Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1885-10-02

Y eS, ne is my son, she SAID, calmly.
GAIL" continued Carruthers, excitedly.
''Need know all? Need l be racked by
hearing the one love tell me all? Need
pain her by forcing her to hear me? Have
not heard enough? Why should | seek to
know more?"
"Let me tell you my story, Frank" she
said, beseechingly.
s'Nop He spoke in that imperious tone
which she had once before, in slighter de-
gree, noticed. ''No! Listen to me-. Bea-
trice, believe me, have longed to find you.
I have sighed for this moment Ii l have
surprised your secrets it was not for my
own ends Beatrice when chance showed
me where you were I came to you with but
one object. This morning-even when, at
last, saw you, l had but one thought. 1t
was to come to you, to say L have sought
you because you are in distress, because
you want help. Such help as | can give is
yours. Without question, without the hope
of reward, it is yours."
Again she strove to interrupt him. He
checked her.
''Listen! I have more, much more, to
say. L have seen you again. his voice
changed to one of supreme tenderness, Il
have held your hands I have looked into
your face-the same sweet face of my
dreams. Beatrice, all is changed with me- :"
he knelt beside her and took her hands. eff
once wished to know all, now I say, tell
ne nothing. What is the past to me? Hide
it away, forget it, scorn it, Our life begins
to-day. I love you. Bend down and tell
me you will be my wife"
She forcibly drew her hands from his, COW
cred her eyes and sobbed.
"You love me,n he went on, passionately.
Il
Look at me-read in my eyes what my heart
desires-know that you have the power of
making or marring mans life. Beatrice!
My love- my only love, answer me!'
Once more he tried to take her hands. She
tore them away with cry of anguish, and
her Jearful eyes rested on his troubled, up
turned face.
Frank she said, ''you are killing me.
Spare me and let me speak,"
He waited in anxious silence until her
sobs died away and sustained speech was a
possibility.
Crank, FrankT she said. ''You have
been misled. You have heard but half the
truth. You love me- yet dare to think that
if what you have heard is true l would be
your wife I cannot blame you for believ-
ing. I have no right to blame. My actions
have helped that belief. Yetin believing it,
you, Frank, have given me the sharpest
pain of all that have known"
Carruthers bent his head and prayed she
would forgive him.
II have nothing TO forgive From whom
did you think I f1ed-from what dangers
Frank, I fed from the man who is my hus-
band-the man who more than five years
ago took advantage of a girls folly, married
her and made her life misery"
Carru theirs rose from his knees His face
was white as Sheet He was the picture of
despair A legion of Mrs. Millers would
not now have caused hope to throw up the
tiniest shoot. Her husband! The room
seemed to swim around him.
When he recovered himself hesaw Beatrice
with the tears falling down her cheeks. The
sight was a bitter reproach to him. How
had he kept his vow2 Instead of giving her
comfort and aid he was buG adding to her
trouble. Moreover, keen sense of shame
ctme home to him. Instead of joy he felt
fresh misery when Beatrice's words told
him that her secret was not one of such
nature as he had been led to believe. That
his first thought upon hearing the truth
should have been one of sorrow showed him
that he had reached depth of selfishness
and degradation which no love could excuse
or condone. He blushed for himself and
for the sake of his manhood strove until he
regained composure. There was a strange
calm on his face when, once more, he drew
near Beatrice.
''Tell me all, !" he said, in quiet voice,
''No, don't fear for me-" She glanced at him
ipquirlngly. 'grell me- all; I can bear it, I
can help you,n
She told him all. Told him without self
excuse without even exaggerating her hus-
bands sins against the world and against
Ter. She told him without claiming mercy
Ga account of what she had suffered; but
there was pathos in her voice, an utter
,peessness in her manner which told her
listener more than words could have told.
His heart ached as he thought of her; Lis
blood boiled as he thought of the villain who
had wrought this misery,
He heard her to the very end in silence.
Throughout her tale she had not spoken of
her husband by any name; but from the
first Carruthers guessed who he was As
she finished speaking he turned his pale face
to her. 1.-THE mans name is Hervey,n he
said,
Eyes. Do you know hing
Il have seen him twice." As he spoke
Carruthers invoiuntarilv clenched his hands.
There was q kind of savage satisfaction in
pnlnKlng uIu0F WIaU cOIlultlOIS u6 ldSG saw
the rogue He wished he had struck even
harder, He frowned and his mouth grew
hard and stern. Beatrice saw the facial
change.
"Do You blame me too much to forgive
me, Frank2' she asked, anxiously. He
looked at her with eyes as soft and ten Ter as
a woman's.
BLAINE you? Who am 7 to blame youa
What have to forgives You have all my
pity-all my sympathy. Again I offer you
such help as 7 can giye-such help as q
brother can give a sitter. You will take
this from me, Beatrice?"
She pla. ed her hand in his. sfYes, will
take it. 1t is more than I deserve All,
me! why should my trouble enter into your
life"
His fingers frightened on hers. His eyes
sought hers. Beatrice" he said, 81 did
not live until knew you. You have right
to claim all can give, Vet there is some
thing | must ask-something I must know.
You have told me much-will you tell me
ala"
u have told you all"
''No, not all. Beatrice, life promises to be
but sorry affair for me. Let me nave such
cold consolation as it can give. Beatrice,
let me hear you say with your own lips that
had things been otherwise YOU could have
loved me-weuld have Teen my wife"
She met his eyes bravely. eyes, Frank"
she said softly, II will say that, ] will say
more. love you now, All Frank, re-
proacl ne, blame me, when tell you that
although / knew it meant unhappiness for
you it was sweet moment to me when first
knew that you loved me-"
After this avowal there was silence for a
minute Then Carputhers leaned forward.
::'Beatrice, my love- he said hoarsely, sIkiss
me once. only ask it once.n
She flushed to the roots of her hair, yet
she made no resistance. Carruthers drew
her to him and for the frs, and, for all
be knew, the last time their lips met. Ha