Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-07-13
CHAPTER XIV.
A wOMAN'S LOVE.


 ~A ' God! it Is my
 A wife. This is ret
 @ ribution. My sin
 FH< has found me
 @0a s-lI out.'
 liHHfAfSsE>Nff%4/ As these words AiAIiDp IreAAN\l \lltv fell from the lips Hll' iWSA/ of lawrence SA> -S4EY7S R e h m o q, he
 N k-e-ZoT stood as if rooted
 NW !S So%sn sss ,SSs; %so AEsS !ss
 in the haunted mill raised her head proudly, and her eyes were looking into his, so that he found himself gazing speechlessly upon the face of that wife whom he had not seen in all tho years that had passed since he drove her away from him with curses that were to be so bitterly repented curses that were to come back home to roost-curses that had ever since re- mained in his memory like plague spots, and which would not be erased11 1~though at times they almost set him crazy.
 All the fierce power seemed to have been taken out of the old man at one fell blow, and he, who had but minute be- fore been so full of savage force, now stood there almost incapable of motion and drawing his breath in gasps, as 1t were, while his eyes, round with wonder and a vague horror, rested upon that woman's face.
 He could not just then comprehend the noble sacrifice she had just made for him.
 Tho burnt mortgage was still smoul- dering upon the little fire, but he had completely forgotten it in the excite ment, still more intense, produced by this astounding discovery. He Id wronged this woman terribly l in tL. ..5t, In 0 manner that had shocked him whenever he thought of it-for he had afterward learned that she was as innocent as an angel, and had searched for her, but she could not be found, and the old doubts crept over his mind again, obscuring it-and in that dread moment he only saw what splendid chance for revenge had come to her. Should she so desire, she could crush him with singlo blow. This was why the feeling of horror had entered his brain as he stood there, still clutching her white wrist 50 fiercely. Then there flashed upon his mind the late act and words of tho noble woman, and his eyes almost unconsciously were turned upon the fro where the document was still smouldering, though past re- covery.
 His nerveless hand loosened it's grasp upon her wrist, and he staggered back a pace or two.
 My wife!" he muttered; "my wife como back to mo from the dead? Oh, am dreaming. This is some horrid taunting specter. My wife Is dead and am her murderer"
 He groaned with mental anguish, and 1t stirred tho woman's heart to it's full depth to hear the man whom she had never ceased to love, thus exhibiting his terrible suffering.
 "Not so, Lawrence. You see before you the unhappy woman who was once your wife. The years have come and gone stnce last we stood face to face, years of suffering to me, and yet I have patiently awaited tho will of Heaven. Perhaps there may be moro in this meet ing than we either of us imagine" "Not dead, not dead" he muttered, upon her; "oh, then God has heard my prayer. He has sent you to me that the last act of my life should be my atone ment to you. There, see me kneeling at your feet, with the pride, the cursed pride that ruined my life and yours, trampled down forever. Oh, can you for give me for the past, my wretched mis- take which I have deplored in tears of blood ever since? I know I do not de- serve it, but if you could only forgive me, 1t would be the act of an angel. Pity me, pardon me-"
 He had sunk at her feet in abject mis- cry. His mind was once more cleared of all doubts, and he knew that he was in the presence of the noblest woman God ever made.
 She was deeply affected by this evil dence of his contrition, and her whole frame trembled, while the tears streamed down her cheeks.
 Now she could realize what this proud man must have suffered in tho days and months and years of the dim past, and, suffering, made no moan. She knew now that all the time, he had been haunted by the demon of remorse, that had we'll nigh devoured his heart.
 The past with it's great wrong seemed wiped out by this repentance Of the present.
 "Kneel not to me, Lawrence, for what sin you committed against me has long, long since been forgiven. My act of q minute ago proves that I have never ceased to love you. Ask the great Master above to forgive you, but do not kncei to me-"
 .'Oh. woman, every word you utter sinks me into an abyss of shame. see myself fool, a knavc, a brute. l am not worthy to touch the hem of your garment. May Heaven bless you-and | forgive :ne, be lnoaned.
 She n;ude him rise, even assisted him To be continued.