Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1885-10-02

i dared escape to you. Freedom, love,
happiin may they still be mille3
Before long I will grant you an inter e. 4.
view. II will promise you nothing
more than that now. Percy. my only
love. God bless and keep you until we
meet. n B @&.
zone word more Pray be cautious.
If my husband should discover thus
correspondence cannot answer Tor
the consequences. Though he has new
er lll-treated mel know him to be-
hard man. Let me hear from you
soon. Yours" s-,.rs,.
The name was illegible, for the sheet
was much discolored and blotted by
the rain. But it was Lucie's fine, del
icate chirography. and / felt as if a
thunder-bolt had broken around me.
After moments blank wonderment
and strange, bewildering pain, | put
the sheet in my pocket and quietly
continued my way. Such a flood OF
emotion was stirred within that |
summoneda superficial calmness from
an instinct of self-preservation.
was conscious of one predominant
feeling as 7 went to the city-hatred
against my wife for her duplicity. |
must have looked wretchedly when |
reached the Office, but my partnerwas
too much excited to notice it,
"Knowles," heexclaimed, "there was
terrible fire in philadelphia last
night and our branch house is burned
to the ground. Here is dispatch from
Weiss. He wants you to come on i'm
mediately."
In two hours was on my way to
Philadelphia.
There was much to dotorestore our
interests, and / lent myselfto the work
with all my energies. It was the best
thing that could have happened to
me. 1t gave me no moretime to think
Of Lucie
wrote her once, telling her very
briefly that should not be at home
for month. 1t was six weeks before
I again arrived at Daphne Dell. The
maid was washing the hall.
Glow do you do, Dorcas? How is
Mrs Knowles?"
Every comfortable. l think she is
sleeping now, sir
Somewhat bewildered by this reply
went into the sitting"room. No sign
of Lucie or OF her work. I mounted
to the chamber and quietly opened
the door.
The room was darkened. Lucie was
sitting up in bed nursing the infant.
Sweetly and calmly she extended her
hand to me. went to her-I put my
arms about her-I kissed her. Icould
not help it, for / felt that the child up
on her bosom was my own. The
nurse came in, took the infant from
her, and babe her lie down to rest.
She was very weak. Icannot ex-
press my contending feelings as I
watched her fragile face upon the pill
low.
Slowly she gained strength. 1t was
midsummer before she was about the
house again. The little one had been
prematurely born, but it throve, and
the mothers health was finally re-
stored.
was rejoiced at this. I should
have been perfectly happy but for the
letter. The memory Of it was like an
ugly devil that Knocked me.
One day as Lucie sat tending her
child in low chair by the window J.
laid the sheet before her. Ihad fixed
my eyes upon her face, and saw aslow
surprise dawn upon it.
"Where did you find this, Will? I
lost it months ago.
"Under the orchard wall. What
does it mean, Lucie?'
{"Well," g. slight blush, "you have
fo,,rd me- o,rf It's a. leaf from 2, storv
/ was writing" '.,."
"And Percy"
"Was the hero. The sheet must
have blown out the window that rainy
night last spring. You see, dear,
I didn' like, to tell you, because
I thought you wouldn't like to
have literary wife, but had been
accustomed to writing stories some
times, and when knew baby was
coming thought I would earn the mon
ey myself for the embroidered flannel
and cambric dresses. I knew you
needed every cent in your business. l
had to rewrite this letter for my TO-
NANCE she continued, land I didn't
get it quite the same,' examining the
sheet. .~&,
Hooked at her sweet face for a mo-
ment and then fell down on my knees
beside her. + confessed all. Slow
amazement dawned in her counte-
nance At length her. soft eyes filled
with tears. She drew my face down
to her bosom where thelittle baby was
slumbering. = .' '.5# :
'"Another lover?" she murmured.
"Why, Will, nobody but you ever low
ed me iii all my life!'' Al ,,. .".,s.svs
Then, again, I knew. that. she was
once more MY Lucie! r~,.