Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1886-01-29

the steamer.
l had other questions to ask him, among
them when he first barrel the true reason
of nv wife's sudden fssit-how he learned
it He was silent for while, then he sail
gravely:
Lorraine. will once ior all make clean
breast to you A moLth after had placed
Viola in ny sister honls l said to myself:
This man, who should have made her life
happy, has by his treatment forced her to
leave him. Why should she waste her life
in griefs Hove her! 80 wrote to her
could not have spoken the words-I wrote
and told her Iloved her. 1 asked her what
the voice of the world mattere1 to U.S. The
law mi yht free her from you, and we might
be happy! Her answer was to send me back
my letter. accompanied by the papers
which 1 gave you to-day she knew that
/ would guard the secret. I knew that she
left you, not because Your love had waned.
The hate felt toward you, the passion I
felt toward Viola, turned into the deepest
pity. Now you know all "
1t was just after say;ss. this that Grant
babe me good n;gse - 1t ne to MY own
reflections So I watched and watched
until morning dawned, then broke broad
and bright; until the sun was we'll up; until
at last we steamed into Havre, and l could
step on the broad quay and tell myself that
in few minutes my wife would be weep
ing i'll my arms.
We reached the hotel. We Learned that
the ladies were still there. Grant, tele-
gram had done its work. My impulse was
to rush i'll search of my WIFE, but Grant
checked me. As he said, she knew nothing;
his message had given no information as to
the discovery he had made. Let him seq
her first and convince her that I was,
without a shadow of a Goubs, Julian
Loraine's adopted son. Then I might see
her as soon as liked.
I consented and curbed my impatience
sat in the courtyard of the hotel counting
the minutes Grant must have told her by
now. She must know what joy is awaiting
us. She must be longing to throw herself
into my arms. Why am not summoned
Perhaps the joy has killed her! will wait
no longer
I rose, but at that moment Grant APP
peared His face told me that the cool
tidings had worked no evil. Iran toward
him. He graspe1 my hand.
''Stay yet few minutes" he said; s'she
wishes it"
''She is wells There is nothing wronga"
''She is we'll and happy. In ten minutes
you shall see her,"
Somewhat sullenly I reseat,d myself
Presently, we were joine1 by the sweet
faced Sister of Charity, who had for the
time discarded the spotless linen insignia of
her calling, AMI was dressed in simple
black. She talked on various subjects but
if l ans were1 at ali I did so mechanically,
her voice bearing no meaning to my ears.
At last she rose, and understood that she
wished me to follow her. Grant wrung my
hand as passed him.
With beating heart followed his sister
up the wide stairs, followed her until she
paused before door, and placed her hand
on the handle. Then, turning to me, she
whispered:
'tMr Lorraine, know all the sad story of
the last two years I know what this poor
child has suffered. There are some griefs
which are too a cute to bear even the men
ton of. Take her to your arms as If you
had parted with her but an hour ago, and
until she speaks Of it let no word of the last
two years pass between you"
She made the sign of the cross, opened
the door and left me free to enter
What did l SEE? Viola, even as she left
that morning SO soon after our wedding.
Viola in the very dress she wore that day.
How we'll I remembered it-rememberei
its hue, its very materiaI8e af6erward
she told me that during thos, months of
separation she had treasured up AMI kept
always near her everything that reminded
her of the few happy days she had spent
with me, before the fatal mistake crushed
her to the earth. Yes, saw Viola as of
old-even down to the sparkling ring which
had, it almost seemed to me that morn
ing, given her. Viola, my love- my wifel
The door closed softly behind me-the
sisters care must have done this. opened
my arms. With cry of rapturous delight
Viola ran toward me, and in a moment was
sobbing and laughing on my breast
Dearest" she whispered, when at last
we found speech for more than CALCULATIONS
and broken words Of love, dearest it has
been dream-a black cruel dreamr'
She shuddered as she spoke. Once mora
Ipressed my lips to hers.
'Let us forget it." 1 said.
Then, hand in hand, out of that long night
Of dark dreams we passed into the full day
light of the joy which life can only know
when frightened by such love as ours!
THE END.