Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1885-11-11
not to receive the visits of gentle

mani
my dear Mrs. Burnham, is that
ala" said Mr.. Haywood, some foolish
tittle-tattle, gossip, scandalp I'll tell
you how you may silence it all; and In
deed that was my object in coming TO-
night. You know my position, you
know something Of my character, and
you have shown SO much of interest in
me that you have offered TO provide Inc
with wife. Mrs Burnham, will you
be that wife yourselfp You promised
to find NE one with whom l should be
satisfied, then look no further,-for
search far or wide you will never find
one that Will please me halt so well as
YOURSELF
"Mr. HarwOod," said Mrs. Burnham
all in a tremble with surprise and emo
tion, ''surely you forget that l am a
married woman.n
mo, l do not forget" said he; but
l remember also that your husband has
abandoned you for eighteen years; that
you don't know whether he is alive or
dead, and that in any case he is as much
dead to you as if you had seen him
buried"
'True. Mr.. Harwood," said Mrs.
Burnham; shut. if he does live he is
still my husband; and If he were to
come home tomorrow, could l deny
him?"
"Yes," replied Mr.. HarwoOd, ''his
long silence and neglect have divorced
you from him as thoroughly as the Di-
vorce Court could do"
81 swore to be true to him until death
parted us,'' said Mrs. Burnham, trying
to quell her inclination to accept Mr..
HarwoOd's views; ''and how do know
that he is deadp"
"Ah, Mrs, Burnham, don't torture
me with excuses" said he. "Tell me
at once if such is the case, that you
don't care for me,-that you don't think
you can learn to care for me: bnt don't
seek excuses. Your husband is dead,
and binds you no longer"
''If 1 knew-If only knew it!' she
exclaimed, despairingly. "But no, l
have no right even to listen to your ad
dresses"
"Then you don't care for me?" said
he, suddenly dropping his voice to a
desponding tone. That's the truth of
it. You cannot like me. l have been
nourishng foolish hope, which turns
into dreadful disappointment; and |
suppose L may return to my old, rowing
solitary life, instead of obtaining wife
and home"
"YOu mistake me, Mr.. Harwood,"
said Mrs. Burnham, in afaltering voice
81 respect you'll like you more even
than l should wish you to oknow,-more
even than had known myself. / wish
/ had never seen you, or that you had
| thought of any one before me-"
I "Then tell me, Mrs. Burnham," said
MIR. Harwood, earnestly, 'do you still
feel any affection for this husband OF
yours that has left you all these years?
Tell me, does any Of this feeling still
linger with you, and is thatyo reason
for refusing mer"
"Mr. Harwood," she replied, SIN
eighteen years the warmest affections
have time to cool. loved my husband
when he left me. but for many a year 1
have been accustomed to look upon him
as dead-to me, at any rate"
And you have quite forgotten him?"
he asked.
II have forgotten him." she replied.
There was slight pause, and then
Mr.. Harwood said: ''Tell me, Mrs.
Burnham, that you don't like me and
l will be satisfied"
81 can't say that Mr.. Harwood," she
replied; II can't say it, and yet my un-
fortunate position prevents me from
saying anything else.''
"Then you reject me-" he said; you
cast me out upon the world again, af-
ta- h,I 10 n hnr hnr
Do you refuse me positively?"
''Mr. Harwood," she said, 81 beg of
you, don't press these questions on me.
If you only knew how much l liked
you, and how painful it is, yet how
necessary"
"Ah, no." said he. his voice sinking
to one of soft entreaty as he took her
hand in his and gaZed earnestly in her
face, ''you will try and care for me a
little; you won't condemn me to life
long solitude; you will throw away ali
scruples for my sake. Dearest Mary
will you have me2"
AS he said this, he still looked ear
neStly IN her face.
Mr.. HarwOod's last words had sim
gular and startling effect on Mrs. Burn
ham. She diSengaged her hand, and
drew back, looking at him with strange
and fixed expression, losing all the color
in her cheeks. Something in the words
something in the voice, in the look, in
the attitude sent Violent thrill through
her, and she felt, as all have sometimes
felt, as if long past and almost for.
gotten scene in her life were passing
ever agaln-a man standing before her
and saying, in tones which vibrated on
her memory, dearest Mary, will you
have mep"
Mr.. Harwood observed the effect his
words had produced, and was almost
as much agitated himself.
Mrs. Burnham," he continued, In
rapid and excited tones, ''your husband
when he left you, made VOW that he
never would come back unless he were
greatly altered"
Before he could proceed any further,
Mrs. Burnham interrupted him with
loud exclamation.
''Frank!" she almost shrieked, gazing
at HIM with pale face and frighten-
ed look, "you are my husbandl"
With flash of pleasure in his face
he sprang up, and exclalmlng, "MaryP'
caught her In his arms and clasped her
to mis- breast.
A few moments passed in sobs, bro
ken exclamations, and Inarticulate
words, and then they sat down side by
side at the window, and gave free
course to the tears that flowed. He
sat with his arm round his wife's waist |
and his head leaning on her shoulder,
and feeling of repose, after all mis-
labors and wanderings, came over him
like that of wearied child in its moth !
er's arms.
1t was later when they were calm |
enough for explanations, and then he |
toll her how he had left the army at the
expiration of his time, and gone to |
Australia with the resolution of max
ing money, redeeeming his character |
for manliness and energy, and reclaim
ing his wife AMI home; how he had al
ways kept this object In view, and how
his heart had only failed him when he
began to accomplish his purpose, and to
arrive nearer to that return which was
tina object of his labors.
"Why did you come as a stranger
with a false name?" asked his wife;
''anl why did you wait so long before
discovering yourself?"
AT - 80 ,o,facS INV Gins - ha ro.