Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1890-06-13

command, for your letter. l feel sure |
there is one for me.
Tell me everything. sweet wife. You |
can hardly understand what your letters |
are to me out here-drops of precious |
water in the desert, the shadow of a
great rock in a weary land long with
q hungry longing to see you, to touch
you.
Lately have been reproaching my
self sternly for something in connection
with our marriage which l thought
little enough Of at the time. You are
perfectly blameless, my darling; always
remember that. persuaded you. II l
can excuse myself at all, my great love
for you must plead for me. And this
love is my hope, my life. 1t is indeed
"True love. the gift which God has given
To man alone beneath the heaven;
It is the secret sympathy,
The silver link, the silver tie,
Which heart to heart and mind to mind
In body and In soul can bind
II know, dear, you do not care for
poetry; forgive my quotation. My heart
is so full Of you that out of that fullness
the mouth speaketh; or, perhaps. I
should say my pen for me.
"But l believe I am gloomy, out Of
sorts. am going on q short shooting
expedition, with rough but kind, HON
est friend Of mine, yclept Bill Walsh;
but shall return in time for my precious
letter. God have you in his keeping.
"Most dearly loved Carmen,
"Your loving husband,
"ALLEN F1TzCLARE."
The tears streamed down her face un-
needed, as she read through this letter,
60 touching in its pathetic love. Then
her thoughts went back to their last
meeting in the old pine wood. She felt
bis tender clasp, his Kisses on her face,
and sad In memory, the brilliant sunset
that illuminated his beautiful face like
an inspiration. And now-he was dead,
past all PREPARATION.
"Oh. Allen, my poor boyi With your
pure. white soul, if you can hear me
from your home. above, forgive me! for
give mel"
Then sadly her eyes fell on a parcel of
letters. She turned them over. An ex-
clamation Of great thankfulness escaped
from her lips. THANK God! No, he
never received my cruel letter."
It was unopened, just as she had sent
It, the date outside, the name OF the
steamer. It was the letter he had been
longing for. It was indeed balm to her
crushed spirit to think that her husband
In all his ardent manhood should have
been spared this crushing blow Of her in
difference. Tho letter had been read
dressed by the clumsy though kindly
hand Of Aliens friend.
When her father, an hour later,
knocked at the door, he found her suffer-
ing, yes. but chastened and peaceful.
Papa, / should like you to read my
poor Aliens last letter. And wish what
money there Is In the Australian bank
to be given to the man Walsh, and I
shall have q marble cross erected over
poor Allen Fi.zclarc's grave" said Car
men, with tears in her voice.
II will see to it all, DEAR" Her father
then read the letter.
"Poor fellow. All, Garment he loved
you, there can be no doubt Of that"
Indeed he did, but ! was not worthy
Of 1t"
"And now, my daughter, we know the
worst. The dreadful uncertainty is over.
Let ~ try to Danish is unhappy past.
You sinned in child 4 ignorance, and
the poor lad who is & was not blame
less; indeed he adj it. You both
rushed into dilen more than seri-
Gus, and It has bro hit the reverse Of
happiness. Now, dea begin over again.
Try and be happy for my sake"
"Ah. dad, dear. where shall I find an
other 90 good or 90 patient as your
docs not Shakespeare say, Let me
but bear your love. I'll bear your cares.
Now, dear, to.dinner. We will not keep
kind Cousin Adela's gond fare waiting"
That night, before Col Massingbird
retired to rest. he wro'a long, exhaus-
tive letter to his lind friend, Marcia
Estcourt He told everything re-
lating to the sufferings 1t his daughter.
her repentance. their wanderings in
Spain, the sad episode In Australia, and
all the details. Sir Geoffry, no knew,
was absent from Estcourt. but Col. Mas
singbird craftily left the affair in Marcia's
hands. He knew g Try would either
hear Of the letter or >e It. And the
fathers thought was could he but re-
store the bloom to hia ,aughter's cheel
and the light to her ye. he would not
Ok 700 particular as ays ana means
G accomplishment. xs
L VIZ
/ LOCKWOOD was over. and with It tho
London season. 1t passed unno-
ticed, uncared Tor e. by the inmates
Tho Myrtles. Co Massingbird had
ng SINCE ceased to r"presene the loyal
ity OF brackenhursf !" parliament The
are and happiness Ut 'is daughter was
re one object In life
There Is strange. iceful quiet that
comes to US when W realize we are
living os,tside instead NJ ,ne,d. t,,. h.,.v
world. We seem ao far of thu tnrrog
and excitement: little details of dailv
He. trivial at other timca now hecoms
interesting. Our favor;te author tbs
music we love. the friendliness OF tho
few chosen ones make I'M the sum Of a
TRANQUIL happiness And Carmen was
feeling this.
Her fierce. wild love for Geoffr Eat
court had left her. but in its stead ~ a
tender, cherished memory that would
never die. She devoted much OF her
time to her father. and pladdened Cousin
Adelas heart by the interest she displayed
in the garden. and the little conservatorv
was her especial care.
|. Again it was SUNNY August. and Car.
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