The midland journal., 1886-10-08

. She wrenched aside a loose piece of
old paling, and crept through the gap.
Ah-how changed!
Weeds, and long, rank grass, and
tangled underwood, from which her
footsteps startled the wild rabbits and
birds, and the toads and lizards.
1t seemed to break her very heart
afresh, for the story it all told her of
his wrecked heart and inner life; and
with half-frantic gesture, she pushed
her way recklessly onward.
She had scarcely dreamed of this when
that dark night, maddened with shame
and misery, she, a girl of sixteen, had
fled away, before he could reach the
home which had so cruelty branded her
as an outcast, with no right there.
The slight sound of crushing under
wood made her rouse herself in terror.
Something living, beside herself, was
in the wood, in the falling shades of
evening; and she stood perfectly STILL
listening, shrinking close to huge old
tree.
The next minute tall man stepped
out into the open space, turned at the
cry she could not quite suppress, and
Austin Ravenswood sprang forward.
Violet!-my life!"
. She was locked in his arms in a
passionate embrace.
Mine-all mine-only mine again
for ever! Why did you leave me?-for
what law could have shut you out from
your place in this heart? If it robbed
all else it could not steal my love and
shelter, darling
Now the untainted purity of her
Womanhood awoke to its strength
again; her sensitive nature shrank in
horror from the blacknesS of the sin
that beset them both, the dread of which
had made her fly from him years ago.
"Austin-oh, Austin!- for PHYS sake,
let me go! You do not think-do not
cannot mean your mad word! Only
wife has a right here!-not me, your
mistress"
"Violet, how dare you brand yourself
with that name? Were you not my
friend, companion-the love of my life
my wife, my ALI"
She shrank back as he freed her, and
her voice was hoarse with bitter shame
and agony.
"Your love, your all, 1 know; but,
merciful heaven, never your wife,
Austin, though we both believed it!
Nothing, then, but mistress. though
guiltless of sin both of us; but now
Oh. Austin, Austin, spare me, even in
this madness of misery that wrings
from your dear lips words you cannot,
do not meanl Do not tempt me to for
get the honor which, before heaven and
you, is unspotted and make me what if
now, with open eyes, came back to
you I should indeed be-a degraded
being that you would scorn for the
weakness that crept in where the Violet
you loved was strong!"
He turned from her, covering his face
in the very passion of anguish.
AZ was mad-mad! 1 never meant
that, my pure darling. Heaven knows
that I would sooner live on in torture
and bitter separation than do you such
foul wrong! We must part, then; but
oh, Violet, promise me-that isn't sin,
my hearts life, but only justice to you
that if ever am free you will come
UdCh W mo-l1y WIG! LOU uTOOp-
shrink! Answer-promise, Violetr'
She wrung her hands, almost COVER
ing at his feet.
II cannot, for the love I bear your
she said. at would drag you down
it would ruin your life! We must part
for-forever!'
"Violet, by heaven, you try me too
far! swear,"- he stopped suddenly,
and once more pressed her to his
breast that unless you promise, you
shall never leave me at all! 1 will not
Separate-will not give you up, whether
as wife or mistress! Oh, forgive me
again! I am maddened! Hush, my
own darling-hush thee, for my sakew
For she was weeping wildly on his
bosom, heaving sobs that racked her
from head to foot, and it was many
minutes before she could even whisper
the promise he had in truth every right
to demand.
"Forgive me, Austin. I promise;
but noW-now we must be as strangers;
and if-if cruel fate throws the ac-
tress across your sphere, let us meet as
if the past had never BEEN"
NTY IoTED W.T. -