Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-07-15
BY FATE
BY EMMA s. soUTHwoRTH.
Copyright 1888. by Laird & Lee.

Copyright 1ssa by Laird & Lee. and, weak and trembling, he sank bach Into chair, almost incapable of motion. The fierce will. the strong frame, they seemed wiihered up by the mad force of this demon, remorse.
 'Oh, Lawrence, thank God for bring ing us face to face again. have with mo proof of my purity, proofs that will diepel all those terrible charges of the past"
 Peace" he said, interrupting her; II would not look upon ono of them for kings ransom. Oh, did not find out tho truth for myself? Has 1t not been the consciousness of this that has pierced my heart like knife ct times, rendering me almost mad7 Wife, wife, I have atoned in suffering for my sins. God has punished me well, punished me we'll"
 How she trembled at the mention of that sacred name! She was no wife of his; the law had come between long years before. His wife Oh, Father in Heaven, that would be too much!
 ''Yee," the old man went on, brokenly "a thousand times have I clasped my child to my heart, and, seeing your face in hers, raincd kisses upon it, in memory of you. Heaven bears mo witness that these long years have been one continual season of bitter repentance. l sought not gaiety, but when I gave up all hope of finding you, 1 retired from life to brood over the past, and give myself to the care of my child. The old demon passion was not entirely subdued, for when she told mo she loved the man who Is the son of my enemy, forgot all the past. Oh, to think, after all my bitter experience, I had nearly brought ruin on that young heart, too! Often have I raved in her presence like madman, and tried to bend her to my will, for which God forgive me. He must have sent her to you to bring about this meeting."
 ''1 believe it, Lawrence. What have suffered shall remain sealed within my heart; you can imagine 1t; but never will you hear the story from my lips. The most bitter blow of all came to me when heard that, in your anger, you had ap- piled for, and received, the decree of di- vorce-that l was no longer your wife,"
 "1t was false, yes, false as Hades; and whoever told you that wilfully deceived you. Inever applied for divorce, never received one. So far as the law is con- cerned, you are as much my wife as you ever were, though the bitter past can never be wiped out-never; and we must ever remain estranged."
 ''Oh, Father in Heaven, thank Thee for this mercy. Husband, let us then try and forget that bitter past. It has darkened our lives for many years; why should it shadow our whole future?" And she stood before him, light shining in her eyes, and flush upon her cheeks that had not been seen there for many day.
 Lawrence Richmond seemed dazed.
 ''Do hear aright? Are you an angel. that you can live down all natural feel ings of outraged innocence in the past that you can kiss the rod that smote you ? An! what soul Is there back of this, a noble, womanly soul, and am unworthy to receive you. Do not touch me, for have done you the worst wrong a man could do q loving woman, his wife thrust you out into the cold world, as though you were accursed. God, in His indignation, struck blow at my heart, but He should have palsied my tongue, my hand"
 Hush, Lawrence. He knew what was best and it was through Ills will that this meeting was brought about. Let peace reign between us, and when Carol comes, she will bless our reunion. Poor child, she has troubles enough of her own."
 "And L am the miserable author of them; but If Heaven spares me, l will mako the future speak for itself. I will, from this moment, cast off the miserable cloak that has hidden and almost stran- gled what good thoughts were in my heart, and show a new nature to the world. My poor, wronged wife, would it be too much if l dared to kiss your hand, in token of this new peace and the for giveness you extend to me?" For answer, the old lady put her arms around his neck and held up her face fol him to kiss. He trembled like an aspen leaf, and then, bending down, gently kissed her.
 The past was healed, the abyss spanned, and, in the future. they could go forward, hand-in-hand, down Hfe's de- ] cline. He could make no reparation fol what he had done, bnt it was enough fol her that he had expiated that wrong 1T sorrow and remorse.
 They tell us woman's nature has never been understood; that it Is unfathom. able, and so 1t would seem. From this calm and joyous contempla- ton of the future, they were suddenly aroused by tho entrance of Carol, 1T | tears.
 CHAPTER XVI. THE ESCAPE.