The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1884-04-27
whether she shall see him.


take the letter to her. If she should de-
eide to go, she may accept my escort"
Marsh accepted the errand, and fulfilled
it. In effect Mrs. Tregarthen decided TO
see her husband, if he would receive her;
and she and her child, In Phl's charge,
started upon the journey. 1t was now
thirteen years since she had so foolishly
run away from home and happiness, dark
enlng her own life and the life Of
the man who loved her. But that
had never seemed her crime, Her
real folly was hidden in the shadow
Of the mere reticence which had always
seemed criminal. Perhaps, since she felt it
50, and had always felt it so, her sin really
lay there, though few people would have
cared to characterize it by SO harsh name.
She had reaped fame and riches and a heart
full of regrets, and none of the purposes
for which she had lived had seemed worth
much to her, except in so far as they
seemed to avenge Arthur, and then they
become valuable
Phil left her, with her child and her maid,
at one of the hotels at Gorbay, ard crossed
to the Island alone TO spy out the land be-
fore her Tregarthen sat where he had sat
before, and Phil supposed at first that his
downward gaze was still directed at the bit
of crystal, but when he drew near he saw
the child's photograph in the fathers hand.
He had knocked at the door, and had re-
ceiyed no response, and now he had to lay
his hand upon Arthur's shoulder to arouse
him from his reverie. He was startled at
the hollow eyes and gaunt face which
turned toward him.
You are here again, Phil," said Ire
garthen, in waste-sounding voice. Il
am glad of that l wanted to see you
again, but l did not care to ask you to
come
81 came because of your letter, Arthur
answered Phil. THAT is the photograph
sent youln
eyes,
81 have brought your little daughter
with me-" said Phil, TREMENDOUSLY. "Would
you like to see heri
yes said Tregarthen, q should like
to see her Bring her to me. Where is
sheln
~ left her at Gorbay," returned Phil,
I" Arthur, your wife is with her. She longs
to see you. She never knew till lately that
you suspected her of worse than that de-
ceit Of hers about the stage If she had
fancied that such construction could I've
put upon her running away she would have
stayed, or have returned again to clear
herself of that. Arthur she's as pnre as
crystal. am sure of it. l know it. Shall
| bring her here'"
"Tell her." said Tregartheu, huskily-
"tell her this before she comes. | have only
day or two to live. Hush, Phil No dis
chalmers can alter it. If she can come here,
If she cares TO come here, and tell me |
have wronged her, | will believe her. |
shall know all about it by-and-by, but |
will believe her. For my share in the fault
and folly have borne enough to be for
given
Arthur" asked Phil, "why do you
| speak like this' Why do you tell me you
are dying! You only need shake off the
fancies that Cypress you to be well and
happy and strong again"
"The doctor comes here returned Ire
garthen, with a CHASTITY smile, 'and pre-
scribes food | can't eat, medicine l can't
drink, and occupations which are impossi-
| BILE | am dying, Phil, and there is an end
of it. l am glad to go. This lingering
taking leave is painful, but | have been
patient too long to grow impatient now.
There-go, and do your errand, Phil Prove
me twice fool and kill what earthly long.
ing may be left
To Pills mind the tragedy was too COM
plete for anything to add to it. The boat
men rowed him back to Gorbay, and he
found Mrs. Tregarthen pale and trembling
with suspense, but self-possessed
Tell me- she demanded, "what he
said You told him was herer'
Hard as it was to do it, he told her all
She took the wandering child by the hand
and arose. She had not removed her trav-
eling-dress, and there was no time lost in
preparation Phil led the way silently
through the sunlit street, and down to the
beach. The waters sparkled softly and
the Island was all amber and amethyst in
the sun, for there was little haze abroad,
which gave the effect of distance. They
landed at the Sea-gate, and she remembered
her first coming there, and the last time of
her leaving, and the years that had passed
since then looked like a very gulf of time.
When she stepped upon the sands her limbs
almost refused to support her, but Phil lent
her an arm, and she walked to the house,
trembling. The housekeeper had seen them
approach, and half guessed who the yelled
lady might be. She stood at the door with
a disturbed face, but her expression changed
to one of unmixed wonder when she saw
the child
Phil, with Mrs. Tregarthen clinging to
his arm, walked down the corridor to Ire
garthen's room, and there, having raped
once, he threw open the door and surren-
dered his charge, The actress and her child
entered, and he, having closed the door,
went away.
Tregarthen, with his hollow eyes and
gaunt face, his jutting beard and neglected
hair, was so unlike himself that for mo-
ment his wife scarcely knew him, though
they were so near to each other and each
was entangled in the others glance,
"Arthurn she said, arthur"
She was on her knees at his side. He
looked at her with intent inquiry, and at
the same time reached out hand for the
child and drew her toward him.
Clara" he said, after dreadful pause,
"you gave me right to doubt you. You
gave me n right to hate the world, and
throw my life away, | am dying and |
know it. There is no one here before whom
you need pretend shall know everything
In an hour or two. 1t is not worth while
to deceive me for so brief time. Tell me
the truth Why did you leave mel"
81 had deceived Won she answered. still