The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1884-08-14
FROM LOVE EsTRANGED.

FROM LOVE ESTIsANGED.
1t had boen u glorious day-aal sun
shine and brightness; and for one of
these two it had held now light that
day-a light the girl beside him was
soon to quench in utter darkness. for
her face was flushed with anger, min
glcd with shame and disappointment.
while tho mans was full of passionate
appeal.
These two. Justine Latimer and Ger
aid Franklin, stood facing each other;
these two. who only the day before, in
the little village church, had been pro-
nounced one by an aged minister of
God.
The sky above them was canopy of
purest blue, the ground around them q
spangled bed of flowers; and yet they
stood facing each other, the stormy re-
bellion against fate in the girls heart
hidden by her strength of will, as her
soul cried out they must part forever.
II will never acknowledge our mar
marriage of fraud and de-
ceitr' she cried. II am not your wife
i will never consent to be known as
such. l will still be Justine Latimer-
Justine Latimer till L die"
.'You are Justine Franklin" he said,
''though you say you will never ac-
knowledge the marriage; but, Justine"
trying to speak calmly though his
voice tremb bled-'' remember you were
equally deep-equally guilty in the de-
ception." "
II was not. There is a great differ
oooo ~ ,>oos;ncr for Iocs tho,, what ta,,
are than in claiming what docs not be-
long to you"
Justine, the only difference is this
that / prove that love you for your
self alone, while you married me be-
cause you thought l was my uncle's
heir. | believed you simple. penni-
less governess, and as such l wooed
you"
"Wooed me, leaving me to believe
you George. instead of Gerald Frank
lin!'
Had L thought, he said, chad l
dreamed You were the hGh-born heir
ess of james Latimer, would never
have done So"
''You lot me believe"
Il loved, you. Justine. At first, ] DID
not willingly lead you, nor even WISH
you. to think that; but when l saw you
believed it, was coward enough to
let you continue in tho belief, but am
well punished for my Deceit" then
suddenly changing his manner and
holding out his arm to her: "Oh, my
darling my darling! will you not par
don me? Do not wreck my life, my
happiness. my every hope of joy. /
will make my way in the world for
your sake. will make a name"
''As the husband of an heiress, no
doubt you could do So.
Not as your husband, Justine. |
will not ask to claim you till then.
Only give me hope-the hope that in
the future you will come to me as nay
wife, remembering only that love
you. VIII you give me this hope, JUS
tine?"
''Never!' she cried passionately-
''neverl Justine Latimer | will live
and die, sooner than acknowledge my
self the wife of anything so utterly
deSpicable as q fOrtune-hunter!'
"A fortune-hunterr his handsome
face darkening 1T last, all the pleading
look of passion and pain fading from
it beneath the scorn of her words.
Justine, you do not think-you do
not believe that!'
81 both think and believe it. You
knew l was Justine Latimer, tho heir
ess."
''Stopr' he said. You need go no
further"
'"rhen you will not claim an unwill-
ing wife?''
''No. Were you the simple govern
ess l believed you, would claim you
despite yourself, even if had deceived
you, for you would ut least know l did
not marry you for your wealth or
position, and would trust to my future
love and devotion to win your pardon
at last. But, oh, Justine, l loved you
so dearly"
She turned her head aside at his
words, and though he noticed the &C
tion, he continued:
81 will finish all have to say now,
for it may be years before we meet
again. 1t was for love of you wronged
you in deceiving you, whether you be-
lieve it or not; but since you refuse to
acknowledge our marriage, l give you
my promise never to proclaim it till
you do"
"That l will never do"
THAT you will do. Mark my words,
in bitter humiliation you will yet cry
out, He is my husband!' and l may
then do as you have done now-refuse
to acknowledge it,
''It will never be-" she said again.
He smiled.
1--WE will see," he answered.
During all the time the girls beauti-
full naughty face had been singularly
pale; but il she were suffering she did
it well, and Gerald Franklin never
dreamed that in trampling on his heart
she was breaking her own-wreckin9
her own life as completely as his.
He turned away and left her stand
ing there, in oil her naughty pride
left her with the heart almost dead
within him.
She stood watching him till he was
out of sight, then all the hauteur, all
the pride, died out of her face. all hol
forced composure gave way.
''Oh. my love, my love, my darlinS!
she cried. II have saved your name,
your honor, and your pride ut the sac
rilice of my own heart rs well as yours
Oh. Gerald. my love, my lover
She sank down on the grass, al
white and trembling, and raised hol
agonized eyes to heaven, then burs
Into passion of bitter tears-tear'
that came from the inmost reccsses o
her suffering heart.
While she knelt there in her passion
ate abandon of sorrow, n man cam,
slowly down the dell; but rs his eyes
fell ON the girls kneeling form. h'
stopped q moment, then drew bacl
into tho shadow of some trees ut hand
At last. when her passion had worr
itself out, she rose and turned in th'
direction where the man stood; but h'
passed quickly through the trees. ant
in II few minutes came up behind her
Her face grew paler MS he reache'
her side, though he only made SOM
commonplace remark as he overtool
her; and though he noticed her whit