Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1888-08-09


understand that his health was not in so favor
able q state as he could WISH
81 made the best of everything Hal
sey assured his friend; lit is only little
longer waiting, and they win be willing
enough to do that
"Ihank you,n Andrew Steele murmured,
and closing his eyes he slept as peaceful as O
child When he awoke his mother handed
him letter. ''You look as if you were able
to read it, sho said, ''and suspect it is from
your friends, tho Corcorans.n
1t was from Orient; the young man recog-
nized the graceful script at once, though he
had only received one letter from less He
| opened it with trembling eagerness. But what
/ did it mean! She had always imagined him
the sole of honor. She had loved him for his
| goodness and unworldliness: it was hard
to give up her ideal of him, but now every
thing was changed. No explanation on
either side was necessary, he must under
stand, and she could not forgive.
Believe me, she wrote, "that my own un-
happiness is greater than any you can suffer.
To have cherished an ideal as | have done,
and allowing to cluster about it all that was
| hottest and tenderest in my thought is not a
slight thing. The discovery that have been
utterly mistaken has given me shock from
which shall never recover have been in
dream and the awakening has been cruel
only hope that l shall never hear Of YOU
again as cccNyying the sacred desk. For me
at least and against love you have committed
the objectionable sin"
Andrew Steele lay dazed His mind was in
too weak a condition for him to connect his
friends readings at Ramoth Gilead with this
I I,Ea1 - I.
| blow upon the head. He lay stunned a long
time, but when Halsey came in he had arisen
| from his bed and was preaching wildly to
an imaginary congregation on the sin that
hath never forgiveness. HaIsey led him
TO his bed and compelled him to lie
down Then he noticed the letter, read
and concealed it. He saw that it was
mailed from a way station and had been
written on the train, and therefore before
Orient had received his letter of confession.
Why had he delayed making it whom he was
| with herr All regret was useless now. lie
laid his hand on bis friends pulse. He had
no feBg, and his hopes rose, but he was wildly
delriJSs and incoherent, and the mother
seriously alarmed by this new turn in her
sons condition, which had been pronounced
rs very encouraging when the physician last
called II think we had better summon DR..
| Corcoran," she said at length; 'he under
stands Andrews case and cured him once be-
fore.n
Halsey telcgraphed at once, and anxiously
awaited the doctors coming at the country
station. The train paused and two passen-
gers alighted That portly gentleman with
the gray whiskers he knew must be DR.. Cor
coran, and-Orient had come with him He
stepped up qniclly, a great delight showing
| through the humiliation which crimsoned his
face but Orient forestalled any explanation.
$50 She exclaimed, fine fire flashing
1 from her indignant eyes, ''this was q
piece Of deception like the rest, and you
are not i'll with braia fever l might
have suspected as much She wheeled
about and was walking rapidly from him
| when her father laid his hand upon her arm.
"0rieut, he said, i thought it was An
drcw Steele who was i'll. .
who then, is this impostorF' she asked,
scornfully.
did you not receive my letter. Halsey
asked, humbly. at is true that you have
been deceived, but not by Andrew Steele"
And once more he made his miserable confess
sion.
Orient regarded him with keen, merciless
eyes. II do net see why you should tell me
this il il is not true" she said, lit certainly
is not complimentary to yourself" She did
not speak 10 him again on their way 20 the
house, and they all entered Andrew Steele's
room together.
He was reading from an open Bible, and
looked up vacantly, repeating: Lest by any
means when | have preached to others / my
self should be a castawayn
Orient stepped firmly to his side, and tax
ing Andrew Steele's hands in both Of hers,
she said simply II have made a great mis-
take have learned that had no cause to
write you the letter which panied you l am
Orient Corcoran Can you forgive me."
i coron started violently, and leading
Mrs. Steele aside, said to her: ''This is worse
than / had imagined 1t is not brain fever or
nervous prostration; it is insanity
The poor woman uttered a sharp cry. And
he cannot Be cured"
Il did not say say SO. We win talk it
over. And no called bis daughter into an
other room for a consultation.
They viii stay all night, said Mrs Steele
to Iiaisey. MAY | ask you to take your
things to ncighbor Browns so that | can ar
range your room for the young ladyp
Eyes, 2 he replied, eff can be Of no assist
anccn lie felt that he was set aside as use
less thing and crushed and indignant he re-
moved lbs effects 81 viii see her in the
morning. he said to himself; "and make one
more appeal for myself, for now Orient was
busy With his'friend talking with him, gently
and patiently trying to lead him back to tie
actual Sore Of heart and utterly miserable,
he retired to his new room spending the
greater part Of the night in framing excuses
end arguments which night recommend him
TO mercy. At last, completely worried ont,
he fell asleep, and, tired nature asserting her
right, it was late the following morning
! when he awoko and saw that travelling
wagon stood before the Steeles door, and
that his friend was being helped into it.
lie hurried across the fields and saw that DIR.
Corcoran held the reins while Andrew Steele,
propped with cushions, occupied the back
seat Orient was bidding farewell TO Mrs.
Steele at the door of the house. He joined
her, and taking her bag walked with her to
the gate II was only short space, but it
was his last opportunity, for they were tax
ing his friend to their own home, intending
to drive all the way by easy stages.
"Orient-Aliss Coccoran,n he said des
perately, tho worls tumbling over each other
in their eag + uttcrance. II beg Of you not
to walk SO fast, and to listen to one word
We have heard a great deal lately about the
objectionable sin; tell me in mercy has mine
been thatr
She looked up at him with eyes that were
full Of hope and happiness. "Father is sure
that We will save him. she said; she is con
fident that when wo get him back to my
little room, with everything arranged just as
it was during his first visit, his mind win go
back to that time; his life viii start afresh
from that point, and all this sad interim be
as nothing
They were just behind the lilac bush now,
which shielded them from the view of the oc-
cupants Of the carriage. "Of course | am
glad to hear that there is hope for my friend, Y
fi9lsey said, "but you cannot expect me to
be indifferent 70 my own interests. Is there
no space Of reGcu5ance' Shall you always
despise me, always think Of me with detesta-
tionm
ooh, no" Orient replied, forcing herself
all her thoughts were centercd on her pa
tent. do not imagine for a moment that
shall cherish resentment, or remember
what has happened very long, for shall
probably never meet You again; and what
DO I know Of your Not even your nainel
You We're only connected with my life by
this distre sing experience Of Mr.. Steele's.
You arc nothing to me.
1 As llalsey saw the train start he was filed
with bitter remorse. He thought he should
always consider himself murderer if bis
friend Steele should not recover his reason.
After few days, however, he plucked up