The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1886-03-06
snatchlng my nand from his grasp, YOU
are the vilest man l have ever known

twenty-four hours ago. am traveiinG.
The cars enter a tunnel; then. as thev
emerge into daylight. there comes a deaf
enin9. binding crash. which seems to
swallow me up.
l recover consciousness, to find am
only bruised. The collision has taken
place near few farm houses and the in
Jured passengers are being carried to these
dwellings.
A dreadful scene meets nv paze
as l alight; the front portion Of both
trains is completely wrecked Amidst
the Debris lie manned human bodies, some
struggling to extricate themselves. others
white. still, wrapped in the last dread
slumhcr
A female figure is borne past me
on mems shoulders. Every part of
her body looks crushed out Of shape;
even the pale face and long fair hair are
made CHASTITY by crimson stains OF blood
Where have / seen such hair a., this uc-
fore? Like fash that scene in OakwooL
rises before my sight Yesterday those
golden tresses were !iung across Bert
rams breast l start forward. | need
not those around US.
Do you know what you have done,
with your shameful wiles," cry How
dare YOU steal away my husbands heart
one word" Forgiven and falls dead.
Twelve months have rolled away
Though l turn with loathing from the
thought OF my husband. an intense yearn.
ing grows up in my soul to be near him
to look once more upon his countenance
Yielding to an irresistible impulse, re-
turn to where dwells my husband.
1t is not long before, one night, l steal
forth In the darkness to stand, an hour
later. in front OF my lost home.
There is no light in the drawing room.
turn to his study window. That
also is dark Where is he?
lift my eyes to his chamber. Here a
light burns steadily; while shifting Shad-
ows, as of persons moving quietly within,
fall across the shade.
quick step comes up the gravel path.
I turn hastily. 1t is the doctor.
Unheeding his astonishment, springinS
forward. | grasped his arm.
TEL me what is amiss" gasp. ''He
is not seriously liz"
Docter Taylor looks down grayely into
my agitutel face as he answers. There
| is only gIeam of hope.
| shed no tears: they seem frozen.
The words ring again and again through
my brain" Only gleam! :
L must see him. Is all say.
The doctor shakes his head
"You must let me 80 to Bertramr'
| cry oh, have some pity. and keep ne
not from my dying husband! | will not
| agitatc him l assure you!'
| The very sight of your face would do
| that. Mrs Tremaine, do you know, dur
| ing the time he was unconscious. your
| name was on his lips day and night
Yet YOU are cruel enough to keep US
| apart, is my passionate response.
| 4 moments silence. then he says ::
| You shall be admitted on one condition.
| 1t is that you remain behind the bed"
| Il promise, is my quick response.
| We enter the house. Five minutes
| later | stand on the threshold of my
| husbands ROOM The door opens. The
| nurse, at word from Doctor Taylor,
| leaves the chamber. l glide into my ap-
| pointed place.
Doctor" family says my husbands S
| voice, 1t is nearly all over. This is
| surely death coming! Tell me-
| "You are very weak, replies the med
| ical man, evaSiNely.
| That means you fear to answer my
| question. You need not. Life has been
| too bitter for me to regret it is heeting.
| But before l die there is something |
wish to say, that you may repeat it some
| day TO my wife.
| Years ago, before met Lenorc, my
wife, fell in love with a girl named
Constance Fielding. I made her an Of
frr. which was accepted. On the very
Gav had held her in my arms, on The
yarv day her lips had sworn love-vows tC
| ne. learnt -he had been for two ycar-
.ae aflianced to another. | was nearly
mad in that hour. Rushing into hci
presence, | poured forth in bitter WORD
-: rage a hnr deception.
sac threw herself at my feet, imp.or
ny me to listen.
-. Not one word | cried. 'foW
| salsehoud has crushed out all the love
ave you. Had you been my wife bcfo"'
Ills tra;h became known to me, l woul
| ..4ve east YOU off as ] do now"
:. From that moment she faded out c
ny hoHrt.
Three years passed when I ms
Ie2orc She became my wife.
Two months had Of briee, c0tran,
Ing 10y with my darling girl-t"2 mont.
q. eoldea love. Then in one hour lif"
bliss faded utterly; was left il blar
GarkneSs-alone.
" You know Oakwood. which lies on n
erounds2 l walked through there Oh
day, and encountered the worn shade
of woman | once had known. III
ghost from my past was Constance.
" She burst into bitter tears as we ne
then poured forth with incoherent Wor.
IL story Of wasted affection and mad loi
- married the man to whom YOU l.
me. She cried: but, Bertra!a, | isuT
loved anyone bat you!
.s.uushr I said, why wrong y
,, womanhood by telling this to me? y.
are q wife; / an married. Be sure Il
not we'd another with any love for Y,