Sullivan republican. [volume] (Laporte, Pa.) 1883-1896, 1890-10-17
LApoRTE Pa FRIDA YyoCToBEK H. 1890.

you, when the crime was on the eve Of
discovery, throw yourself on my mercy
and ask me to help you2 How was to
help1 Was not as poor as youa / did
what could. committed crime in
my turn to save yoA To allow you,
scott free, to marry rich woman who
loved you. To allow you to cast anchor
in a safe harbor for the rest of your
days"
"And the crime you committed con-
demns me as it does you," he cried with
shaking voice. "The first weakening
of my conscience came through you as
well, though you may deny it. Who was
it urged me to speculate, urged me to
strain out of my obscurity2 Who was it
ffattered my vanity into thinking that
was made, intended for the brilliant tri-
umphs of life2 You'll You have been
an evil star to me. A milestone hung
around my neck. That my eyes. might
never rest on you again would be a wish
too intense for realization"
He had gone from her and at last she
saw him as he was. This coward, this
beautiful weakling, too plant to resist
|
misdeeds, was the creature she had loved
with blind alteration all her life, who,
scarcely year younger than herself, had
been almost as a son and brother in
one. And was there nearer love still
and dearer love yet, so deep hidden in
| the secret recesses of consciousness that
even the heart that harbored it had not
recognized its presencea
1t was all over now. There was one
thing left alone, and that was ever
| friendly.
She went back into the house and wrote
two letters One was addressed to Helen
Vassar. 1t accused her, Leslie Radetsky,
of the theft of the Vassar diamonds, She
wanted the money for her own personal
uses No need ever to ask what those
uses might have been. That would never
be discovered. The French maid was
innocent Steps might be taken ut once
for her liberation. Suspicion had, of
course, been purposely thrown ON this
woman. Who else knew where Mias
Vassar kept her diamonds-who but the
new maid and Miss Vassar's friend, the
adopted sister of the man she was to
marry2 Miss Vassar had wealth in super
fluffy. What she had regretted was not
the loss of her diamonds so much as the
guilt of young girl who had impressed
her as innocent. Well, that young girl
was now absolved. 1t was true that the
adopted sister of her betrothed 5sre the
guilt instead But she loved the brother,
and for his sake, perhaps, She .wousd drop
the veil over crime expiated as sins
could alone be expiated, it was said.
Such was the substance of the first
letter. The second was written to
Louis.
"You are safe, unless you speak your
self, which, though you are coward,
do not think likely. Helen will not seek
to know one detail of my deed. She is
noble and Quixotic. She need never
discover that the necklace passed on to
YOU and was severed and the stones scat
tered and sold. The French girl is safe,
too. 1 am going where disgrace does
not reach. Strange! l loved you. Can
you understand that, wonders"
Both letters were found by her side.
The room was filled with the odor of
bitter almonds and she held the little
vial still clenched in her stiffening hand.
Louis Radetsky and the heiress were
married abroad year later. The young
man had been for months at deaths door
with fever of the brain.
They now live in Paris. He has aged
and broken rapidly. His health is poor
and he has strange hallucinations. But
after so CHASTITY shock, what more
natural, thinks his wife.
She cares for him with a wonderful
devotion. But there is q sadness in her
face and curious shadow fingers there
at times.-NeD York Mercury.