Weekly commercial herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1884-18??, 1885-09-04

'rYes,7 be said, softly. sChancs has
given me your story. But 70 me-only to
me-"
sDo You know all-all that / hare done
all that ! have sufferedP
BE rose. There was strange agitation in
his manner and voica
"Allr' he exclaimed. 'Beatricel Bea-
tFicel how can / find words to tell you what
l knowl Beatrice, did / not Just now hear
that child call you motherr
YES, he is my SON. she said, calmly.
"Alli" continued Carruthera excitedly.
'Nsed know alla Need ! be racked by
hearing the one / love tell me alll Need /
pain her BY forcing her to hear met have
not heard enougha Why should l seek to
know moreF'
LET me tell you my story, Frank" she
said, b~eseechingly.
'NoT0 He spoke in that imperious tone
which she had once before, IN a slighter do
gree, noticed. ''Nol Listen to me. Bea-
trice, believe me, l have longed to find you.
l have sighed for this moment II ! have
surprised your secrets it was not for my
OWE ends Beatrice, when chance showed
me where you we're / came to you with but
one object This morning-even when, at
last, / saw you, / bad but one thought. It
was to come to you, to say ! 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 isyours"
Again she strove to interrupt him He
checked her.
'Listenl | have more, much more, to
say. l have seen you again." his voice
changed to one Of supreme tenderness, II
have held your hands. / 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. IF
once / wished to know all, now | say, tell
me nothing. What is the past to mea Hide
it away, forget it, scorn it Our life begins
to-day. / love you. Bend down and tell
me you will be my wife"
She forcibly drew her hands from his, Gov
cred her eyes and sobbed.
"You love me" be went on, passionately.
''Is it for my sake you will not do this thing9
Look at me-read in my eyes what my heart
desires-knOw that you have the power Of
making or marring a mans life. Beatrice
My love, my only love, answer mel"
Once o be tried to take her hands. She
tore them away with o cry Of anguish, and
her fearful 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
sob died away and sustained speech was q
possibility.
"Frank, FrankI' she said. "You have
been misled. You have heard but half the
truth You love me, yet dare to think that
il what you have heard is true / would be
your wife. l cannot blame you for believ
ing. I have no right to blame. My actions
have helped that belief. Yet in believing it
you, Frank, have given me the sharpes
pain Of all that l have known"
Carruthers bent his head and prayed sh
would forgive him.
II have nothing TO forgive. From whor
did you think l fed-from what danger
Frank, / fed from the man who is my bus
band-the man who more than five year
ago took advantage of a girls folly, Marie
her and made her life a misery"
Carruthers rose from his knees His fec
was white as O sheet. He was the picture c
despair. A legion Of Mrs. Millers woul
not now have caused hope to throw up th
tiniest shoot. Her husbandi The roon
seemed to swim around him.
When he recovered himself hesaw Beatricl
with the tears falling down her cheeks. Thu
sight was a bitter reproach to him. How
had he kept his vow9 Instead of giving hel
comfort and aid he was but adding to hel
trouble. Moreover, a keen sense Of sham,
came home to him Instead Of joy be fel
fresh misery when Beatrices words tolt
him that her secret was not one Of sucl
nature as he had been led to believe. Tha
his first thought upon hearing the trutl
should have been one Of sorrow showed hin
that he had reached a depth Of selfshnes
and degradation which no love could excus
or condone. He blushed for himself, AM
for the sake of his manhood strove until h
regained composure. There was a strang
calm on his face when, once more, he drew
near Beatrice.
''Tell me al" he said, in a quiet voice
"No, don't fear for me-" She glanced at hir
inquiringly. Tell me all; l can bear it.
can help you" 3
She told him all. Told him without sci
excuse, without even exaggerating her bus
bands sins against the world and agains
her. She told him without claiming mere
on account Of what she had suffered; bu
there was a pathos in her voice, an ute
hopelessness in her manner which told he
listener more than words could have tolt
His heart ached as he thought Of her; hi
blood boiled as he thought Of the villain VIII
had wrought this misery.
He heard her to the very end In silence
Throughout her tale she had not spoken {
her husband by any name; but from th
first Carruthers guessed who he was. A
she finished speaking he turned his pale fac
to her. 1.-THE mans name is Hervey," b
said.
Eyes. Do you know hlmq'
II have seen him twice." AS he spok
Carruthers ~involuntarily clenched his hands
There was a kind Of savage satisfaction i
thinking under what conditions he last SAY
the rogue. He wished he had struck eve,
harder. He frowned, and his mouth grey
hard and stern. Beatrice saw the facis
change.
do you blame me too much to forgiv
me, FrankF' she asked, anxiously. II
looked at her with eyes as soft and tender 0
a woman's.
"Blame you9 Who am I to blame yor
What have I to thrgivei You have all m
pity-all my sympathy. Again l offer 70
such help as | can give-such help as
brother can give q sister. You will tax
this from me, BeatriceT
She placed her hand in his eyes, l wi
take it. It is more thar l deserve. AL
mel why should my trouble enter into you
lffeT'