Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-02-13
=. x>.:z:;z.ltl;E;.z sSy;a;l ;::l!l!e :;:::; ;e:sg; x.,. 2 <. -nxsssss i@s
 gT%sl:V N BrefoD WlllS
BY CHARLES J. BELLAMY.

BY CHARLES J. BELLAMY. she gave him. He had thought all uncer- tainty was gone long ago, but he found that up to this very instant he had cherished spark of hope that Bertha had right to the name of the man she had fled with And she was Miss" still. His hostess way saying something, but he did not hear it, there was such deathly faintness about his heart
 Then there came step in the hall, and his familiar thrill of tenderness at her coming. She fingered an instant on the threshold, an old habit of hers that gave him time to step forward and meet her.
 Mrs. Ellingsworth had risen, too, and was waiting to speak. It was only tenderness in Philip Breton's eyes as he took both Bertha's hands so gently, but she said:
 ''Am very much changed, then?' and a pained look fitted across her face Philip did not answer her for a moment, he was so distressed at her interpretation of the love that made his sight misty as be gazed at her.
 Well, I suppose I am in the way" re- marked the mistress of the house, with in- bred vulgarity. She was smiling sweetly, but women's smiles do not always signify suitability. II suppose" she added, letting her skirts touch her two guests she passed out, ''you want to talk over old times with MISS ElllnSSWOrJn." "
 Now came the last terrible assurance; Philip winced at the heartless blow, but not so much as flush passed over Bertha's cold face. She accepted the name without even shade of silent denial on her calm features, though it Was the badge of shame for her.
 ''Oh, mo-" but he dared not look her in the face for fear she should see his anxious pity for her. -"You have been i'll, perhaps, but always thought you the loveliest woman in the world"
 She smiled as she let him lead her to seat. You always said that" Then she glanced sadly into the mirror. "But it is more pleas ant to hear now, for know am not pretty any longer"
 Could she understand that the change that had come over her radiant beauty only changed his love to make it deeper9 Could she not sec the now intensity of yearning in his eyes as he raised them to her face again7 He longed to draw her into his arms and kiss her tired face into eternal smiles. His love had been refined into new divineness; love capable of all sacrifices for her; that asked no price, but would pour itself in an eternal flood against her dull indifference, if it must be; love more pain than joy, of unutterabls yearnings for what he believed she could never have for him; that would seem to grow on her unresponsiveness; that welled up the mightier for her coldness, content if hereaf- ter it might throw little brightness on the path her snowy feet should tread; content if she would but let him warm her cold heart with his tenderness.
 Are you glad to be at hone9' he asked, gently.
 "Do you call this home, with my servant it's mistress2" For 8 moment it was Bertha, as she used to be, her anger curling her red lips and flashing new fire into her tired eyes. ''Does she insult yous"
 ssIt is insult enough that she is my fathers wife, She can not go beyond that"
 t'Shall you stay here alwaya' asked Philip stupidly enough.
 II suppose SO; where else is therea" A wild impulse touched him; he loved her and she needed love, had he not waited long enough? But sudden fear came into his mind and chilled his hope like frozen foun- tain. She might have child-how strange he had never thought of it before All, it would be strong love which could endure that, baby to hang on her bosom and take her kisses, baby with Curran's face. No he could never bear that, anything better l than that. Her sin he could forgive. Though l it must finger forever in his memory, he would bury it beneath more blessed expo riences. His love should hallow her, he would | kiss away Currans caresses from her lips | But if there were a child
 ! Philip started violently and looked at tht | door; he fancied he heard sound like tn. l pattering of infant feet. In 8 moment Berths | would catch to her arms her child and Cur l rau's, and half smother it with mother' kisses. -.. | s'Isn,t that ch;ld's voice" he cried, risins to his feet and his eyes rested on her in a nov l pitiful reproach. He thought she started l strangely, as if mothers instincts stirret l ill her bosom.
 l "Oh, no; it is only Jane-I mean Mrs | Ellingsworth. What an innocent little laugl
 she has"
 A child, with sweet winning ways, is .
 strange thing to hate, a lovely little rose
 bud to blossom no one knows how faultlessl, 1 by and by. But Philip thought he woul' l hate her child-Bertha's child, perhaps witt
 his darling's star like eyes; ah, was it no
 Curran's, too, the symbol of her shame2 A
 he walked home in the twilight he saw ii
 each toddling baby in the doorways an'
 windows, an image of his own materialize l fear and horror. Philip looked back iron
 the hill on which stood his home to the vii
 lage his father had built up Those massiv | mills with their thousands of looms were his
 those long rows of white houses, each one 0
 which held family rich in possibilities c | VuGu0 duO uOpS, ouoJ dli were LIS, auu LII
 new element of brightness and thrif, that ha
 made the whole village a nursery of comfor
 and happiness was his work. Behind hir
 was the great stone mansion with it's archc
 gothic windows green with clustering wool
 bine, it was bis too. How powerless b
 thought all that wealth and material powe
 can do to solve one of the terrible problems
 heart makes for itself.
 ] Moodily he walk ed to his stables in a kin
 of vague longing for companionship, on J threw open the doors. Four horses stood
 their stalls within, noble looking creature all of them They turned their stately heat toward the sound of their masters feet; the returned his love with love- One of thel wh;nnied welcome and laid back his ears 6 hls master came into the stall beside him.
 "Poor fellow, good boy;" Philip patted h white neck aRectionately. 'You would q what you could for me, wouldn't you, Jot know you would, old fellow" He laid h n.:,.:J n,,.:J rf< ] E|: {75