San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-11-25
CHAPTER XVII.

Mr. Dale sat in his room alone; on the
table before him lay pamphlets, papers,
reports, all of which he had been absolute
ly studying. But from each page lovely
face looked at him.
Paul, Paul, / am Ismay-your wife,"
sounded ever in his ears.
He studied hard; he tried to drown the
voice; but there was the face, and there
was the voice. He had been haunted all
night by both.
1T is my own fault" he said to himself.
81 went to that ball purposely to see her
l thought to satisfy the hunger of my
heart, to still the fever of my longing, by
looking once more oD her face, and it has
been the worst thing 1 could have done.
How dare she think l could forgive her?
Forgive such wrong as that! No; not if
/ were a peasant and she u princess"
He turned again to his books, but the
lovely face seemed to shine on the page.
The morning sun came bright and warm
into the room; there was a fragrance Of
mignonette and heliotrope, which brought
the garden at Ashburnham back freshly
to his mind. He laid down his pen with a
sigh of despair.
''How am to work." he said, ''if l am
troubled in this way"
"a lady wishes to see you, SIR" an
nounced the servant. "She would not give
her name, but said her business was very
important"
''Show her in here" he said. sit is
about some subscription, or charity, l sup
pose"
He looked once more at his book, to note
the page, and when he raised his eyes
again he saw Ismay standing near him
Ismay, his beautiful wife, once so be-
loved. The morning sunbeams fell upon
her lovely face, on her sweeping dress, on
the mass of golden-brown hair. on the
white hands so tightly clasped. She looked
at him eagerly.
"Paulr' she cried "You are Paul: neith-
er your changed name nor your changed
position can deceive me. You are Paul
my husband"
She went up to him with an eager step
she knelt at his feet and raised her face
to his.
Speak one word to me-" she said. 81
am Ismay; and, oh, Paul, l am come to
pray you to pardon me-to implore you to
take me back-to tell you how grieved l
am, now sorry Tor my SIN"
The words died on her lips in a passion
of tears. The stern pride and GOODNESS Of
his face frightened her. He drew away
from the touch of the white jewelled
hands.
II have no wife," he said "The woman
loved with my whole soul, who promised
me her truth and faith, deserted me!
have no wife"
Her voice was broken with sobs as she
answered him.
Il know it was wrOng-cruelly, wicked
ly wrong-but was tempted, and 1 fell.
Oh, Paul, be merciful to me! l was so
young, so vain, so weak. Forgive me, and
take me back"
'You ask me to take you back. Why?
Tell me why"
Because l love you-because it seems
to me that my soul has been in a long
sleep. 1t has awakened and knows no
rest. My heart cries for you'll love you.
Take me back, Paul"
'You were happy enough for many
years without me" he said.
mo, was not happy was intoxicated
with vanity. l was engrossed in pleasure
i was given up heart and soul to the
world. never stopped to think-I never
dared to do SOL have lived as in dream.
1 have awakened from that dream, and !
am here, kneeling at your feet, praying
you to pardon me-"
do you remember that you robbed me
of my son" he asked-''that you too, him
from me, and never thought of my lain
to his love as well as your own"
She bowed her head, while the {, qrs
rained from her eyes.
~ am guilty" she said-"oh, SO guilty.