Daily Yellowstone journal., 1889-11-06

the landlord. 'She has always done
that. II is disfigured, they say. Per-
haps il is; but she has a lovely soul"
"And she has been here for thirty
years." asked Auchester.
''Fve-and-thirty is nearer the
mark" said the landlord. Il was
10 years old when l first saw her and
took her for a ghost and am i've
and-forty now"
Il wish | could have thanked her."
said Auchester.
''She does not even require that, re.
piled the landlord. 'She is the best wo-
man alive"
A neat old lady now took the place
of the lady in the mask, and Charles
Auchester recovered rapidly.
When he was quite well he called
upon the clergyman and questioned
him more closely. lie learned that il
was with Sister Millicent hat his wife
had lived. and that no one, a v the
physician. had seen her after her
death, which was ascribed TO some lung
difficulty.
To Sister Millicent he must then go,
if he desired TO learn more of his wife's
last hours, and TO the old stone cottage
he repaired one day.
His rap upon the door caused the
masked lady TO appear; but when she
saw who stood without she gave him
no welcome.
MAY | come in2" he asked. Il wish
TO speak with you"
lon what subject" asked Sister
Milliceut.
~ think, madame, that you KNOW"
said Charles Auchester.
She shook her head.
my wife lived with you during her
last days" he said. ''Marion Auches.
ter made you her friend, her conf
dantei'
She bowed again.
Il must talk with you" said he.
Il can tell you nothing" said she;
nothing more than the inscription on
that gray slab in the churchyard can
tell"
"Ah," he said, sadly, Il see that
you despise me-"
Perhaps" replied Sister Millicent
you know that you deserve it. Your
wife was true 10 you. She loved you.
You deserted her. Return 10 your
lightof love, and let her comfort you"
81 hate the creaturer' he answered.
The only woman | ever loved was
my wife. To have her back for but
one hour | would die in fortunes"
Sister Millicent opened the doc,
more widely.
Come in" she breathed.
He entered.
"Tell me of her." he said. WAS
she very unhappy Did she speak of
met Did she send me any messagef"
"You had deserted her. You would
not have cared" said sister Millicent.
II think she said something like this
Let him be happy. He is free Of me
at last" and she began TO sob behind
her mask.
That was her last thought, Them
sighed Charles Auchester. Very we'll
| am sufficiently punished. will fol
ow her speedily. | hoped to find her,
20 kneel for her forgiveness. Life is
valueless without her"
IF she had but known" sighed Sis.
Ter Millicent.
"She will never know" said Charles
Auchester; but al least | can die also.
Life is worthless TO me now; | will not
have it,"
! ''Charles!" cried the lady.
He started violently and looked at
her.
Charles" she repeated, 'if | could
but believe you" Suddenly she lifted
her hands TO her face and cast he,
mask aside, II have not the courage
todeceivc you longer" she cried. ION,
a woman's heart is such weak thingl'
and Charles Auchester loosed upon
the face of Marion his wife and clasp.
ed her TO his heart.
Il came 10 my Aunt y cent for
/ protection" she said. ~ ed with
her until she died. On her deathbed
she babe me assume her name and
wear her mask and continue her good
work. Every one believed that it was
Sister Marion who died-evcry one but
the doctor, who was in Il secret.
INTENDED to live out tie rest of my days
as the masked lady known rs Sister
Millicept; but-I-l only remember
now that you have returned 10 me.
a not refuse TO forgive you. can
not forget that am still your wife"
AT dawn next day the little stone
cottage stood tenantless, and no one
ever knew whittier Sister Millicent had
vanished. The fact that her mask and
robes lay across her bed, aud that
nothing that had belonged TO her was
removed, gave rise to the story that she
had been carried TO heaven while still
alive by the angels, but every year the
two pastors receive in some mysterious
way a gift of money for their poor,
and upon the package is always writ
ten From Sister Millicent. Mary
Kyle Dallas in Fireside Companion.