The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1884-08-02
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CONTINUED FROM FIRST PAGE.
that | could see her dutiful kindness now,
and not feel what l had lost? My God!
what did you take me for? Did you
think | was blind and deaf and senseless?'
Again he struggles for breath, and | am
silent. My brief anger has faded. How
slight, after all, has been her misery and
mine compared to that which he, sick
unto death. has had strength to conceal.
81 knew that was dying when | left
China he goes on presently, in a low
tone of evident fatigue, but which has
for all its weakness, force of hatred
which sends shudder through me as
| listen; "but since | have known the
truth, first from her. and then from you.
have struggled to live, and have failed.
| must die. and leave her to you
He leans forward suddenly, and brings
his white face and cleaning eyes close to
mine, which by some power stronger
than my will | can not turn away.
81 sent for you, not to rave of my
wrongs and your sin, but to tell you my
wishes. | hate you. You know what
real hate is as little as real love, but |
hate you. If could ha e lived, | would
have made her love me again, and pun
ished you without word. But | must
die, and when the time has passed which
her tender heart will force her to give to
a pretense of grief for me, she will be
your wife. Silence" Gas | make an eff
fort to speak,: Il wish it. | love her
and she will only be happy with YOU
He falls back on the sofa, and covers his
face with his hands,
''Poor child!' he goes on presently, in
a voice so faint that can scarcely he al
it; she has been very patient and gentle
with me all these weeks-Go bl SIS he
Then. with sudden rallying of strength
'Whether | wished it OF not, you will
marry her. but this is what you are t.
of what was dearer than life. You are tt
love her and make her happy, and fol
fear that one shadow should iarken hel
life, you must promise me that she never
shall know how truly her poor little plan
for my happiness has failed. leave hel
to you, sir, whom hate, the only curse
in my power, the knowledge that the
friend you betrayed died despis,ng you
but she shall believe always that my
faith was as undisturbed IN her love as il
my own, and SO be happy, as she never
could be even with You, sir, if she knew
what | have suffered. Then he break.
| off abruptly, and points to the door
'Now, sir, go"'
rise, get to the door, and then IT,,
to say some little word of self defense.
ave could not help our love- | cry
1--WE were ready to sacrifice our lives fol
you. We
"Your excuses do not interest me, ,
John says bitterly. Il have no time lef
to waste in hearing them. After YOU
fashion, you love her, and | can trus
even your honor to keep Il secret which
is for her happino S.
With this late scart justice | 90 out
| the room. out of the house, with some
thing OF that despair in my heart which
sent Cain wandering over the new mad,
world when he had killed his brotheI
| Abel.
Three days later, when come to max,
my usual inquiries, the strvaLt tells mt
that Mr.. Churchill is diving. aud that Ii,
has asked to see me. With Il heart flat
tering like girls | go upstairs but
when enter that room great Stiffness
falls upon me, for see that the end has
almost come.
Tne bed is drawn before the open " in
w, through which soft evening breez z,
is floating all the sweet odurs of the gar
den below. Mrs. Bruce and the doctor
are som, where near, but | do not st,
them. | see only those two, my frieut
and my love. He is prorpcd up will
| pillows, aud his breath comes in long la
bred ga>ps, but his hands clasp hers
and lie is looking at Ler as if even dealt
shall fail TO make him give her up. n,
lily was ever winter than she. poo
darling, except where sleepless suiferin.
has drawn dark cilcles under her swee
eyes, ard slow heavy tears are slipping
one by one over her pale checks.
The sound soft as it is, of my entrauc,
diSturbs him, and lie turns his eyes tt
me.
Stuart he says, family, that i:
we'll. Come closer
stand beside her and look down at him
and lille live | shall never forget til,
d ;alhless hatred in those dying eyes.
stuart lie sasps, old friend, y"r
will remember her? | can trust You -
The dying face swims before me, but
answer "Before God, who reads boil
II hearts, You may trust me-
He looks away from me, and puts botl
his arms about her.
kiss me-, he murmurs. My love,
my love, how can give you up"
see her bend over him, and turn away,
What am that should dare to look on
that farewell?
H0WARD'S LETTER.