Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1890-11-27
..Eloisc, be at rest. DO at peace!' he

was saying. For our dead mothers
sake l forgive You. even rs she would
have forgiven you. If she had lived"
You swore that you would not,
Robertr' gasped the dying woman. with
look of pain.
Hush. dear! Forget it, ms / do.
was hard, and cold, and proud in those
days. and / thought I could never see
you rs you are now without forgiving
you. But Eloise. since thon, /, too
have learned to love, and know better
how to pity you. The man you mar
riod was unworthy Of you, but you
loved him, and for years you have
suffered for his sake. honor you for
it now. Eloise. as much rs l blamed
you once. l only wish l had found
you sooner. So much suffering, Of
body and of mind, might have been
spared il you had only written to me
before"
Il was proud, too, my brother" she
said, faintly. .But. Robert what has
changed you so? You are rs gentle as
woman. hardly know you now"
y tell yon that |. too. know what it
is to love, E.oisc," 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 man who rescued her from
poverty. But. one day. hope to win
her heart. Eloise, If you live"
81 shall not live. shall never SEQ
your wife Robert But, my boy"
She shall be mother to him. dear.
She viii love the child, even if she cana
not love me, and he will be link"
Touched to the heart with contrition.
the little wife rctraced her steps, and
summoned her servant, and drove to-
wards home.
On the last moments Of the dying she
felt that she had no right to intrude.
But for the living-for the living
who loved her-surely she might be
taking thought and care.
Two hours later. Robert Strong
opened the door of his own house with
a latchkey, and crossed the hall noise
lessly towards his study. In his arms
he bore q heayy-looking bundle. His
face was pale. his manner anxious, and
he looked round once or twice. as if
dreading the presence of some unseen
watcher. though the house was still,
and all the servants had gone to bed
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 sleeping
child some three or four years old. He
stood looking down upon the infant
for some time, with 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 rs you think
best" she murmured. coming nearer,
with look of timid love not to be mis-
taken, even 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 little way
from him. Think. | 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. "Oh. Robert,
if you had been a poor day laborer
would have married you all the same.
| never loved anyone else! Is that
enoughp"
He opened his arms. Blushing and
smiling, she flung herself upon his
breast. and their lips met In kiss such
as during all the months of their mar
riage they had never exchanged before.
'TThis 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 long
pause. poor Eloise died, an hour
ago, in my arms, forgiven and at rest.
My darling, will you love the child for
her sake, and for mine? | promised
her that you would be mother to the
hoy"
Il will be all that you ask or wish"
said the happy wife, kneeling beside
her husbands chair and laying her
bright head upon his knee. ''Butnow,
[. too, have something for you to for
give"
And she told him tho story CT the
strange letter; the story of her jeal.
ousy. and of it's 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 Ia his arms,
with her white hand playing with his
still soft curling hair, the young wife
knew that she was forgiven. and that
her husbands heart was all her own.