Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1890-06-19

4 last time her spirit spoke 70 nls.
Then suddenly a cold WIND seemed 70
breathe upon his face and lift his mar, ana
everything was gone. His mind was as IL nad
been, again he heard the dreary orator ana
saw the members slipping away 10 dinner
The conditions that disturbed him had passed.
things were as they had been. Nor was TINS
strange for the link was broken beasfice
was dead She had passed into the domains
| of impenetrable silence.
Godfrey sat up with gasp, and a. he ana
so a letter was placed in his hand. IL was adj
dressed 10 Beatrices handwriting and bore
the Chester postmark. A chill fear seized
him. What did it containi He hurried with
it into private room and opened it. 1t was
dated from Bryngelly on the previous Sun
| day. and had several Enclosures.
"My dearest Godfrey it began, Il have
never before addressed you thus on paper,
nor should | do so NV, knowing to what
risks such written words might put you, were
it not that occasions may arise las in this
caseD which seem to justify the risk. For
when all things are ended between man and
a woman who are TO each other what we
have been, then it is we'll that the one who
goes should speak plainly before speech be-
comes impossible, if only that the one who Is
left should not misunderstood that which has
been done.
'sGeoffrey, il is probable--iti is almost certain
that before your eyee read these words
shall be where in the body they can never sse
me more. write to you from the brink OF
the grave; when you read it will have closed
over me.
'Geoffrey, shall be deadl
II received your dear letter Gt is destroyed
now in which you expressed wish that
s.iould come away with you 10 some other
country, and / answered it in eight brief
words dared not trust myself 70 write more,
nor had any time How could you think that
Ishoud ever accept such an offer for my own
sake. when to do 50 won have been TO ruin
youl But first | will tell you all that has
happened here Here followed long and
exact description of those events with which
we are already acquaint !, including the de-
nunciation Of Beatrice by her sister, the
threats OF Owen Davis as regards himself.
and the measures which she had adopted TO
gain time
Further" the letter continued, II inclose
Won your wife's letter 10 ma. Aud here | wish
10 state that have NJ. one word to say
against Lady Honoria or ner letter. think
that she was perfectly justified in writing as
she did for after all, dear Godfrey, you are
her husband, and in loving each other we
have offended against her She tells me truly
that il is my duty TO make all further com
municatious between us impossible. There Is
only one way TO do this, aud take II.
and now | have spoken enough about
myself: nor do wish 10 enter into details
that could only give you pain. There will be
no scandal dear, and If any word should be
raised against you after | am gone, have
provided an answer in the second letter which
have inelosed You can print it if neces-
sary: il will be a sufficient reply 10 any talk.
Nobody after reading it can believe that you
were in any way connected with the accident
which viii happen. Dear, one word more
still about myself. you see. Do not blarse
yourself in this matter, for you are not %
blame; Of my own free will | do it, because
in the extremity Of circumstances think II
best that one should 90 and the other be
saved, rather than that both should be in
volved IN a common ruin.
Dear do YOU remember how, in that
strange vision Of mine, dreamed that you
came and touched me 90 the breast and
showed me hghtl 50 1t haseDme to pass. for
YOU have given me love-that IS light; and
now in death I shall seek for wisdom. And
this being fulfilled, shall not the rest be full
filed in lis seasoui Shall l not sis in those
cloudy halls till l see YOU come 70 seek me,
the word Of wisdom on your lipsl And since
/ cannot have You to myself. and be all IN
all to YOU. why. / am glad to 60; for here iu
the world is neither rest nor happiness A
IN my dream. too often does Hope seem tc
rend her starry robes.
Il am glad to 20 from such a world, 10
which bur one happy thing has found me
the blessing Of your love. am worn out with
the weariness and struggle, aud now that J
have lost you l long for nest. do not know
If sin in what do; if 50, may be forgiven.
II forgiveness is impossible, so be it. You
will forgive me, Godfrey. and you will al
WAYS love me, however wicked may be lever
if. at the last, you go where | am not, you
will remember and love the erring woman tc
whom. being 50 little, you still were all in all
We are not married, Godfrey, according &c
the customs of the world. but two short days
from hence shall celebrate n service that il
greater and more solemn than any OF the
earth; for Death viii be the priest, ami that
oath which shall take will be to all eternity.
Who can prophesy Of that whereof man ha,
NO sure knowledgei Yet do believe that il
a time to come we shall once more look in
each others eyes and kiss each others lips,
and be one forever more. II this is so. it is
worth while to have lived and died; If not,
then, Geoffrey, farewell
If may will always lie near 10 you.
Listen 70 the night wind, and you shall hear
my voice. look on the stars, you viii see my
eyes. and my love shall be as the air you
breathe. And when at last the end comes,
remember me, for il | live at all | shall be
about you then. What have l more to say
So much, my dear, that words cannot convey
it. Let it be untold; but whenever you hear
or read that which is beautiful and tender.
think, this is what Beatrice would have said
70 me and could notr
You will be great man, dear. the fore
most, or one of the foremost. of your age.
You have already promised me to persevere
to this end; viii not ask you to promise
afresh. Do not be content to accept the world
as women must. Great men do not accept
the world, they reform it-aud you are of
their number. And when you are great,
Godfrey, you viii use your power, not for
self interest, but to large and worthy ends;
you viii always strive to help the poor, 70