The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1889-11-22
FE'l'IERED BY Fate
A Thrilling Virginia Romance.
BY EMMA S. SOUTHwORTH.
Copyright 1883. by Laird & Lee.
CHAPTER XXXI.-Continued.

harp, and as he spoke he held out his
arms, as II longing to enfold her In their
shelter, "my child, can you ever forgive
me for the wrong have done you? ad-
vance no plea; was crazy to do as did,
and thank God 1t all failed. Can you
ever look upon me as your loving father
again? By the memory Of the love you
bore me. by the love of this dear woman,
your mother, who has forgiven all the
cruel wrongs Of tho past. implore you,
my child, to have mercy upon me, to
come to my arms and forget the dread
past In contemplation Of the near fu-
ture."
For the first time In her life. Carol saw
her fathers pride humbled, as he stood
there, with outstretched arms, his face
showing the pleading Of his heart.
She was overcome by the spectacle,
and with little cry, she rushed into his
arms. Fiercely, as might a lover, the old
gentleman strained her to his heart. She
had been lost to him, and was now found
again. He had suffered much during his
sventful life, but 1t seemed to him now
that he was fast nearing the harbor Of
peace.
Reconciled to these two-wife and
child-what had he to fear in the world?
For the time being he forgot that Capt.
Grant held a secret over his head-the
motive Of much Of his action in regard
to forcing Carol into the union she ab-
horred-and, when he did let his mind
rest upon the subject, with that evasive-
ness common to human nature, he kept
putting the dread responsibility away
from him, hoping that In the meantime
something would occur to relieve him Of
this danger altogether.
Heaven had been exceeding kind to
him thus far, and he hoped on, taking
courage from what had already been
meted out to him.
man who held such power over him,
and that he would not be apt to hesitate
nt anything in order to accomplish his
ends.
Carol was happy for the time being In
the consciousness Of the fact that those
she loved SO we'll had, by the interposi-
tion Of Providence, as II were, become
reconciled, but she could not long forget
her own troubles, and her heart seemed
to sink like lead as she suddenly realized
how fate had parted Roger and her for
ever.
A wan smilo crept over her face
when her father, In something Of his
old CHEEKY way, told her not to fret,
that he would fix all matters with
Roger.
All there was time when this could
have been done, and all would have been
as merry as q marriage bell; but now,
oh God help her, she had placed a barrier
between them as high as the mountains,
as vast as mighty Niagara.
What would she not have given to
have undone the events Of the past few
hours? II tears could have blotted
out the record, surely she had wept
enough to have done it.
He had been so close to her, his brave
arms outstretched, and she had repulsed
him, had driven him from her with
charges that 1t made her cheeks burn to
even remember. While she drew breath
she would never forget how he looked,
standing before her with his white face,
from which her insulting words had
driven every vestige Of color.
She felt like one who had given the
death-blow to the man who loved her best
on earth, as II she had wounded fatally
some dumb animal that still crept to her
feet in its dying agony.
Remorse preyed upon her until she
could have cried aloud In her agony, and
yet she suffered In stony silence. Would
he be merciless when he confronted her
with the evidence Of his innocence? How
his cutting, scathing words rang In her
ears:
"Some day shortly I will seek You to
show you the proofs OF my innocence !;
seek you to prove all that ever claimed
to be; seek you to show that 1t was the
taint on my family name that I feared,
not because had ever done aught that
could bring disgrace upon myself or tho
one loved and. having done this, will
throw your love from me like tattered
glove, for it was false-false!"
Terrible words
To her they we're as the sentence OF
death declared by the Judge upon the con-
demned prisoner, and she shuddered
when recalling them.
Could nothing ever retricve that fatal
step?
Sadly she reflected upon it, and then,
shaking her head, realized that such q
step once takon could never be recalled
ALI now rested with Roger. Would he
forgiven All ! had 1t been herself, would
she not forget all when he asked Iii
Then the burning blush crept into hel
face again as she remembered that she
had shown anything but forgiving ma
ture when she accused her lover Of sucl
frightful things.
Poor Carol!
She was paying the penalty Of hel
doubling, and yet hers was trusting
nature, only the evidence had been toe
powerful, even Roger himself contribut
ing his share to the quota.
How was she to know what he meant
when he admitted that he had done
wrong In wooing her, that there was q
mysterious something that cast q shadow
over his prospects1 Surely he could no,
blame her so much when he learned all
She would put pride aside. and plead with
him. II he was the man whom she haC
loved, he would listen and forgive.
Oh, was there any bliss in store for he
in the future, or was she to tread darl
and gloomy path through life. Sh,
wrung her hands In abject despair, ant
in the silence OF the night raised up he
voice in supplication to Him who hcarC
the ravens cry:
"More light, o God or perish"