St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1886-07-31

Hard as it was to do it, he told her
all. She took the wondering child by
the hand and arose. She had not re-
moved her travelin dress, and there
was no time lost in preparation. Phil
led the way silently through the sun
lit street, and down to the beach. The
waters sparkled softly, and the island
was all amber and amethyst in the sun,
for there was alittle haze abroad, which
gave the effect of distance. They land
ed at the Sca-gate, and she remembered
her first coming there. and the last
time OF here leaving. and the years that
had passed since then looked like q
very gulf OF time. When she stepped
upon the sands her limbs almost re-
fused to support her. but Phi lent her
an arm, and she walked to the house,
trembling. The housekeeper had seen
them approach, and half guessed who
the yelled lady might be. She stood
her expression changed to one OF I'M
mixed wonder when she saw the child.
Phil, with Mrs. Tregarthen clinging
to his arm, walked down the corridor
to Tregarthen's room; and there, hay
ing raped once, he threw open the
door and surrendered his charge. The
actress and her child entered, and lie,
having closed the door, went away.
Tregarthen, with his hollow eyes and
gaunt face, his jutting beard and neg
lected hair, was so unlike himself that
for a moment his wife scarcely knew
him, though they were so near to each
at cd n tIA
others glance.
"Arthurr' she said s'Arthuf!'
She was on her knees at his side
He looked at her with intent inquiry,
and at the same time reached out q
hand for the child and drew her toward
him.
Clara" he said, after dreadful
pause, "you gave me q right to doubt
you. You gave me right to hate the
world and throw my life away. am
dying, and l know it. There is no one
here before whom you need pretend.
/ shall know everything in an hour or
two. 1t is not worth while to deceive
me for so brief time. Tell me the
truth Why did you leave me?''
Il had deceived YOU" she answered,
still entangled by his glance. Il knew
that you could never love nor respect
me any more. l could not bear to think
of it, and / ran away
''Did | marry an honest woman,
Clara?' He had right to ask the
question, and she knew it.
This little child,' she said, sis no
purer than l was when We married,
Arthur"
You can say that to dying man.
and with your arm about the child9'
Il can say it, Arthur, in Gods hear
ing, and call Him to witness that !
speak the truth"
He turned away, with weak gesture
of head and hands.
sShipwrecked, he murmured, ''by
collision with bubble! That sounds
strange, Clara. And the ship went
down as though it had struck upon a
solid rock. Is it of any use that the
ghosts who wash up against each other
after all these years should make a pre-.
tense of being alive againP'
Ii this were but poor reconciliation
for two mortal hearts, it was yet all
that was allowed them for the time.
Tregarthen was so weak that he fell
asleep after few minutes in silence,
and his wife watched him with such
thoughts and regrets as may be fancied.
He slept till evening, and at dusk the
housekeeper dared to enter the room
and put a light to the materials for a
fire which lay ready in the CRATE. The
child cried at this strange home-com-
ing, and her mother soothed her; and
when the room was ruddy with the fire
light Tregarthen awoke.
phil" he said, softly, without rails
ing his head-''where is PHILIP"
"Shall send for him?'' asked Mrs.
Tregarthen.
You are here?" he asked, turning
his eyes upon her. 1--WE wasted day
or two Of pleasure here. We shall
have time enough to know each other
better. Where is Philip
She moved quietly to the corridor;
and there was poor Phil, walking up
and down noiselessly with slippered
feet. At her reckoning hand he came.
"He has asked for you,'' she whis-
pared.
s'There is little box in the safe"
said Tregerthen, when Phil entered the
room and bent above him. "Give it to
men
The key was in the lock, and the
safe opened easily. Phil found the box,
and placed it on Arthur's knee.
There's something in the box,
Phil. Take it out What is it?''
"A greenish bit Of glass, Arthur.
Nothing else
Throw it in the fire, Phil" The
youngster obeyed him. ''That was no
philosophers stone," said Tregarthen,
land let us be thankful that it WIS
not