The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1889-07-19
garden.

MNZSZ/.T< MSA. Pttho' bIduuully L
Ms'IMHSN became more com"
MexzA&SSS> posed; the surround
-. ing peace, tho soft air,
and the echo of my
wife's words of comfort had thoir soothing
effect upon me. "Surely all will be we'll p'
I thought II am tormenting myself un-
necessarily"
Suddenly heard sound that startled me
It was the sound Of IL woman sobbng; Il
form gided from the shadows, and, falling
at my feet, seized my hand. which became
bedcwed with tears.
"Mademoiselle !" cried.
For it was, indeed, Mdlle. Rosalie who knclt
at my feet, and was holding my hand to her
| lips.
pardon me-" she sobbed; "oh, pardon
mel'
"Rise, beg of you'll said. much dis
turbed. "Why are you here? This is no
place, and this is not the time, for us to be
seen together"
eve are alone, Sir" she said, her sobs con-
inuing. "No one can see or hear us. ALI,
sir, listen to me! AS you hope for morcy
yourself, grant it to despai ring woman? As
you hope for peace bestow it upon mel"
81 do not understand you" said; and 1
should have had a heart of stone in my broast
had I not been touched by her plaintivc
voice. Il will listen to you-yes; but must
Insist upon you rising
She obcyed me; but she trembled SO as
she rose from tho ground that sho was COM
PEELED to cling to me for support.
"Now, mademoiselle," I said, "I will lis
ten to what you have to say, if you insist
upon it,
you speak SO harshly," she murmurod,
81 shall dep
81 have no wish to speak harshly TO you,'
l said, in more gentle tone. "But I have
a Fight to ask why you seek mo at such an
| hour?'
"To implore your forgiveness" she replied
'to recover my place in your esteem. Tc
know that you have ceased to respect me
that you think lightly of me, is more than
can bear. Your good opinion, your COED
word, is more precious to me than life itself
All, sir! How shall confess it? have de.
ceived you.'
Il know it," said.
"You know itp' she echoed, softly. "And
yet you have spared mel And yet you have
not driven me from your house!"
"For that, mademoiselle," said, 'you ma,
thank my wife and daughter, who have no
suspicion that you are not what you ropre.
sent yourself to be. You hold Il place IN theil
hearts VIII ich you have in some strange maa
ner won. They have invariably spoken well
OF you; they have invariably defended YOU"
Defended meW she exclaimed, and nov
her voice expressed dignified remonstranee
"From what? from whom? Who has dared
to vilify me, Il defenceless woman, who's,
misfortunes entitle her to respect? Not you
sir, not you! Do not tell me that you have
done me such an iniustice"
"Mdlle. Rosalie," l said, somewhat con
founded by the attitude she assumed, 80
have learned that concerning you, which,
will not disguise from you, has instillet
doubts into my mind; hive seen that whicl
| you must yourself admit could not bu
strengthen those doubts"
"You saw me this afternoon" she mur
INJURED, "in n lonely spot, embracing man.
"a man," 1 added, "who is now werkin;
for me in menial capacity"
81 deny itP she exclaimed, with indigna
tion. No labor is menal which is honest. |.
il not proof how greatly you arc preju
diced against me when you can commit
yourself to such IL statcment-you, whom
veneratc as the personification of truth ant
justice? Ah, sir, confess that you wer,
wrong"
"Yes," 1 said. abashed by tho reproof, "a
confess it-I was wrong. But neither you
nor he can dony that he is in my employ
ment under false colors."
81 do deny it. for myself and him. II,
sought for honest labor, and obtained it. l.
that erime?"
| "No"
"What else can you bring against him? Yo,
have not spoken to him, have scarcely seeI
him; and yet you, the most just of men
would blast his character. II is not for you,
living in the lap of luxury, with unlimi.e,
wealth AT your command, who have but Il
wish to have--it is not for you to know tt
what hard straits necessity drives q man
1t is not possible that you should over b.
driven, as he and have been driven, 20 ioe.
in lonely lot and among strangers, for th'
simple neccssaries of life. 1t is not possiLl,
that you should ever feel the worlds crue
injustice rs we have felt it; that you shoulc
have to bear the anguish and the sting oil
unmerited misfortune; that the finger d
shame and reproach should be pointed n
you-a man unstained by crime or dishonor
You stand above all this, Be merciful, D.
charitable, to those who are not as you are.'
Had a vision of the future risen before N,
at that moment should have stood appalled,
As it was, l was powerfully affected by the
appeal. and all my doubts of her seemed t.
melt away.
"Aadsmoiselle." said, YOU have, per
haPs, reproved me with just cause. But ha(
known that you had u lover"