The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1888-05-18
A GILDED SIN.
BY BERTHA Il. CLAY.


as aanJs he kissed it.
Goodnight, my darling" he said !;
"anG may Heaven ever bless you'll"
She wondered at the solemnity of the
words, little dreaming that she had heard
his voice for the last time.
you are not quite so well tonight,
Jasper" said Lady Brandon.
"No," he replied. "There is a strange
auttering at my heart-I feel faint-it
will pass away. The day has been so
very warm"
81 wish" said Lady Brandon. "that
YOU would consult Sir William Fletcher;
they say that he is the cleverest physi-
clan in England"
Il will see about it." replied Sir
jasper.
u was a lovely June night, one OF
hose nights that never seem to grow
dark; the air was rich and heavy with
tie oder of the sleeping flowers the dew
lay on the white lilies, on the roses, on
TIE pIrple passion flowers, the wind
stirred ever so family the fresh green
leaves. II was one of those nights when
u seemed impossible to turn from the
swte: face of nature. Veronica had stood
-: more than an hour at the open win
dow OF her room, when one of the ser
wants came 20 say that she was wanted
in Sir Jasper's room.
as Sir Jasper worse?" asked Yeron-
lea in alarm.
"The valet said he seemed very i'll,
miss" replied the girl; "but there was
nothing said about his being worse"
Without loss of time Veronica left her
room. She lad not undressed. She
still wore her evening dress Of rich black
lace with crimson flowers. She had
taken the diamond stars from her hair,
and the black shining waves fell in rich
profusion over her shoulders. On her
neck cleaned a cross of rubies and
diamonds. She walked through the long
corridors, where the moonlight lay in
great silver floods, making everything
e.se darker by contrast. Sir Jasper
could not be worse, she thought; the
servants were most of them in bed, and
there was no confusion. She went to
the door Of his room-a room she had
never entered. 1t was ajar, and Lady
Rranloa stood near it. She looked very
pa.s and anxious. She had on a white
drcssinggown, and was toying nervously
with the blue ribbons. .-.
81 do not understand it. Veronica"
she whispered, "Sir Jasper has sent for
YOU and for me-he wants US particular
~, .r- =
looks so strange 1 am half frightened.
Come in"
Veronica entered the statesman's
chamber. 1t was large and magnifi-
Gently furnished apartment. She saw
wonders of rosewood and buhl, Sevres
china, statuettes, pictures, and books.
On the bed with its silken hangings she
saw Sir Jasper-Sir Jasper, with a grave
look on his face and dark shadows round
his eyes. She went up to him, and his
eyes, looking into hers, told her that
some strange, unrevealed secret was be-
tween them.
"Close the door," he said-"fasten it
securely; no one must interrupt me.
Marie, my wife, come here. 1t is you
Who will have TO forgive me. 1 have
s,nneG against you; but my sin always
appeared TO me in 4 better light than
that in which l see it now. 1t is gilded
sin-a sin SO shrouIed with sentiment.
reserve, poetry, sensitiveness, that 1
hardly know where the wrong begins or
Cnds-a gi.ded sin, my poor Marie, and
Tie punishment will fall on an innocent
cad. Veronica. come nearer to me. 1
nave sent for you-l have a story to tell.
hncci here where l may see your face.
Keep those eyes-dead Giulias eyes
fixed on me to the last, that my strength
and my courage may not fail me. Marie
whom / have wronged, give me your
taad-I have a story to tell you"
The night-lamp was partly shaded;
IL feeble rays fell on the grave face, on
the dark wistiul eyes, on the thin white
hand5-iell on the two kneeling figures.
on Veronica's beautiful face and Lady
Erandons troubled features The wind.
when it stirred, sent a great spray OF
clematis beating against the glass; out
side the beautiful, solemn summer night
lay brooding over the fair. sleeping
earth.
Sin Jasper told his story, clearly,
plainly, distinctly, describing his motives
blaming his own fastidious, sensitive re-
serve, blaming his own shrinking from
pain, blaming his own weakness and
folly, which had led him so far wrong
led him into what he truly called "a
gilded sin" ally Marie listened with
silent, bitter tears.
$50 you we're married before, Jasper,
and never told me-" she sobbed; "and
I always thought that was the only one
YOU loved. How could you deceive
me?"
81 am sorry, Marie, for the past l
can hardly expect you to understand
can hardly understand myself; it is 50
dlaicu.t looking back. 1 loved her 50
well, and lost her so soon. 1 could
never speak of her, my dear dead Giulia.
| could not utter her name-it tore nv
heart could not look men and women
in the face while l talked of her, my
dead love-"
Then" said Lady Brandon, "you
have always loved her best Jasper,
living or dead-a.ways the best"
"IoI have been a good, true, tender,
.a.iA';- wife TO me. Marie" he returned
BIC; sse Uas my first love-"
Veronica had listened like one in a
dream. his was her history then; and
the 90 den Ea.rej SISTER WLom Assunta
nal never ceased 10 mourn Was her own
mother She was the daughter OF the