Mexico weekly ledger., 1890-08-07

ooGy ana OF mind, might have been
spared if you had only written to me
before"
Il was proud. too. my brother" she
said. family. But. Robert. what has
changed you SOP You are as gentle as
a | hardly know you now"
j tell you that /, too. know what it
is TO love. Eloise," he said sadly. Il
have a dear young wife, whom ! treasure
like the apple of my eye. She does not
love me yet; she feels only gratitude
towards the mar who rescued her from
poverty. But. one day. | hope to win
her heart. Eloise, if you live"
Il shall not live. I shall never see
your wife Robert. But. my boy"
She shall be a mother to him. dear.
She will love the child. e if she can
moi love me, and he will be a link"
Touched to the heart with contrition.
the little wife retraced her steps, and
summoned her servant. and drove to,
wards home.
On the last moments of the dying she
felt that she hal no right to intrude.
But for the living-for the living
who loved her-Surely she might he
taking thought and care.
Two hours later, Robert Strong
opened the door of his w house with
a latchkey, and crossed the hall noise
lessly towards his study. In his arms
he bore a heavy-looking bundle. His
face was pale, his mi anxious, and
he looked round once IL twice, as il
dreading the presence of some unseen
watcher, though the house was still,
..l Ill tI,N nr,apt hnl rnnn 70 had
Turning up the gas in his study. he
laid his bundle down on the sofa. and.
throwing back the heavy cloak, dis
closed the pretty face of a sleeping
child some three or four years old. He
stood looking down upon the infant
for some time. with a thoughtful air.
What will she sayp" he exclaimed,
at last, aloud.
And suddenly he became aware of
the presence of his wife, who stood just
within the study door. looking at him
with a fearful. tender gaze, such as
she had never dared bestow on him be-
fore.
Say! Oh, Robert, what can she say,
! except that she loves you. and wishes to
do, in all things. exactly as you think
best" she murmured. coming nearer,
with a look of timid love not to be mis-
taken, ever by his long-blinded eyes.
His pale, calm face flushed suddenly;
his deep blue eyes grew bright and
full of tenderness.
MY darling. do you mean what you
say?" he asked. holding her a little way
| from him. Think. l have long
| fancied that you could not and did not
love me. am so many years older
than YOU"
And so many years wiser. better,
dearer," she whispered. 'fOh. Robert.
if you had been a poor day laborer /
would have married you all the same.
l never loved anyone else! Is that
enoughp"
smiling. she flung herself upon his
breast, and their lips met in a kiss such
rs during all the months of their mar
riage they had never exchanged before.
This child is the son of my only
sister, who after my mothers death,
made a secret marriage that nearly
broke my heart" he said, after a long
pause. Poor Eloise died. an hour
ago, in my arms, forgiven and at rest.
Ny darling. will you love the child for
her sake, and for mine? | promised
her that you would be a mother to the
boy
Il will be all that you ask or wish. :"
said the happy wife. kneeling beside
ler husbands chair, and laying her
bright head upon his knee. ''Butnow,
[, too, have something for you to for
give"
And she told him the story of the
strange letter; the story of her jeal'
ousy. and of its sudden and final cure.
He heard her in silence to the end, and
then he raised her from the ground,
and held her to his heart once more.
You will go with me to see poor
Eloise buried, my love-" he said. with
a gentle kiss.
And nesting quietly in his arms,
with her white hand playing with his
still soft curling hair, the young wife
knew that she was forgiven. and thai
her husbands heart was all her own.