Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-12-22
CIPHER xxx.
NEMESIS.

After all, untrue religion of Fate has been preached George Eliot, when she says that our lis are the outcome of our actions Everyction, good or bad, which we do has corresponding reward, and Mark Frettlby und it so, for the sins of his youth were noybeing punished in his old age No doubte had sinned gayly enough | in that far off he when hfe's cup was still brimming withine, and no asp hid among | the roses; but thesis had been an unseen spectator of alis thoughtless actions, and now came to dtand her just dues lie felt Somewhat as .ust must have felt when Mephistophelesggested visit to hades, in repayment for nose years of magic youth and magic pow. So long ago it seemed since he had n'ried Rosanna Moore, that he almost persrled himself that 1t had beer only a dream-Sleasant dream, with a us- agreeable awahing When she had eft him he had trieco forget her, recogniznS how unworthy was of good mans lVe He heard that st had died in @ London tps pital, and with passionate sigh for pr ished love hadiismissed her rom ns thoughts forever His second marriage no turned out hapy one, and he regretted pe death of his wi deeply. Afterwards, Ill his love centeredin his daughter, ana Ae thought he woulcbe able to spend his decn- ing years in peace This, however, was pt to be, and he wassunderstruck when " ne arrived from Englnd with the lntornaun that his first wife ill lived, that the oaun ter of Mark Fettlby was nlegitima. Sooner than this, Frettlby agreed to aT- thing; but Whytesiemands became too | orbitant, and lie efused to comply WY them. On Whytes leath he again breath
 
 his fatal secret starta up in the person Roger Moreland
 The day after he lad seen Moreland, a knew that his secret was no longer safe, sil it was in the power oe a man who mlgnS veal it at any moment in drunken Ill out of sheer maliciousness, he sat at hls writing.
 There seemed to be only one way open him by which he could escape the relent fate which dogged his steps. He would W a confession of everything from the time had first met Rosanna, and then-death would cut the Gordian knot of all his }, culties, and then his secret would be sa safe; no, 1t could not be while Morel lived. When he was dead Moreland wt see Madge and embitter her life with story of her fathers sins; yes, he must , to protect her, and drag his weary chai }. bitter remembrauces through life, alv with that terrible sword of Damocles h. ing over him But still he would write bis confession. and after his death, when it may happen, it might help if not 5. | gether exculpate, at least.to secure some for a man who had been hardly dealt by fate His resolution taken, he put 1t force at once, and sat all day at his desk fl page after page with the history of his life, which was so bitter to him. He start Y. first languidly, as in the performance o unpleasant but necessary duty. Soon, ever, he became interested in it, and to peculiar pleasure in putting down e minute circumstance which made the stronger against himself He dealt wit not as a criminal, but as a prosecutor painted his conduct as much blacker tn .s really had been. Towards the end O -o' day, however, aftes reading over. the sheets, he experienced a revulsion of fee seeing how severe he had been on himse he wrote defense upon his conduct, $ ing that fate had been too strongfor hir s. was a weak argument to bring forward still he felt it was the only one he mako It was quite.dark when he had fini and while sitting in the twilight, lo' dreamily at the sheets scattered all ove ro desk, be heard knock at his door and Eo his daugher,s voice asking if he was co to dinner. All day long he had close door against every one, but now his being ended, he collected all the closely ten sheets together, placed them in d TS of his escritoire, which he locked, and opened the door.
 "Dear papa" cried Madge as she CT
 rapidly, and threw her arms around his V "what have you been doing here all d J , yourselfp
 "Writing," ," returned her father laconi
 as he gently removed her arms
 "Why, l thought you were ill" sl
 swered, looking at him apprehensively ,a "No, dear," he replied, quietly. "N but worried"
 "l knew that dreadful man who cam
 night had told you something to worr.
 Who was her
 ssOhi friend of mine" answered Frs
 with hesitation.
 n. "What-Roger MorelandT III Her father stared
 "How do you know 1t was Roger
 landT
 .tOhi Brian recognized him as he wen iday Mark Frettlby hesitated for fe' ments, and then busted himself with { ary. pers on his desk, as he replied in low ssYou ara right-it was Roger More