Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1884-06-19
The UnatOnable Sin.
IChicago Tribune

"GOOd-by, McNulty y
The tall, lithsome form of Esmerald w.
Perkins was sharply outlined against
Vivian McNulty's left ear as he stood that
beautiful June evening in the doorway of
BriertOwn Villa hoping against hope, and
praying that something knew or cared
not what-might occur to sweep from the
horizon of his life the awful sorrow that
was hanging over it like pall-a sorrow
that would make every day an con of
misery, every word of joy that Others
might utter knell of despair.
They had quarreled, those two-they
who in the beautiful days of autumn, when
the leaves were turning golden, when the
hills were crowned with amber light and
the valleys seemed like huge cups brim-
ming over with purple haze, and when
the trotting record was lowered to 2:OS!,
had plighted their trOth so willingly and
yet so sOlemnly, thinking, and rightly, too,
that this blending forever of two hearts
was a solemn, holy act, one that should
ever be looked back upon in silent graft
tude-and now they were to part forever,
take separate paths on the eventful jour
ney of life-that journey which they had
hoped by constant cOmpanionship and en-
and sweet content. But now all was
changed, and the rose tinted future which
they had often pictured to themselves and
talked about in the calm hOpetulness that
only young man on S75 month and a
pure, passionleSs girl, who can eat the bot
tom crust of a pie without a quiver can
assume had passed away forever, and in its
place there was yawning chasm of de-
spair and grief.
Il cannot marry yOu," Esmeralda had
said to him that night as he entered the
house, and then having uttered the cruel
words which she had been schooling her
self all the day to say, and seeing how
they bad pierced like dagger that brave,
manly heart, she had thrown herself into
his arms and as her white face down
which the tears were streaming lay upon
his heart, Vivian McNulty knew that the
words which Fsmeralda had spoken did
not come from her heart-knew that some
terrible mystery was enshrouding both
their lives i'll its darksome folds. And as
he held her sObbing in his arms the light
from the chandelier above them streamed
down in golden radiance upon the broad,
white brow, from which the fair hair
waved away, fell across the long, strangely
dark eyelashes, giving just gleam of the
beautiful blue eyes beaneath, across the
sweet, red mouth quivering like grieved
child's. And then, as he bent forward
tenderly to kiss away the tears, the girl
had drawn back-not in anger, but with
an expression of unutterable pain on her
face, and spoke the three words with
which this chapter opens:
"GoOd-by, McNulty."
For an instant the man could not reply.
He had not felt such shock since meet
ing his father in the giddy whrl of a
poker game and going home with nothing
but contrite heart and lead pencil to
show for his months wages. He still held
Esmeraldas hands in his, and the girl was
looking up to him with ey es that were tear
less now, but in their depths there was
look of frozen horror, a my-bustle- got
loose expression, that pierced his very soul.
And when he had asked for an explanation
of her wOrds-not demanding it as right,
but pleaded for it as tavor-she had only
shifted uneasily onto the other foot and
burst into a storm of sObs.
Il can only tell you," she murmured,
when finally his agonized entreaties had
moved her to speech, that our marriage
would render your life one of constant
misery that it is better that we should
part now than commit an error which
eternity alone could efface. You will never
know how l love you, Vivian-never know
the dreadful agony that this separation is
C. sing me. God knows | would greet
de; tn with smiling face and outstretched
arms tomorrow, now that you are lost to
me forever, for what is life without your
love, and presence, and kisses but an un-
ceasing torture? If love you less if your
love were not enshrined in my heart as
something to be worshiped evermore, l
would not take this step. 1t was wrong,
very wrong, / know, to allow this love to
overmaster my whole being, but it is better
to wreck one life than two, and so again 1
say 'Good-by, and, lifting her pure sweet
face to his, Esmeralda kissed him gently
on the lips and turned to 90.
Stop exclaimed Vivian in an imperi
Gus, whoa-Emma manner Il plead with
you fer explanation. but now l demand it.
1t is my right" and drawing himself up
proudly he broke his left suspender.
''You speak truly" replied the girl. IAN
explanation of my action is due you.
Know, then, that am victim of heredity."
"Of what ?" asked Vivian.
"Of heredity," repeats the girl.
"In what respect 2" he demands, his
voice hoarse with agony.
II have" said the girl, steadying herself
against the piano, inherited my fathers
snOre."