The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-02-02

thur Braden, the man to whom you have
extended your friendship. [ can not tell
you bog I loved him. God alone knows
that, If there is such being.
Arthur was very poor. therefore Ii was
impos bic Tor him TO marry me then. He
went abroad. and for ears waited for him
TO return aud MAKE me bis wife until had
given up all hope. Then it was tia. you
sskej me TO be yours | consented because
was tired of the life l vas comDsllef to
live, and wanted home OF my own; some
place TO lay my head that might know was
not q place from which might at any mo-
ment be discharged After We were mar.
red and went abroad we met Arthur in
London. when he informed me of the large
fortune left to him by sn uncle, whose death
had occurred only few days before. at
sight OF him all the old love was awakened
within my heart with renewed vigor.
could not endure to be separated from him
for moment.
"You will remember that you had not re.
ceived a letter from home for several week.;
you became uneasy and wanted to return
home Meta did not write but DR.. Grey
did. telling you OF her severe illness; but |,
your wife, destroyed them; for Arthur was
not ready to return home. and did not
want to return without hIm. Oh, my hus-
band say you forgive me for causing you
80 many wretched hours In those days which
should have been our hapDiest
After we returned home l made you be-
lieve loved you, which 1 did to hide my
relations with Arthur. Before we We're mar
Offer OF friendship, and | resolved to have
revenge; to make her suffer for
the contempt with which she had
ALWAYS Treated me. And have succeeded
with that which pleased me most | am al
most afraid to tell you what did 70 ac'
| accomplish my purpose lest youIcurse me Yet
il car make no djfferenc, since l will not De
IL existence when you receive this Letter.
Tbisis What / did: watched the mail and
securs 8 Eugsne's letters. and not one of your
daUghi' RS letters was permitted to. leave the
Ball have saved them all. You will fad
tie M idden in bedcIothing in the room in
which | am now imprisoned | do not eK.
pet either OF you to forgive ms, dear Give;
yet / would gladly kneel 81 your feet and
ask It,
My love Tor Arthur seemed to increase day
by day, and knew If [ were free he would
marry me; therefore | resolved to poison
you In order to gain that desired freedo IN,
and had it not been for the watchful eye OF
your daughter and DR.. Grey's close observa
ton of your case 1 might haye sue ceeded.
But now / hate Arthur Braden, as | have
learned to love you In the last few days
suppose it is because be tried to do right
and live an honorable life. However, il
vas he who broke loving heat, and must
have revenge; therefore before l end my own
miserable existence l will send him on be-
fore.
81 find 1t a terrible thing, when approach
ing the end OF life. 10 have lived life OF
wickedness; to have lived without believing
In God or beaver. What awaits me when
leave this world2 | wish my faith in God
al man had not been destroyed, for then l
Bigbt die happy. the only consolation ia
death to me is the thought OF escaping the
prison, and the thought of being free from
misery. But enough OF this, yet can not
hoor rrN6 hun hr1k II 80
Once more 1 ask you to forgive a sinful
wretch like me if you can. Farewell. my
noble husband and may He, in Whom you
have all faith, bless You with His most CHI
blessing.
"Your dsowned and dishonorable wife.
LIMA MASON"
Mr.. Woodruf arose from his chair and
staggered and fell back, the great tears trick
ling down his cheeks. He thought of how
that miserable woman must have suffered
when she wrote that letter, with dee th star
ing her in the face. What must her feel
iDgs have been when writing this letter? My
blood boils at the thought of the wrong she
has done you," he said, wiping away the
tears.
'Never mind that, papa; l was q great
deal TO blame myself. For whether 1 liked
her or not Ishould not have scorned her offer
alone in this wide, wide world, without
friend except you and Arthur"
Even that does not excuse the wrong she
has DONE" he replied.
Papa, it is NOT only because we failed to
receive each others letters that L will not
marry him; you know the other reason, and
can lot help but think am right"
There would have been no doubt, no
misirust on either side had thess letters
been allowed to reach their owners. You
may be right in not accepting him, yet
think OF the long, weary years before you
Have / not got you with me, dear papa"
"Ah. will not be with ysu always, and
| could not rest in my grave knowing that
my only child was alone in this great world.
Child, think well before you give up the
man you love 80 devotedly and whom, |
am now convinced, can love none other
but my Meta" he said, gravely.
Papa would you have me marry Eugene?
Tell me; do not hesitate in saying yes If
you wish it,
That must be left to the dictates OF your
own heart"
ut is too late to talk of that now, as he
and his cousin are to be married in another
week, and of course the invitations are out
by this time. There is nothing left for me
now but work and"
The door opened aud DR.. Grey aud Gertie
entered. Mr.. Woodruff handed them Lins's
letter, and as Gertie read 1t her eyes filled
with tears.
THE way OF the transgressor is indeed
hard. But uncle, you do forgive her know
and you tooJ Meta, even though she hiss
sep srated You and Eugere. You are Young
and there are perhaps many wears of hsppi-
ness n store for you yet. Uncle, may re-
tain this letter for a few days?"
Certainly, and when you are through
with il commit it to the flames" Mr.. Wood
ruff answered.
"By the way, Meta, | have news for you.
Hal has returned from Europe aud he aud
mamma are coming down to spend few
weeks with Us he says he has great So r
prise in store for Us all
When do they arrive?' asked Meta
She was glad to hear ofHsrs return home,
yet she thought of the question he had asked
ner when she last saw him, and won
dered If he had forgotten it, and would once
more look upon her rs his cousin only.
lnrc- rnnrrnu ranrnino. AID Mafa Won m nat