Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-12-26

She went away with many sad regrets,
and for two years saw none of those with
whom she had associated at Rosedale
Through letters received from Irene she
learned that Gerald Courtney was settled in
New York, and that was all she knew about
her old lover
During the years of her married life she
had striyen to do her duty as a true wife BY
her husband she had honored and obeyed
| and now, as he lay sick and dying, she had
| but one vain regret-that it had not been
| in her power to love him as a wife should
love her husband But she had not de-
ceived him. She had told him before their
marriage that she had no love to give him,
and that he was taking Ter hand, but not
| her heart.
However. he was content to take her,
assuring her that his great love and devo-
(, ton would eventually win for him the af-
fiction for which he so craved. But it
never did. And now, as Maud sat beside
| the bed, watching whilst he slept, she
! thought of all he had done for her. and
| heartily regretted that she had not found it
possible TO love him-to repay him for his
ardent devotion with the affection he had
| so eagerly sought to win.
Maud!' came from the thin, pale lips
of the invalid; an in an instant, his
young wife was bending over him, ready to
! obey his slightest wish.
What is it. Isaac? what can | do for
you?' she tenderly asked.
Nothing. ! want only to talk of our
married life, and to remind you of the hap
piness You brought to an Old mans life bv
marrying him. You have really been an
old mans darling Maud; but could never
make you truly happy, try as l would. You
never complained, but l could see it all the
time. All this came back to me in dream
just now and there is something-some-
thing l must tell you, Maud before 60 1t
is my duty, to hiHl and to my Maker You
have been a true, faithful wife; but | was
| unworthy of it all, though you little guessed
it, and tried so hard to love me and make
me happy"
why do you talk like this, Isaac? You
who were always SO kind, SO generous, so
indulgent
% tried TO makey you happy, God knows"
the old man murmured, taking his wife's
hand in his own 80 but it was no use Love
| cannot be bought, and love alone is the key
to all earthly happiness. 1t was wrong in
me, decrepit old man, to seek the hand of
| so young and fair creature in marriage
especially when l knew that your heart was
given to Gerald Courtney. You and he
would have been married long, long ago,
| but for me. For the sake of attaining my
own happiness, l blasted the hopes of two
|
| deeply, earnestly, sincerely"
1t was no fault of yours, Isaac" Maud
said, wondering why her husband, who
had always so strictly avoided the mention
| OF Geralds name, even, would persist in
| talking of him now. Gerald and | were
betrothed once it is true, but it was no
| fault of yours that we were not married"
- 1t was no fault Of mine, you say?" the
old man echoed, with a ghastly smile.
Poor, foolish child 1t was all my fault,
| all! Maud, promise you will not utterly
despise me- and will tell you secret"
Maud promised, and he drew her nearer
| to him as he said
| - 1t was |, darling wife, who intercepted
| your letters; | who destroyed his letters!
his letters, remember, which were always
so loving, and filled with such bright
| hopes for the future All you start and
grow pale. Forgive me, Maud, my wife!
1t was because | loved you so. To possess
| you for my own, was the one great ambi-
ton Of my life; and, in my zeal, | never
/ paused to consider the misery was bring
| ing to two innoceht hearts. Only say YOU
| forgive me, darling; for the time allotted
to me on earth is brief, and, oh l must
know that you forgive me, that you do not
utterly despise mel"
The tears were streaming from the
| young wifi s eyes; but as she gazed on the
| thin, wasted face of the man who had
| sinned through his love for herself she
forgot the many heartaches she had en-
dured through his evil work, and she for
gave-freely and unhesitatingly calling on
her Maker to bless him and to forgive him
as she had done.
In so doing she lifted a great burden
! from the old mans heart; and when
with his white head pillowed lovingly on
her gentle breast-his spirit took its fight
to another sphere of existence, he may be
said to have died content.
| year later there was quiet wedding
| at Rosedale, for Gerald Courtney had come
at last to claim his bride. The glad light
that shGne in the young mans blue eyes
fully revealed the happiness of his heart.
OF Maud, it is enough to say that she does
not argue now that marriage is but bust
ness transaction. She prefers true love to
being ian old mans darling" although
she respects the memory of the man who
was once her husband.