from weakness, for she was very
feeble the bells hurst ont clear and