The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1888-06-09


incongruity of the thing was dreadful.
81 knew you would regard this thing in
its true light, John, and honor you for it.
I can not help remarking the contrast be-
tween You and him--the clergyman or my
neighboring parish, the only other friend l
| had spoken with on the subject, and he does
not know all, by half. But when spoke of
| it, to relieve burdened conscience, he did
nothing but laugh, and said it was good
| joke, and he hoped to hear of an elopement.
| Think of that, John, to me a minister of the
gospel, trying to see light and to do right.
| How could | gather any spiritual strength
from himl You have proved yourself true,
as you always are"
You may be sure, Dick kept my coun-
tenance grave during the rest of the inter-
view. l saw that he had dwelt on this sub
! ject until his mind had become morbid, and
he could think of nothing else
addressed him by the old name with
some reference to scene of our early life
| together in order to keep his mind in more
cheerful mood.
He broke into sort of November smile,
and said:
THAT name, John, sounds so much like
old merry times that 1 have almost forgot
ten how wretchedly felt when 1 came to
you. You were always like the sunshine.
You do not change, l see. AS for me, l have
seen cloudy, dark days since then"
mo doubt, no doubt. Well, January
makes us prize June, and dark clouds the
bright sunshine. I've had to face some
pretty tough hills myself since then, but it
was the delectable mountain at the top,
julius and so it may prove at length with
| you"
He shook his head slowly. II fear John,
l have committed a great sim"
"Unconsciously, then" l said, "for l
would be willing to wager my best pony,
you have never done any thing wrong, CON
sciously, in all your life"
"You mistake. You always thought of
me better than l deserved"
'Was it an injury to any one but your
self?"
81 am not sure Indirectly it has been,
for it has hampercd me in my work"
st must be a desperate case" l said this
without very genuine feeling of sorrow
for the imagined wrong, but he replied at
once:
Yes, knew you would so regard it !;
your conscience is not scared"
| took another stride across the floor as
sedative; then came and stood before him.
''You know l am d lawyer"
Eyes; | came to you for counsel"
81 shall have to crOss-question you"
eyes; am willing to answer all cues
tions.n
"What is the lady's name3"
Mrs. Julia Gettenbergh''
'Where did you meet her2n
'She was one Of my Pensioners in l..
In fact boarded with her few months"
ga BOARDING hOuse belle oh a.,
'She kept very few select boarders.
She was a thoroughly well-bred woman l
assure you. She never thought of being
BELLE"
"Were you acquainted with her husband3"
"No; never saw him. He was not at
home. None of US ever spoke to her of him.
We recognized a silence on her own part.
and respected it,
rs she aware of your sentiments?n
so, no left the house and went else
where just as as soon as discovered them"
SIS she good-looking!"
Every. Here is one of my wrong acts. l
have kept her photograph 1t is no doubt,
one of the temptations of Satan, but could
not resist keeping this small memento.n
He then took an old-fashioned loclzet from
the pocket of his vest, and springing 1t open
passed it over to me. He had cut down the
photograph and inserted it.
"Why, she is decidedly plain"
"How can you say thatF' he asked, firing
up in her defense. "Did you ever see such
eyesE"
81 admitted their rare thoughtfulness, and
remarked upon other good points.
''Now, tell me the whole story / said.
GAS l told you, had rooms at her cottage
with a very few others. While there was
r I
at all was due more to her experimenting
care than to either doctor or nurse. During
convalesccnce, knowing my delight in books,
she read great deal aloud to me. How |
used to long for the hours to come when,
her morning duties done, she would bring
her book and take her place beside me. At
last it seemed to me that it was only day
when she was near me, night during her
absence"
"And did you ever tell her this fact3"
''TeH her! of course not'' he said, with
quick indignation.
81 fail to see, then, my good fellow, where
in you have committed your great wrong.
The wrong of loving is not in the emotion,
but its acknowledgement, where that ac-
acknowledgement would harm another"
"But wait till tell you all. AS you know
hunger. The nurse would have permitted
me to die of starvation or of Stops in the
shape Of gruels and teas but this perfect
woman prepared with her own hand delca-
cieS that would have satisfied an epicure,
and it was during one of those occasions
that my gratitude took form. l, l kissed
the hand that offered me the tempting
dishp
"You copied the example of the illus
| trious Swiveler, and kissed her rosy finger
| between each mouthful}'
''No, oh no; only once did 1 commit that
indiscretion, but like loyal wife she with
drew after this from bestowing those atton-
tions, nor could blame her was the sole
wrong-doer. When | was able to be re-
moved felt it to be my duty to go else
where. My sister came. and together we
set up housekeeping in a small way, but,
John, l can not tear her image from my
heart If she is not in her pew in church l
do not care to preach to others. embrace
every opportunity of seeing her when she
is not aware of it, and am so much under
the dominion of her charms that think of
leaving the ministry
mot leaving the ministryln
| Eyes, John. How can ] minister to others
with this secret on my soul Have you no
place for me in your office, Johns could
| write for you at least