Daily Republican., 1885-10-30
A QUESTION OF HONOR,
ny MRS. f. BURKE COLLINS.

And We must part Oh. Jack
Jack How can bear 1t ?"
A womanish appeal from the depths
Of the great loving heart. lying bare
now, before the critical gray eyes of the
N an who stood facing Jessie Framleigh
still and white.
Jack Averill turned away for the
sight of she story grief before him,
the wild passion which shook the slen
der figure like reed in the wind, was
more than he could bear. For he loved
her He caught his breath with mad
gasp at the thought. Yes, come what
might, he loved her . No lapse oil
years, no change of scene or circum
stances could tear the knowledge from
his heart, which gave a mad, guilty
cap, and then grew cold and still at
thought of the future. No-not even
the remembrance OF the woman whom
be was geing to marry had power to
check the joy, the passionate gladness
that surged through his being at the re-
collection that, come veal OF woe, this
woman hetorn him was his In spirit.
Alas only in spirit for between them
there yawned guilt that lever could
be bridged, chasm impossible tc
span.
He thought of Marian Grey-ihe wo
man whom he did not love, but whom
he was going to maryland chill
swept over his strong, 1.-THE frame. 1t
hal all been settled long ago, when he
was little more than boy; the engage.
ment had been made, and now-now
his honor was at stake he must keep
his troth- plight, or break a woman'f
haart Thto mon hia panuonin0 and
although he shrunk from the thought OF
this marriage ~ from blow, though
he knew that when he would stand al
upon himself those solemn VOWS be
would perjure his own soul, yet it was
o question OF honor with Jack Averill.
strange did 1t seem that he could re.
concilo his conscience to take this step,
when 1t was far more honorable to tell
the truth, and not attempt TO cover up
. false step by taking wrong course
aud two wrongs will hardly make one
right. But Marian Grey WAS such q
clipginR little creature, he argued men
tally, 1t would break her heart should
he reveal the state of his own and beg
for freedom. He could not have THU
calamity lying like shadow at hii
uOOE NJ, nc Wouiu Lhdtiy hoip anu 10
good true husband, and she would
never know-never dream that every
rhrob of his heart belonged TO Jessi,
Frsmleigh.
This may seem hard and unnatural
but it is done every day. So he put
resolutely away from him the tempia
ton that assailed him, and. very pale
and stern, he turned to leave the woman
| whom he had led on-unintentionally
to betrayal of her cherished secret
and to lay bare her heart before hi.
eyes; and then, to look into her death
stricken face with stereotyped detiui
t!ons of honor-and the wrench INF
asunder of 9uivering heart strings
When she was all alone, Jessie Fran
leigh drew her slender form up proudly
and her dark eyes dashed Indignantly
| eff he loved me az he says" Ala
| painted, che would not marry Maria
Gray How much easier TO break thi
tie now, than to doom h,r t peri etua
misery Tor II ne does not love her an
will soon discover 1t, and bow wretchaI
she ill be But, ther. l am iittl
bai barian in my de 8 of rigf
and wrong, Aunt May Says. Perhaps
am, but l can see no honor in marryini
n person from whom my whole hear
recoils, simply because l have made ;
IN stake in first promising, A ba.
promise IL better broken than kept
But then, I am not like other people II
Il ~, ~ ,,ia,p ~ a ;farapt puaatiopa ~