The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1886-05-19

r1tle.'' He forgot his difldence and
began to forget his fears for Arthur.
eff ever there was good woman In
the world-if ever there was woman
in the world who loved her husband
If ever there was an unhappy woman
in the world have seen her Arthur;
there was great mistake"
"You wrote of her." said Ire
garthen, with no show of feeling, "but
you did not write ingennously. You
pretended not to know my knowledge
of her, and wrote of her as a stranger"
"She was stranger then" returned
Phil, "but she learned from friend
that came from Tregarthen, and that
you had saved my life. She sent for
me and tried to question me about you
as if she had not been interested in
vou'-the lad was moved at the men,
ory of this scene-''but she broke
down, and confessed who she was;
and, Arthur, since you have let me say
so much you must let me 60 on. l
have heard the Gorbay people talking
about YOU hundred times, and in their
mouths it was always you who were at
fault. But knew BETTER and | knew
that you believed terrible things about
Mrs. Tregarthen. | believed them,
too, but believe them no longer. l
have seen her and spoken to hor, and
she has told me all the story. She did
not let you know that she had been
upon the stage, and when you found it
out she thought you could never for
give her deceit, and she ran away.
There was something worse in your
own mind against her, OF you would
have traced her and have brought her
bacl, again. But that is all her story.
| That is all the confession she has to
make"
lyon are quite sure she is innocent
and good, Philip asked Tregartlcn,
looking askance at him.
II am as sure OF her innocence and
goodness as | am OF my own heart
beating at this moment
$50 was l." returned Tregarthen.
Don't you see, Phil, y he added, that
YOU are somewhat indiscrcet? This
lady is my wife, and it is a little hard
that l should be asked either to in
criminate her or condonc her crimes.
Let me hear no more of her. Your
love excuses you now, and your mex
perience alone would be eXtenuation
enough for so well-meant a folly"
Phil accepted his rebuff in silence, but
he was none the less sure that he was
right, and that some dreadful error
had separated Arthur and his wife.
\ 81 nj oh hn
Tregarthen '.Tell me of your studies
Who is your friend, Mr. Marsh? lam out
OF the world here, and l know nothing
of him, though you speak of him as be-
ing famous"
Phil had no heart to talk, but he an
swered Tregarthen's questions, and
wondered all the while what the mad
speech of an hour ago had meant.
There was no trace of madness now.
The youngster knew well enough that
he had made foolish move in attempt
ing to influence Tregarthen by a mere
impression of his own, and yet he was
as certain as he could be of anything
that his impression was the true one
But Arthur seemed frozen into indiffcr-
cnce, and Phil had no evidence to offer,
even had his benefactor been eager to
demand it. The lad was anything but
a fool, and yet it had seemed to him
quite natural to suppose that he should
come down here, hot as he was with
! sympathy, and by mere touch thaw
the heart which had been frost-bound
all these years. He had miscounted
| his relative forces. The frost had con-
quered the fire, and his own heart for
the moment was almost as cold and
dark as Tregarthen's.
Tregarthen ceased to question, and
the two walked side by side in silence.
Phil began to muse, and while he
unused the fire began to burn again.
Arthur he said, suddenly, .'there
are things we can't prove that we arc
sure of all the same. |, am sure ]
know-that she is innocent of any
greater fault than that deceit I
know give you pain, Arthur, but |
should deserve nothing you have done
for me if didn't speak. Let me bring
you together. If you could see her, if
you could hear her, you would. believe
h\r.'
.Tregarthen looked at him, and saw
that there were tears in his eyes,
ut is well to have good heart,
PHIL, he said, gently, "base as the
world is. Keep your beliefs in good
ness. You are happier, and will be
happier for them, till the bitter day
when you must lose them. Virtue and
honor are fine things to believe in. ~
He laughed there, and went on.
Hopes toothsome dish when One
and-twenty serves tipping hot. Hope
served hot - Hope gone cold-cold
Hope in the pot-nino days old. A
nauseous mess, Phil. No relishing it.
Take it away"
There was u tone in this bitter
badinage which was more ailictin" to
Phil than even the te"dornrsa which
had preceded it. 1regarthen had
given him right to love him and he
was young and enthusiastic, and sure
with the certainty of enthusiastic youth.
You are wrong, Arthur lie cried,
almost with passion, Virtue and
honor live after one and twenty. You
prove it yourself. You are virtuous
and a man of honor, and do you think
that you are a rarity in nature?
haven't seen much of the world, but I
know it's better world than you
think 1t. You have had a cruel expert
ence, Arthur. You have eaten worm
wood, and everything tastes of worm
wood -..---.------
Very well, Phil" said Tregarthen,
quietly. "The flavor will last me my
lifetime. The coffin worm will scour