Weekly commercial herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1884-18??, 1886-04-30

IA AAAAE VI AIENaAAA MAl 4aNAdsIA J. IUI
one, have never accused him-and I never
will And now be has run away, Is it likely
that be will accuse himselfP
"Never mind what is likely. Think OF the
very best that could possibly happen"
The very bestf
"The very best"
Remember, Calista. it is not enough that
Hugh should be satisfied. OF course. he Is
satisfied. How can he ever love me unless
he respects mel l must have much more
than that"
You shall have much more"
"CalistaP Norah caught her hand. what
have you hearJl What have you donei
Have you seen himl Have you seen Dick!'
Patience, dear, for half an hour more.
and you shall know all. Tell me. Norah.
just this about Dick. Are you very-very
bitter about HING
Il don't know. He has robbed me Of
Hugh"
He will give Hugh back to you. Can
you forgive hing
Norah hesitate1.
Il know everything, dear; more than YOU
know, even. Dick has gone. He has fled
the country, l believe. There is nothing left
us but to forgive him. He will never know
whether you have forgiven him or not. But
tell me that you do"
"Oh, what will it help him for me to say
that l forgive himl l would not wish tc
punish him nor to take revenge. and vet
Yes, Calista, forgive him. Poor Dick we
loved him once, did re notW
Even if he does not know, it is something
that you forgive him. Mems crimes follow
them with scourges in their hands-scourges
with knots in them, and every knot. for
poor Dick, your vengeance and your I'm.
forgiveness. Now he will be punished less
f~earfully. My dear, your trouble is over.
No one, moi even the most spiteful, will
ever be able to hint that there was the
slightest truth in this monstrous accusation.
No one except ourselves will ever know of
it. Come, Norah, to Hugh's room. Some
one awaits you there-a most important
person, almoss as important as Hugh.
Come! A most delightful person; and oh,
Norah, be prepared for the best news in the
world, and for the greatest surprise you
ever imagined"
Calista led her sister to the resident medi-
cal officers room, where they found, be-
sides Hugh, a lady whom Norah recognized
at once as Hugh's mother-Mme. Aquila.
the singer. She was in lack silk, that kim
of lifelong mourning which some widows
adopt. Her face was kindly and soft, still
beautiful, though her youth had long since
vanished.
MY DEAR" she said, taking Norah by
both hands, 20 that she could draw her close
kiss her comfortably-''my dear child,
l have heard all. You have greatly suf-
fered. But all is over now. Your sister
has made the rough way smooth, and re-
moved the last obstacle. See what il is to
be a sister in the hospital; how helpful it
makes one! And now you will take my
Hugh again, will you not! He is worth
my dear"
Oh" said Norah, her eyes running over,
Hugh knows that FIRST
Eyes, my dear" Nine. Aqui.a Interrupted;
Hugh knows exactly what you intend.
Not yet, then. We will wait a little"
They had not long to wait, for steps were
heard in the corridor, and the doctor en-
tered, accompanied by Mr.. Murridge.
well, Calista," said the former, II am
here in reply to your letter. What have
you got to tell meg
First, here is Nine. Aquila, Hugh's
mother. Next, you will have to keep per
fectly quiet, and not interrupt for five min
ute'. And then l have got a surprise for
you. Such a surprise!"
Not another c%oronet, l hope!'
"And l am here, Calista," " said Mr.. Muir
Il have brought with me a certain
document in obedience to your request.
What nextl My son has left the country, /
understand. What nextT
First, Mr.. Murridge, will you withdraw
document, and own to Norah that you
have proved it to be false and treacherous
from beginning to end, and then tear it up
in our presenceF'
These were brave words. Mr.. Murridge
heard them with so ne surprise.
II have only to repeat what l said before.
| withdraw nothing, and l acknowledge
nothing, until my son has had a chance of
explanation l admit have never tried
to deny-that the case against him is very
black. But l will not condemn my own son
unheard. The paper shall lie in the safe;
the subject shall never be mentioned Norah
come back as soon Gs she pleases. But
if my son ever returns again-he has gone
a word-he shall have an oppor-
tunity of giving any explanation he phases"
''Norah can never 60 back to you until
that document is destroyed, and its contents
acknowledged to be false. More than that,
she can never renew her broken engagement
until you yourself acknowledge that its
falsehood has been proved"
II cannot help her, them" said Mr.. Muir
coldly.
~ wonder if l might ask what is the
Of al thisg' asked the doctor. ~
promised a surprise, and it begin; with
mystery"
Presently said Calista; presently. per-
laps. In the meantime, sit down and say
l have got something to show TO
Mr.. Marriage, and then you shall have your
"Perhaps you have another so-called
Mr.. Murridge vent on. Il warn you
hat nothing-nothing but my sons voice.
AN convince me-"
Yet you are morally certa.n!' said Hugh.
1T is not a question of my opinion, but of
ny sons honor. Go on Calista. Produce
additional facts if you have any, and
ct me co.
You snail nave MS own words, then"
produced her letter, Listen to this"
She read aloud the letter which she had
.ot from Dick.
Norah breathed a deep sigh.
"Why-" began the doctor, about to ask
ow any one in the world could be such an
liot as to suppose that his daughter Norah
ould lie wrongly connected with checks. but
e was peremptorily ordered by Calista to
silence.
'Here is the letter, Mr.. Murridge. Look
t it. You know your sons handwriting.