Jefferson jimplecute. [volume] (Jefferson, Tex.) 18??-189?, 1889-07-10

Wieh viz luuiU1
On the other side, material side,
Sarah Miller was, as yet, sane, or
nearly so. She could look forward,
plan, and even carry out. And
the anguish which racked her mind
was the homecoming of the truth,
that her act must part her and her
mistress forever. Here was the
browning sacrifice. Here was, per-
haps, the earthly punishment.
Never again to gaze into that dear
face; never again to hear that loved
voice; never again to be near her
to minister to her wants, to aid
her, scheme for her, and, if needs
be, sin for her. Never to see her
in happiness which had been so
dearly bought. Here was the sac
rifice! 1t must be made, and she
must find strength to make it, and
skill to insure its being of use.
To see her mistress, to meet
her even once more would be TO
ruin all. She must never know
whose hand it was bore her free
dom. She would never suspect
that her servant had been the
means of cutting the knot which
it seemed no earthly power could
undo. All, no earthly power could
have undone it.
So when at last the morning
broke gray, and the trees and
other objects doomed phantom
like, and unreal through the mist.
Sarah Miller planned and schemed,
seeking the way to insure what she
had so dearly bought. All her
thoughts reached one end. She
must fly far, far from the spot.
Beatrice must never hear of her
again; never know that she left
London. If her proximity to the
dead man became known the truth
might be guessed and all be at
once lost.
Yet before she went she must
see the house in which her darling
lived. She must stoop and kiss
the doorstep on which those loved
feet had trodden. She must watt
her one passionate and unheeded
farewell, then leave the place and
be as one dead.
She struggled against the desire
but it overcame her. With the
first streaks of daylight she enter
ed the sleeping city, and utterly
worn out stood before her mis-.
tress's window, and for while
watched it as one might watch the
last fading ray of gun which has
sunk never again to rise, and light
en- the darkness which shall be
eternal.
At an early hour of the morning
the street was silent and deserted.
There was no one to notice the
strengthening creature who stood
and, with wild despair in her eyes,
forever gazed on one spot. Her
look for the time was such that no
one, not even the one most pre-
occupied with his own concerns,
could have passed her without feel
ing their curiosity raised as to why
she was lingering there, and what
gave her that appearance of dire
distress.
After some minutes spent in this
manner, the woman crossed the
road. Her limbs dragged after
her and made Der exhausted state
apparent. She leant her head
against the door of the house which
held her mistress, and sobbed con-
vulsively. A dizzy feeling came
over her, and she felt that she was
upon the point of fainting, and
falling senseless on the doorstep.
By a supreme effort she reused
herself and shook off the incipient
stupor. If once she sank down,
her weary limbs might refuse
to do her bidding. She might lie
there until her presence was dis
coved, and that discovery ruined
all. No, if she were to sink and
perhaps die, let it be as far away
from Beatrice as her waning
strength could carry her. Sweet
as it would be to breathe her last
within reach of her mistress, even
such poor comfort could not be
vouchsafed to her.
1t speaks volumes for the iron
strength of her will, insomuch that
it struggled with and overcame,
not only the woman's physical
fatigue, but also the craving for
one glimpse of Beatrice which
chained her to the spot. She tore
herself away and without once
looking back, and forced her tired
limbs to bear her to q considerable
distance. Here she. found a quiet
doorstep on which she sat unmo-
Tested, sat and fought against her
exhaustion, until such time as she
would be able to procure food.
1t was not long before, slowly,
little by little, unit by unit, the
city began to awake. Here and
there the shutters went down from
shop, and at last the weary wo-
man saw all but facing her a
bakers window. She entered the
shop, bought some bread, and beg
ged a glass of water. Not for her
own sake, but for the sake of an
other, she was called upon to eat
and drink.
She ate her bread, and then
somewhat strengthened again be-
gan her pilgrimage. She crept
through the streets until she reach
ed the railway station. Here she
ascertained at what time the next
train for the west would start.
She had a long time to wait.
She hid herself in one corner of
the waiting-roOm, and sat like a
statue. But her brain was burn
ing, and her pulse throbbing. A
strange sound, a fierce rushing
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