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 con-
yict."
HAS your innocence never been proved?"
l asked
.'Neyerv' he returned. 81 might, per-
haps have made second endeavor to prove
it long ago. but could not bring myself to
make her unhappy-un happier, that is,
than he has made her. AS | have told
you, she became Lady Raven. You can
not expect me 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 l 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 L do not know whether OF not
she is dead. | have, however, provided
that, should she be living, sheis to have q
life interest in my estate Poor thing, she
deserves it; for sadly did she suffer, and
not unfreouently, expect. did she want"
''And he" l asked. What became of
Raven?"
SIN 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 I'D in fit in the streets of
Paris and had died before his removal to the
hospital''
Il am shortly going to England, Sir
James," said, ''and if | can be OF any
use in discovering this young lady's where
abouts, shall be glad to do my best"
'sYou are going to England? | am happy
to hear it, You then can do what l feared
would have to be done for me by 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 thinkingiof her; and that for
give her; and-Yes, doctor, tell her, too,
that l forgive him. Yes, l do, fully"
need not 90 OH to describe the painful
hours l spent at st. James side ere death
released him from his sutferings: Suffice 1T
to say that he bore himself, even in 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 ewes, turned away, feeling that
Australia had lost man the memory Of
whom she might justly cherish.
Two or three months afterwaTd 1 re-
turned to England. Lady Raven, who fer
some time had been in Impoverished cir
cunlstances, had meanwhile been discov-
cred by my late patients solicitors; and
before l saw her, she had been appraised OF
the provisions of Sir James Reilly's will.
l introduced myself to her as his friend;
and found her occupying pleasant but not
very well furnished house in one OF the best
squares in Bayswater.
''It is all 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?o
l was slightly annoyed at the tone in
which she spoke of her dead benefactor
II have heard of it, Lady Raven" l re-
turned seriously.
.'But it did not spoil his success in life, :"
she continued with slight laugh; ''and
now at last he has made restitution. Well,
it is only what we deserved! 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 in so light and scorn-
full tone. Already l saw she was reck-
lessly 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!
''Iady Raven" I said sternly, 1--WE may
as well end this. James Reilly never i'll
jured you or any other living creature. 1t
was your husband who was the criminal!
He wrote his own name to that check which
led to Sir James transportation. He denied
the facts, and caused your benefactor 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 chung for support to
chair. .'Gracious powers!' 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 mel" and she fell like a corpse to
the floor.
summoned the servants who carried her
to her room. then sent for physician,
and in the meantime did what I could to
revive her. But my efforts were in vain,
and soon after my colleague arrived she ex-
pired. An examination subsequently dis
closed the fact that she had long been suf-
farar from heart disease
1 am glad to be able to say that her son,
who is now enjoying Sir James Reilly's
munificent bequest, is worthy of the legacy.
A week or two ago he sailed with his family
for Victoria, and it is his ambition there to
follow in his benefactor's footsteps.