Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-02-13
cheek against the animals velver nose. "But this trouble, not 'y if vo ond d;sd to .o do & if ~
CHAPTER xXIL
NO BARRIER.

AA~AA < Ell -0<AAAs
 NO BARRIER
 Sensitiveness is a very unfortunate quality in life since no object is nodded in accord ance with the strict rules of art, since there Is no character but has repulsive spot in it, no history but with it's dark page. The happy mac IS neither too enthusiastic over the vir- tues of his acquaintance, which may be acci- dental or merely pretty optical delusion, or too stern and unrelenting toward sins, which he fancies might have been virtues under different conditions. But Philip Breton had fallen out with life. The great world seemed to jar him as it rolled Each hour had revealed unguessed means of suffering, and even the beams of genial sunlight had daggers for him.
 | ct It IS hard for a man to understand that 1h.5 fate may be pure, unalloyed pain. He is ever smiling through his tears and trying to hwalze from his despair, as if it were but dream of dsordered fancy. So as the next morning came, and Philip Breton threw open his door to go out into the sweet scented Sop te11lber air, he felt happier than for many weeks; tho peace that came over him seemed to leave no place for cruel distrust and unre- ,e:lting pride. He even reproached himself for his ungenerousness of yesterday. The world of nature left no unsightly wounds and breaks in it's whole dominion. Gaping graves ere soon covered with green grass and wild 5.o"ors; life springs quickly out of death, and sso,aIent ruin is soon forgotten in renewed l22sssnificence. Why should he, then, let two ,.es be wrecked for one wrong act in the .s@-a-forever pasta
 lie swung down his walk in a new buoy s;--cy. He believed he had passed through ,-.a cloud and come out into the clear light of rGaSon.
 I5nt at his gate a carriage rolled slowly by l-i.l. 1t contained bridal couple, and he ssonpcd to smile at them. The girls face had no culture in it, but was sweet and had the innocence of childhood That ungainly fel- lo.r, who now wore his first broadcloth suit. saa whom she looked so fondly, was the only lover she had ever known. She had no se- c,'ats from him, no past his jealous eyes might not scan without pang. Her soul was open to him. No whisper to her shame could ever reach his insulted ears. Her life was com. nlonplace but no blot was on it, no guilty thought had ever left it's trail across her heart The rough lad, who was bold enough to put his arm about her waist in broad daylight could pour his foolish love making into her eager ears without stint There was no theme he must avoid with her, no page in her life he must not cut.
 He loved the soiled lily, loved it more than all tho fresh roses All other women might as well never have been born for him; this woman he would have died for. Could be not protect her from evil tonguesa If sbe were trampled, could he not lift her into his bosom? If she were insulted. could he not put his mans heart and strength between her and shamea He would hurry to bis darling, throw himself at her feet, her past should be buried, her life should begin with his happi- ness tonight
 Ax D.. you were acquainted with her past"
 It was in Mr. Ellingsworth's room, where he sat in dressing gown and slippers, well back in his easy chair. He was looking at Philip Breton very curiously. He had really fancied he understood human nature before.
 'I suppose am" answered Philip simply.
 "Well, know more of it than wish did. She ran away with a beggar, and she has come back. I dislike unpleasant memories, so I avoid unpleasant information. You know her-her-her relations with Currana Yes well," and the gentleman shrugged his slight shoulders, ''no doubt you know what you are doing, you run your own risks"
 ''RisksP'
 Understand me, I asked but two ques- tions-have you left Curran forever? do you want to come homea I had heard she had never been married. Jane has heard it. feared it. Do you wonder did not ask, not caring for disagreeable certainty. We'll, do your own questioning. suppose the fact of her keeping her maiden name shows some thing"
 What if he should find she was indeed married after all, when he had at last de- cided he could not live without her; when he had at last made up his mind that he must have her if he took a burden of life long shame into his soul with her? That would be 0 wretched freak for fortune to play with l him; but how foolish he was, did not her | name prove that she was unmarrieds l 'sBut I hate so to harrow up her memo ries,' said Philip, in an unsteady voice; ito l make her confess her shame before me- l should think that would be fathers duty" ....-.- ssCan it be, my dear Philip" remarked Mir. l Ellingsworth, with his own brilliant smile, 1 ssthat you know me so little as to expect me l to perform an unpleasant dutya There are people that love thena-that never seem SC I much in their element as when engaged in some act of self sacrifice. You must really excuse mo-"
 When Philip went down into the parloz Bertha was sitting there alone, and his fate seemed thrust upon him. Before he had time to dread breaking the subjeoS to her he stood at the back of her chair, looking down on he. thin, white fingers moving over her embroid cry work He laid his hand very gently or l her shoulder. An, it was less round than il used to be- She was good enough to keep hel eyes fixed on her work. There was no shade o1 heightened color on her cheeks, nor did sh; 1 quicken her breathing.
 l ssBertha," he began, in low, sweet voice ssI am going to ask you something" Still she did not look up.
 eff, at some time before you died, nal whom you liked came and asked you t<
 marry him." he spoke very slowly, lis ther any reason why you must say nog'
 Not one flush or nervous treEor. Sh
 threaded her needle again with the res
 worsted. 'What do you mean by reasonr'
 .tI mean,n he said, fin forced calm, ''is tf1ert any barrier which the laws make to prevent you from marrying himf' Since he had be gun to dream of marriage, he had thought only of the barrier of her shame; he had no thought that there might be barrier mort impregnable. But it came over him all thu more terribly now. That would explain hel lack of shame, her unbrokeu pride, tha
 would be more consistent with his lifelong idea of her, if she had preserved her honor and, alas, was already married and cut for