The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1890-02-01


have given up all and gone away re-
pentant woman-I would have done 1t,
/ know would. only-only-"
"You learned to love Hugh Vermont"
"You are insulting, but-well l de-
serve it."
Pardon me, 1 spoke thoughtlessly.
Believe me, / would neither insult nor
iniure you one hairbreadth's more than
the necessities of justice require"
ssYou are good man, Wilson Errick-
SON." she said slowly, and then, without
another word, she turned away and left
him standing there, strange pity for
her erring self the dominant feeling
within him.
She did not avail herself Of the three
deys' grace granted her. The next
morning letter lay in Genie Towards
hand. A letter to be read in the pres
ence of Wilson Erickson and Hugh
Vernon.
1t began abruptly, continued rather
incoherently::
~ am not she whom you have believed me for
six months past Eunice-the true Eunice For
roster is sleeping the last long sleep; and +
we'll am Eunice Forester sister. Our mother
had been q wife before she married Clark For
roster, o bride and widow before sixteen, and
am the child of that marriage.
This only learned eight years ago, for my
fathers mother had made my mother believe
me dead at my birth, but dying she confessed
the truth.
at was who paid for Eunice's year In Canada.
knowing how fragile she was, and hoping she
would obtain q position as teacher. It was In
vain-day by day her heath grew worse TIL she
was helpless. We lived together, for loved
her tenderiy and worked for us both. All,
Heaven, what . struggle for mere existence ~
was. have been hungry while bought 1eli-
cacies for her. Often and often she spike Of
James Forester, and II forgivtng her parents,
| he remembered her claims, she and would
never know want again.
"sBut would not live long anyway she said,
the rude jostle Of life is not for me, but would
| leave il all to you-all TO you, my sister. Two
weeks before James Forrester's death Euaice
died. and when learnd she was his heiress the
temptation came to me to personate her.
" I have every right to itr cried. Had she
| lived few weeks longer it would have been
mine. She would have left 1t to me-. 1t was
only sophistry, but tried to ease my conscience
with It.
1T have never been happy since my sin, even
| had 1t never found me out
"You. sheltered in home all your life, can
| never dream what my temptation was. Only
| God can tell that. was homeless, despairing,
penniless. do not ask pardon, only that you
ali remember, with pity, the unhappy girl you
| have known as "EUNICE FORESTER"
At the last words moan of agony
broke from Hugh Vernon's lips-the cry
of q strong man in agony-the pallor
ON his bronze face was ashen.
Genie went straight to his side, tears
ON her soft. dark lashes, and laid her
hand ON his arm.
"You loved her, Hugha Answer me
truly"
"Yes, loved her. with . mirth
less Taught love her still. o, God, II
is terrible"
"Her temptation was terrible. Hugh
If you love her, will you seek and find
her?''
He looked up.
"You wish that? Sometimes, Genie
1 feel have wronged you, and yet
She smiled.
"Wronged me? Nay, it is we'll we di'
not both wrong ourselves. We wer
meant for friends, Hugh-warm, tru
friends, and that we will ever be-"
She laid her hand in his, and, withou
q word, he bent his stately head an
kissed it.
Only long low waste of yellow sand
dreary moan Of the dark waves lappin
the shore, and girl standing, wit
: shadow-flled eyes, looking over the gra
waste Of waters.
A girl with clustering, red-gold hal
! and sapphire eyes looking out from
pallid, young face, whose youth SCENE
! to have fed from it in the bitterness {
some living pain.
An exquisite face, however, despit
: the weary droop of the lovely mouth
! the passionate despair Of the beautifr
eyes.
Suddenly she stretched out her hand
with bitter cry.
my punishment is more than ca
bear" she said. 20, Hugh! my love, m
love!''
Was it her cry that was answered
Was it fate or simply chance that b
? had sought her so long and found hi
thus?
~ There was q mans firm footste
crunching the yellow sand, and then
: was at her side.
With low, startled cry she threw u
her hands, and even at that momel
!. he noticed the pallor Of her face, Il
!. fragility of her form. !.
. "Hugh, HughF'
= The words broke like wall from b
= lips, and then from him:
Thank God have found you!
= darling! my lover
= The next moment his arms we
:. around her, his kisses falling on her Ii
{, and brow.
. For q moment he thought she h
tainted; 80 white and still she reste
her head on his shoulder, her dark La
y sweeping his cheek.
:. Suddenly she opened her eyes.
" sGenie! where is she? is She"
"Genie is Wilson Errickson's wife,"
!. sand, Hugh, can you O, Hugh,