Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-02-10
XII.


think he put her back from him. SIS
there an end of the deception nOw" he
asked sternly. cam | to trust you il
your new characterW
SsYou are not to be harder on me than
deserve" she answered, gently. ''DiC
you ever hear of an actress named Miss
MaX?'
He began to understand her. "FOrgivt
me if / spoke harshly," he said. ''E Ou have
put me to a severe trial."
She burst into tears. ''LOve," she muir
INJURED, sis my only excuse"
From that moment she had won hel
pardon. He took her hand and made hel
sit by him.
yes" he said, 81 have heard of Miss
Max and of her wonderful powers of per
s0natiOn-and | have always regretted
not having seen her while she was on the
'Did you near anything more of her
| ErnestY
eyes, L heard that she was pattern o.
modest and good conduct, and that she
gave up her profession at the height of bel
| success to marry an old man.
''Will you come with me to my room"
| she asked. 81 have something there
which wish to show you"
1t was the copy of her husbands will.
"Read the lines, Ernest, which begin a
! speak for me-"
The lines ran thus:
"My motive in marrying Miss Man
must be stated in this place, In justice t
| her-and, l will venture to add, in justice
| to myself. l felt the sincerest sympathy
! for her position. She was without father
mother, or friends; one of the poor, for
saken children whom the mercy of the
/ Founding Hospital provides with {
/ hOrna Hap a on 70 Sfora Uvas
! the life of virtuOus woman; prosecuted
/ by prOfligates; insulted by some of the
/ baser creatures associated with her, t
I whom she was an object of envy. l offer
! ed her home and the protection of {
/ father-on the only terms which the
! world would recognize as worthy of US
! My experience of her since
our marriage has been the
experience of unYarying goodness
sweetness, and sound sense She has be-
haved so nobly, in trying position, that
| wish her even in this life to have her
reward. l entreat her to make second
choice in marriage, which shall not be a
mere form. l firmly believe that she will
choose well and wisely-that she will
make the happiness of man who is
worthy of her-and that, as wife and
mother. she will set an example of inesti-
mable value in the social sphere that she
occupies. In proof of the heartfelt sim
cerity with which pay my tribute to her
virtues, / add to this, my will, the clause
that follows"
With the clause that followed Ernest
was already acquainted.
''Will you now believe that l never
loved till | saw your face for the first
timer" said his wife. Il had no expert
ence to place me on my guard against the
fascinatiOn-the madness some people
might call (which possesses a woman
when all her heart is given to man.
Don't despise me, my dear! Remember
that had to save you from disgrace and
ruin. Besides, my old stage remember
ances tempted me. l had acted in play
in which the heroine did-what l have
done! 1t didn't end with me as it did with
her in the story. She represented as re
ioicing in the success of her disguise. l
have known some miserable hours OF
doubt and shame since our marriage.
! When l went to meet you III my own per-
son at the picture gallery-Oh, what re-
lief what JOY | felt when l saw how you
admired melt was not because l could
no longer carry on the disguise. l was
able to get hours of rest from the effort,
not only at night, but in the daytime,
when 1 was shut up in my retirement in
the music-rOom, and when my maid kept
watch against discovery, No, my love.
hurried on the disclosure because !
! could no longer endure the hateful
triumph of my own deception. All, look
at that witness against me- l can't bear
even to see itl'
She abruptly left him. The drawer
that she had opened to take out the copy
of the will also contained the false gray
hair which she had discarded. 1t had
only that moment attracted her notice.
She snatched II up and turned to the fire.
place.
Ernest took it from her before she could
destroy ii.
''Give it to me- he said.
'.Why -
He drew her gently to his bosom and an
swered:
Il must not forget my old wife,
Beigrdrid.