St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-05-24

man in Australia who would refuse to grasp
me by the hand because was once Il con-
yict."
Has your innocence never been proved?'
l asked.
Never he returned. II might, per-
hapS have made a second endeavor to prove
it long ago. but could not bring myself to
make her unhappy-unhappier that is,
than he has made her. AS | have told
you, she became Lady Raven. You can
not expect DE to be able to tell you that the
man who so cruelty swore away my liberty
made her good husband. He Systemat-
ically ill-treated her; and although she bore
him several children, and was, have heard,
an exemplary wife until she was crushed
by his brutality, he behaved to her as he
would not have behaved to his dogs. DO
you know doctor, that | preserve my love
for her still? | have never ceased to love
her, although she believed evil of me, and
never sent me single word OF sympathy;
and | have left everything have to her
eldest son. who by this time has sons OF his
own. But do not know whether OF not
she is dead | have, however, provided
that, should she be living, she is to have
life interest in my estate. Poor thing, she
deserves it; for sadly did she suffer, and
not unfrequently, expect, did she want.
And he, | asked What became of
Raven?"
''In time he deserted her, and plunged
into the lowest depths Of drunkenness and
dissipation. He had wasted his fortune;
and not very long ago | read that he had
been picked ND in Il fit in the streets OF
Paris and had died before his removal to the
hospital
Il ain shortly going to England, Sir
James, D." | said, land if can be OF any
Use in discovering this young lady's where
abouts shall be glad to do my best"
You are going to England? am happy
to hear it. You then can do what | feared
would have to be done for me by a third
party | want you to find Lady Raven and
tell her what | have told you. Tell her
that, although we have been separated for
more than forty years, | still think Of her;
that die thinking of her: and that for
give her; and-Yes, doctor, tell her, too
that forgive him. Yes, do, fully"
| need not go on to describe the painful
hours | spent at st. James side ere death
released him from his Sliiferlngs: Suffice 1t
to say that he bore himself, even III his mo-
ments OF greatest agony, With becoming
resignation. Until the last he was thought
full for all about him rather than for him-
self: and when the long sleep at last closed
his weary eyes, | turned away, feeling that
Australia had lost man the memory OF
whom she might justly cherish.
Two or three months afterWard L re-
turned to England. Lady Raven, who for
some time had been i'll Impoverished cir
cunstances, had meanwhile been discov-
cred by my late patients solicitors; and
before | saw her, she had been apprlsed or
-
l introduced myself to her as his friend;
and found her occupying pleasant but not
very well furnished house i'll one OF the best
squares in Bayswater.
''It is all a mystery" she said to me,
when she had first apologized for the dis
order OF her temporary abode. Poor
James, He was once very fond of me. 1t
was many years ago We should have
married. you know, but for an unfortunate
circumstance. Perhaps you have heard OF
it?"
was slightly annoyed at the tone in
which she spoke of her dead benefactor.
Il have heard Of it, Lady Raven | re-
turned seriously.
But it did not spoil his success in life"
she continued with Il slight laugh; land
now at last he has made restitution. Well,
it is only what we deserve! He robbed my
late husband, you know: and it is fitting
that we should be his heirs-is it nOt?'
| was beginning to feel angry. Even if
Sir James had been guilty, she had no right
to speak of him now III so light and scOrn-
full tone. Already / saw she was recll-
ieSsly spending her neWly-acQuired wealth.
though she had not actually entered into
possession of it, the will not having then
been proved. Her misfortunes had not
made good woman of her. She was gaud-
lily dressed. Instead Of being in mourning,
she was covered with jewelry. Surely it
was well for poor Sir James that this vain
woman had never been his wife
'sLady Raven" / said sternly. eve may
as well end this. James Reilly never in
jured you or any ether living creature. 1t
was your husband who was the criminal.
He wrote his own name to that check which
led to Sir James transportation. lie denied
the facts, and caused your benefact0r to be
sent to the antipOdes. And do you think
that l knowing all this, will suffer Sir
James fair name to be slandered?'
She turned pale and clung for support to
a chair. ''Glaci0us p0Wersr she exclaimed:
sis it-can it be true? | knew it, them
knew it. My husband once told me all.
when he was delirious with drink. God
forgive me.7 ana she Tell like corpse to
the floor.
summoned the servants, who carried her
to her room. | then sent for a physician,
and in the meantime did what [ could to
revive her. But my efforts were in vain,
and soon after my colleague arrived she eX-
PRED. An examination subsequently dis
closed the fact that she had long been a SUI
ferer from heart disease.
am glad to be able to say that her son,
who is now enjoying Sir James Reilly's
mrniicent bequeSt. is worthy of the legacy.
A week OF two ago he sailed with his family
for Victoria, and it is his ambition there to
follow in his benefactOr'S footsteps.