The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1886-02-20

whispered to herself, and flushing with
conscious shame, she pulled the neatly
folded sheet out.
''My lost darling" she read, ''lost by
my own mad folly. can not restrain
the desire to take advantage OF faithful
Valentines Day, to tell you how dear
you are to me still, and how much hap
piness your simple presence gives me
in my miserable home" The flush
died out of the wronged wife's cheek,
and was succeeded by an unnatural
pallor, as she continued: 81 have to
keep my passion concealed for fear of
its discovery by her who holds your
rightful place, or else the tattling serv-
ants :"
She read no more. She crushed it in
her hand, and then hid it in her pocket
as if it was serpent that had stung
her, as if it was a serpent of the deadli-
est kind!
80, my Cod" she groaned, in her
anguish, sit is only too true what his
aunt told me! am only blot on his
life" She hobbled into the adjoining
room, where a five-month-old infant
slept in a crib. She fell on her knees,
hid her pallid face in the coverlid, and
wept such bitter tears that grief can
only wiring from the eyes but seldom
during life.
80, my poor little Blossom, if it was
not for you | would not live another
nightn' she walled. 80, we will not
endure it longer; we will go out of his
life as completely as if we had never
been!" She rose, went into her own
chamber, gathered up her jewelry, hid
it in her bosom, and filled her purse
with money. Godfrey had always been
liberal, and for the last few months she
had bought nothing. There must be
a place somewhere in the world for us,
baby" she thought.
About dusk she called the nurse.
Bring the baby into my room, and
tell them not to wait dinner for me"
The nurse obeyed. The mistress is
going to lie down, she thought, and
wants her babe with her.
An hour later Godfrey asked for his
wife The nurse answered that she
was lying down and did not wish to be
disturbed. He turned away disap-
pointed; it had now been two days
since he had seen her for moment.
He returned to his office and did not
come home until late hour. In the
outer room he found the nurse asleep
in chair He awakened her. She
sprang to her feet and rubbed her eyes.
"What time is it?'' she cried.
lone O'clock" was the somewhat
impatient response.
''And | have forgot the blessed
ladyr' she cried. II sat down to
await the mistress orders and must
have gone asleep" As she spoke she
opened the door. "They are not
heren'
mot hereP" he calculated.
He entered the desolate room; no
wife, no baby greeted his eye.
On one of the pillows note was
pinned, and the nurse handed it to him.
''Your own heart will tell you where have
gone. Do not seek to find me-"
He read the words over and over;
was there any hidden meaning in
themp
my God, what can it mean? She
must be madr'
He had no inkling of the truth
nothing to lead him to the unraveling
of the mystery.
He called the servants, awoke his
aunt and cousin. Their search was
fruitless; she had gone as completely
and secretly as though she had dropped
through the earth.
The next morning Ophelia Brent
opened the newspaper, and ran her
eyes over the columns.
"a sad accident" she read. Last
night about eleven o'clock, woman
with babe in her arms jumped off the
ferryboat All efforts to rescue her
were fruitless.n
A cry escaped from her lips, and she
passed it to Godfrey.
He read it with ashen lips and pallid
face.
1t was a quiet little hotel generally,
but tonight there was a rushing of feet
and some unwonted commotion.
A pale, delicate woman opened her
door and beckoned to a servant.
"What is the trouble?" she inquired.
ga lady dying in the next ROOM"
was the response.
She cast one glance back to the bed
where an infant lay asleep, and then
cautiously wendell her way to the scene
of death and sorrow.
The woman on the bed was insensible,
and beside her stood man with wall
ing infant in his arms. Great tears
were running down his cheeks and his
form shook with emotion.
"Give me the infant" she said,
gently. 81 have child of that age of
my own"
He cast one glance at the frail
woman who spoke to him, and then
relinquished the child to her care.
The next day the bereaved husband
came to see her.
He told her they were on their way
to California; that his wife was taken
sick on the train, and got off here for
medical aid.
''All help was vain," he continued;
land now am left with poor mother
less babe. have no relatives to take
it to; | am utterly at a loss what to do.
''Let me keep it, said the woman,
eagerly, cit is about the same age as
my own; they will be like twins. "
''Are you ableP" he questioned. 81
noticed that walking seemed very pain
full to your
A flush stole into her pale cheek.
| 81 am weak. very weak she re-