Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1889-10-25

"And she has been here for thirty
years." asked Auchester.
"Five-and-thirty is nearer the
mark said the landlord Il was
10 years old when first saw her and
took her for ghost, and I am FIVE
and-forty now"
II, wish l 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. He learned that it
was with Sister Millicent that his wife
had lived, and that no one, save the
physician, had seen her after her
death, which was ascribed to some lung
difficulty
To Sister Millicent he must then 90,
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 II wish
to speak with you"
"On what subject" asked Sister
Millicent.
II 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
dantel"
She bowed again.
Il must talk with you" said he.
II can tell you nothing" said she
nothing more than the inscription on
that gray slab in the churchyard can
tell. "
All he said, sadly, II see that
you despise me-"
Perhaps" replied Sister Millicent.
you know that you deserve it. Your
wife was true to you. She loved you.
You deserted her. Return to your
light of love, and let her comfort you. ="
II hate the creature" he answered.
1.-THE only woman | ever loved was
my wife. To have her back for but
one hour l would die in tortures."
Sister Millicent opened the door
more widely.
Come in, she breathed.
He entered
Tell me of her." he said. WAS
she very unhappy Did she speak of
me2 Did she send me any message"
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, then"
sighed Charles Auchester. Very we'll.
am sufficiently punished. will fol-
low her speedily. hoped to find her,
to 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 at least can die Also
Life is worthless to me now l 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 her
mask aside. II have not the courage
to deceive you longer" she cried. "Oh,
woman's heart is such a weak thing"
and Charles Auchester looked upon
the face of Marion his wife and clasp
ed her to his heart.
II came to my Aunt Millicent for
protection" she said. II lived 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-every one but
the doctor, who was in our secret. l
intended to live out the rest of my days
as the masked lady known as Sister
Millicent; but-I-l only remember
now that you have returned to me. l
can 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, and 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.