Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-10-23


 finding Florence were over. You know what she is, and what she has been to me my dear, noble, loving wife! Yes, am happy, aunt, and yet"-
 "What, Harryg"
 'If I only knew the truth respecting Florence. Does she yet live-what was her fates Poor, hapless, helpless child! Oh, if I only knewl"
 And you have no tracer
 Col. Danyers shook his head "Over all such traces has swept the mighty ocean of the war Death, and changes terrible as death, have passed over all persons and all things connected with that first fair love dream of my life. When my regiment was stationed in Virginia, towards the close of the war, I exhausted all means in my power to learn something concerning Flor ence, but in vain. Gardenhurst was a ruin, rHe slaves wsss dispersed, and no one knew anything respecting the owners of the es- tate"
 And the governess Miss Clintf'
 ''She left the south and went to live with family called Morris, who afterward went abroad There she left them, and I could learn nothing more respecting her. I think she must be dead"
 At that moment a lady came through the hall and stepped out upon the piazza. She was still young, and her face was beautiful ill both feature and expression. It was a calm, grave, intellectual countenance, which was lighted into rare sweetness by the smile that just curved her parted lips. A sturdy boy, little over two years old, tottered at her side, while her arms were encountered with tiny, blue eyed baby girl, who looked solemnly at the scene unfolded before her three-months-old vision. The lady came up to Harry and laid the baby on his knee
 "There, take good look at your daughter. sir. Is she not going to be beauty9 Aunt, l hope you are not very hungry. Lunch has been delayed today by the non-arrival of the butter. There is a great package of books on the table, Harry, which has just come by express Shall open it for you9 Iknow you want the last number of Tho Cornhil, and hope it is in the parcel. What-tired of your daughter already?'
 II think she is tired of me, Emily" said the colonel, smiling, as he returned the baby to its mother. "The very pointed way in which she had begun to pucl1er up her face indicated as much.n
 "Jack not tired! Take Jack, papar' shouted the boy, trying to climb his fathers knee
 'Are you answered, aunt2" whispered the colonel, as he folded his boy to his breast. The old lady nodded and smiled. Her fa- vorite nephew was as happy as even her fond heart could desire.
 Several weeks later, Col. Danvers was seated, one fine afternoon, on his piazza, in meditative enjoyment of cigar and newspaper. He was alone: his wife and aunt, accompanied by little Jack, had gone out for q drive, and the baby was taking siesta in the nursery. It was a fine afternoon, late in August. A soft breeze stole from the sea and famed his brow, the setting sun shone brightly, and the flowers on the lawn sent forth their sweetest odors Yet the colonel seemed unquiet and restless. The cigar went out more than once between his lips, the paper was turned over and over i'm. patiently, and was finally flung aside, and the colonel, rising, began to pace the floor with rapid steps,
 'I wish the season was at an end" he muttered. II hate this place. Every scene, every spot, speaks to me of her. Twas mad to come here, for the mere sight of the Ocean house has reopened the old wound"
 "A letter for you, sir" said the servant, coming out from the house and laying the missive on the little rustic table
 Harry Danvers paused in his walk, and took the letter up listlessly. It was a rather bulky packet, addressed in a diminutive female hand to Mr. H. Danvers, Oceanbrink cottage, Newport. It bore no postmark, nor was there any device on the envelope so after a moments scrutiny he tore the packet open. Within was another envelope, sealed, and without an address, and a closely written sheet of paper, the contents of which were as follows:
 "Dear Sir: It was only by accident that learned yesterday that you were at Newport, for l am here as companion to very aged and infirm lady, and consequently go out of the house but little, and see no company. But l seize upon this opportunity to disburden my conscience of 0 load that has weighed upon it for nearly thirteen years.
 'You have not, l know, forgotten Miss Florence Hurst, but you may not remember that she had a governess named Susan Clint, who used to post her letters for her, and who loved her very dearly. She had need of some one to love her in those days
 II think MT. Hurst was almost madman l have read of men possessed with devil, stories, only no exorcism could ever cast out his indwelling fiend, which was perfectly demoniacal temper, When the fit was on him he would stop at nothing, and his spells of fury sometimes lasted for weeks. It was not just cloud and a storm, and then clear weather as is usually the case with quick tempered people, but he was as sullen as he was violent.
 1T believe that he broke his wife's heart, and sent her to an untimely grave. I know that he hated Miss Florence because she was not boy, and all he cared for her was to see her married to favorite nephew of his own. Barnwen Leroy was his sisters son, and as like his uncle as young man can be like an old one. Temper and all, there was not pin to choose between them. I tell you all this, not to exonerate myself from blame for what afterward happened, but merely to explain my conduct. I lived in mortal fear of Mir, Hurst, and but for my love and pity for Miss Florence would have left his house long be- fore did, and wish now that I had.
 "One evening, I think it was early in November, Miss Florence came to my room. She had been crying tho new thing for her, poor child). but her face was ghastly, and she looked utterly worn out
 Well, Susan,' she said, in a sort of hard, desperate tone, it is all over. We are to leave for Georgia in fortnight, and am to be married to Barnwell Leroy the week be- fore Christmas
 II could hot utter word, but took one of her hands in both of mine and pressed it. | She understood me as we'll as if had spoken, and she stopped down and kissed me, "sYou have helped me before: heIp me