The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1885-08-21

l.
falteyed. She could not reproach
him at that moment. She could not
understand why, with that letter wait
ing for him, his voice should express
such unmistakable anxiety and
solicitude
" Lie down dearest, he said, land
rest till l come home. shall be back
to DINNER"
He kissed her, and went to ST.
Stephens. Except for the fear as to
what news any post might bring him
from his detective. he was very Joyous.
Every paper had leader on thespeeches
of last night, and his speech had been
an Important and favorably criticised
one
He was in good spirits when he came
home to dinner His bout with the
Home Secretary had succeeded to
marvel. His manner to Marion, who
still looked worn and weary, had never
been more affectionate She felt
bewildered.
Dinner over, he must go to his duties
again. She could not let the moment
pass. She placed herself in a low chair
near him-her favorite seat.
"Must you go to the House tonight,
Cuthbert ?"
st don't knowabout must I ought
to, although there will be no division of
importance. If you feel i'll, my darling,
I will stay with you" He kissed her SO
lovingly that she knew it could be no
pretense, and wondered more and more.
How cold your lips are" he said.
eyes I will stay with you tonight"
She thanked him, but waited a while,
as in deep thought, before she spoke
again.
"Cuthbert" she said, sweetly but
gravely, ''may I tell you little tale OF
real life?"
He looked at her, and felt sure that
there was some grave meaning in her
request.
by all means, he said.
Calm as she forced herself to be, her
heart beat and her hand trembled as she
drew out the little broken gold cross
and placed it i'll his hand. He looked
at it and then at her inquiringly.
"That was given me, years ago" she
said with an effort "by the man who
was my husband, or who fancied was
my husband
Cuthbert started.
"Wait moment, Marion. I did not
ask for this. do not want it. But if
you wish to tell me, tell me with your
hand in mine; for swear that whatever
you may choose to let me know shall
make no difference between us.
His voice was passionate as when he
first pleaded for her love.
She lid not understand. She looked
at him almost dreamily, but did not
place her hand in his.
"No, Cuthbert. It may be I shall
have question to ask you. Let me tell
it my own way"
He saw that she was quite serious, so
listened with growing fear.
ct was but g1r," she said, very
quietly and with her eyes cast down.
girl of twenty. He told me he loved me.
He was young, and L believed, would
change his manner of life for my sake.
I married him. For few months was
happy; then found him as he really
was-a false liar, coward, swindler.
When years afterward he told me was
not even his wife-that even in that he
had deceived mel think, in spite of
the shame, my heart leaped for Joy. He
could claim me no more Did wrong
you, my Cuthbert. by marrying you?
I was only sinned against. My silence
must have made you think it even worse
than this.--Now, will give you your
letter"
Cuthbert was very grave.
Why do you tell me this, Marion?
I was of course bound to guess Mt some
thing of the kind. Why tell me now?
/ never asked never wished to
know"
He had not noticed her mention of the
letter, nor would he had known what
she meant by it. She drew it from her
breast.
my husband" she said sadly, as
she handed it t, him, "we can never be
quite as we were before you did this
thing. If you doubted, why not have
asked me? Why not have asked Mr..
Mayne? L will not reproach you, but
you have degraded both me and your
self"
He took the letter in stupid astonish-
ment. That he and Marion were at
cross-purposes, that she was under
some delusion, was evident. What it
was he could only learn from reading
the letter, SO, without another word, he
read:
81 would have seen you, but am
ordered away on an affair of great impor-
lance. 1 do not neglect your interests
in going A child might now follow the
clue. Winslow and his wife lived for
some time at D. He left her
deserted her, probably, when he sailed
for the States. She lived on at D.
for while, trying to make an income
by keeping a small school. Then she
fell seriously i'll, and at last was taken
away by gentleman, whose name my
informant forgets, but who was Rector