Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1888-03-22

the pew in front Of him. Had he no shame
to come to the rescue Of his broken hearti
would he grieve forever over q woman that
had become another mans wifel She had
called on the laws Of the land for her protec-
ton; he had no right 10 even think Of her
now. She was shut away from him forever.
It had become q sin for him now 10 long for
her, though she bad been so nearly his own
wife. There was no place in the world for
minated lovers like him. II she had not
married that mani How strange that he had
heard nothing Of that marriage; her note had
not mentioned it, and no one had spoken Of
it since. Why, his belief in her purity was so
absolute he had not even thought to question
her marriage, and now it was like guilty
thing, that he permitted himself to entertain
for a moment terrible fears. What vengeance
would be stern and relentless enough for him
who had wrecked the noblest womanhood in
the world, who had sullied purity like an
angels, and insulted sacred dignity like
Bertha'sl Oh, it could not be: no man on
earth could have been so bold, so impious
How Wild his imagination had become.
"0h, didn't know but it was young
Breton and that Bertha Ellingsworth that
women had come in and seated themselves
in a neighboring pew. Philip had been
thinking so intensely until now that an
earthquake would hardly have disturbed
him.
''That'n never be-" giggled the other;
''you don't say you didn't know she eloped
with that Curran fellow, though it's been
kept pretty stillp'
'Do tell" Philip shuddered. Why were
creatures like these permitted to touch names
like Bertha'sY Married another chap, ehi
Well, young Breton never was much for
looks, anyhow"
"Marriedn Philip started at her tone
"Who said she was married? The shoes on
the other foot She aint married at all
Handsome fellow like him has wife in every
town, such az they be. That proud mink
is only one on EN-" How they rolled the
shameful story, like a sweet morsel under
their tongues, as if it relieved the blackness
of their contemplate souls, that one woman
more had singed her angel wings in the pitt
less fame of disgrace.
Philip had struggled to his feet. The
women blushed like fire and tried to look un-
conscious, but he did not even glance at them
as he moved down the aisle He could not
see very well. Was the chapel full as it
seemed! and was that an usher in white kids
who was coming toward him and saying:
"Just one minute more; the bridal couple
are just coming in"
Bolt upright he sat where he had been
guided, and saw as in dream q white phan-
tom of woman it seemed and a black
shadow of a man go by. married. who
said she was married? All! it was horrible!
Perhaps they two, those women fiends, were
all that knew the shameful secret. Would it
do any good to pray them for the mercy of
God to keep it? Would money hire woman
to keep disgrace that had fallen on q fair
sisters name!'
Aren't you going to salute the brider
smiled an acquaintance. ''This is the mar
riage of Labor and Capital at last" He had
pelpetrated his witticism dozen times at
least, and this was the first hearer who had
not laughed. Jane Graves and Silas Filings
worth, Berthas father-were they mad, or
was heF'
Il am ill.," ne muttered incoherently, as be
pushed his way almost roughly out
ITO BE CONTINUED