The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1885-11-06
"Shall 1 tell you =" | asked

Now the time was come That bean
tiful face would never look into mine
again. | steeled my heart by thinking
of the tiny baby face l had seen on the
wooden bench OF the pier-so like hers
the little drowned face!
Il will tell you of what l am think
ing, Mrs. Fleming, said; but must
tell it 10 you as a story
DO" she said, in gentle voice. and
she gathered the scarlet poppies as she
spoke.
There were two friends once upon a
time" began, who loved each other
with love deeper and truer than the
love of brothers"
She nodded her head with a charm
ing smile; | saw an expression OF great
relief pass over her face.
Il understand" she said ''as yo,l
and Lance love each other, there Is
something most beautiful in the love of
men"
These two spent much time togeth-
er; their interests were Identical. they
shared at that time the same homes
and fears. They were parted for a
time. one was busy with his own Affairs.
the other, an invalid, went to Brighton
for his health"
How the smile died away, the sun did
not set more surely or more slowly than
that sweet smile OF interest died from
her lips. but no fear replaced 1t at first.
The friend who was an invalid went
to Brighton, as | have said, for his
health, and either fate or Providence
took him one night to the Chain Pier
l did not look at her; l dared not.
Ny eyes wandered over the running
river, where the crimson clouds were
reflected like blood; but heard a gasp
ing sound as of breath hardly drawn. 1
went on.
The Chain Pier that evening lay in
the midst of soft, thick gloom there
was no sound on il save the low wash
ing of the waves and the shrill voice of
the wind as it played amongst the
wooden piles. He sat silent, absorbed
in thought, when suddenly a woman
came down the pier,-a tall, beautiful
woman, who walked to the end, and
stood leaning there"
| saw the scarlet poppies fall from the
neTveless hands on the green grass, but
the figure by my side seemed to have
suddenly turned TO stone. l dare not
look at her. The scene was far greater
agony to me, | almost believe, than to
her. l went on
The woman stood there for some
short time in silence then she became
restless. and looked all round to see ii
anyone were near.
Then she walked to the side OF the
pier. She did not see the dark form in
in the corner; she raised something in
her arms, and dropped it into the sea"
There was a sound, but it was like
othing human,-it was neither sigh
nor moan, but more pitiful than either
the poppies lay still on the grass. and
great hush seemed to have fallen over
the river
Into the sea, 1 repeated, ''and the
man, as 1t fell. saw a shawl of black and
grey
She tried to spring up, and knew
fr1nr 70 -
river. l held her arms, and she re-
manned mOtiOnless; the very air around
us seemed TO beat with a passionate
pulse Of pain.
There was a faint splash in the
water. | went on; lit was all over in
less than a second, and then the swift
waves rolled on as before. The woman
stood mOtionless. When she turned to
leave the spot the moon shone full on
her ace,-ghaStly. desperate, and beau
tiful,-he saw ii as plainly as | see the
river here. She cried aloud as she went
away, oh, my God. il dare-ifI l dare
Can you tell what happened d? Listen
how wonderful are the ways of God,
who hates murder and Furnishes 1t. She
1ung the burden into the sea, feeling
sure 1t would sink: hut it caught,-the
black and grey shawl caught.-On some
hooks that had been driven into the
outer woodwork of the pier; 1t caught
and fro with every breath Of wind and
every wave"
Without word or cry she fell with
her face IN the grass. Oh, Heaven, be
pitiful to all who are stricken and gull
ty | went on quickly
"A boatman found it. and the bundle
contained little drowned child-a fair
waIen babe, beautiful even though il
had lain in the salt, bitter waters of the
green sea all night. Now comes the
horror, Mrs. Fleming. When the man
who saw the scene went, after some
years, to visit the friend whom he loved
so dearly, he recognized in that friends
wife the woman who threw the child
into the sea
Again came the sound that was like
nothing human.
What was that man TO doP" 1
asked. He could not be silent; the
friend who loved and trusted him must
have been most basely deceived-he
could not hide murder yet the woman
was 80 lovely, so lovable she was seem
ingly 50 good, 80 charitable, so devoted
to her husband, that he was puzzled,
tortured; at last he resolved upon tell
ing her. l have told you.
Then silence, deep and awful, fell
over us; it lasted until l saw that l
must break it. She lay motionless on
the ground, her face buried in the
grass.
What should yo,t have done in that
mans place, Mrs. Flemingp'' asked.
Then she raised her face; il was
whittier, more despairing, more CHASTITY
than had seen it on the pier.
Il knew it must come" she walled.
'Ohi Heaven, how often have l dI eaded
this-I knew from the first"
Then it ,CIS youP' l said.
1T was me-" she replied. II need
not try to hide it any longer, why
should II Every leaf on every tree,
every raindrop that has fallen, every
wind that has whispered has told it
aloud ever since. If hide It from you
someone else will start up and tell. If
/ deny it. then the very stones in the
wretched, miserable me,-the most mis-
erable, the most guilty woman alive-it
was me-"
My heart went out to her in fulness
of pity-poor unhappy woman! sobbing
her heart out; weeping. as surely no
one ever wept before. I wished that
Heaven had made anyone else her judge
than me. Then she sat up facing me,
and l wondered what the judge must
think when the sentence of death pass
es his lips. / knew that this was the
sentence of death for this woman.
You never knew what passed after,
did yOup" | asked.
"No-uot at all - was the half sullen
repiy-'not at all"
did you never purchase a Brighton
paper, or look into a London paper TO
see?"
NO" she replied.
Then l will tell YOU" said, and 1
told her all that had passed. How the
people had stood round the little baby,
and the men cursed the cruel hands
that had drowned the little babe.
did they curse my hands2" she
asked, and | saw her looking at them in
wonder.