Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1891-07-04

But one you loved" ne ADDED, gen.
thy.
loved.
He was so different, 80 diff srent from
the rest, his face was 80 pale and sad
like--like priests"
Pere SEVERN drew nearer the graf
ing. He could hear himself breathing.
"He hated the gay world in which
moved, - she went on. HE said i was
worthy Of better things. That had In
me the making OF good woman, but
that was building upon sand; that my
heart was hardening against oil good
things. He wanted TO marry me-to
take me out OF the whirlpool before 1t
was too late. My soul was In danger;
he wished to save it." She paused and
hid her face for q moment. The priests
head was on his breast, the cross above
his throat quivered with his heavy
breathing.
Il knew it-oh, I knew it too we'll
that / was unworthy to be his wife. he
only saw me on the surface. He did
not sound the depth OF my heart. He
did not know how shallow and false
could be. Time prssed. The old low
ers went away, tired OF being trlfied
with, OF being the creatures Of my cp-
price. But he still fingered. He was
always near to comfort me when was
sad. to counsel me with good advice.
l saw them all leave my side and go to
seek new pleasures in the world. My
court deserted--I married him."
"And did you love him?" asked the
priest in an underline.
"Yes-God knows how much-and
yet"
Sand yet?"
Sand yet in moment OF madness, in
an hour when the evil angel in me was
triumphant threw my LIES happi-
ness away trampled on his heart-I
became q miserable lost woman"
She bowed her head on the cushions.
She wept as il her heart would break.
Pere SEVERN raised his face. 1t was
cold and stern. His eyes, unmoved at
first, kindled with a pitying glow as
they fell on the quivering figure before
him. He spoke and mis- voice was dry
and husky.
"What then, what then ?" he muir
mured ''You married a good man,
YOU betrayed him-how-confess all!
My, my daughter, that you may be for
given"
She grew more composed, as if the
burden she mad borne so long was easier
to bear.
II will tell you everything. Oh, I
was not guilty-not as guilty as you
would think. After we were married
he wished to take me out Of the gay
worldly set in which had moved. ]
rebelled, but consented at last. For
months lived quietly like dignified
wife.
'But one day the old love OF admira-
ton, the old desire to visit again the
gay circle in which had moved, tempt
ed me. resisted for a time, but the
wish was greater than the will. One
day met friend, countess, who had
known me in the old gay days OF coquet-
nv. She found me changed. She
thought had left the city because no
one saw me any more. She upbraided
me for living the life Of recluse. She
invited me to 60 on an excursion down
the river the next day, in a pleasure
barge.
band. God knows it. He planned
wretch that he was-that should be
too Neutrality-suspicious.. Too late!
Then" her lips moved, but no sound
came from them.
'Go on" commanded the priest,
stearnly.
"Then-it was the next morning.
returned home-I found the house
closed. My husband had gone away
where, no one knew. He had left Paris
i had no money, no friends"
"And you have lived in sin since then,
three years ago."
The handkerchief fell from her eyes;
she peered into the priests face and
shuddered.
"No-no-when l recovered-when ]
could think, when could find work,
left him. have lived honestly ever
since; have tried to do good, to earn for
giveness for my sin, from my husband,
from God. was ashamed before to-
day to enter achurch to confess; but to-
day"
The priest had risen. His face was
in the light. She looked into his calm
gray eyes, she saw his worn white
cheeks!
''Who are you?" she cried with sob!
''Pere Severin!"
"You are not, you are not! you are
my husband-you are Philippe, whom
II loved, whom lost" She had pushed
aside the grating with her nervous
hands, she sunk at his feet, plucking at
his robe. II have confessed to you!
Forgive me as you wish to be forgiven"
He stood silent, his face unmoved as
the stone chamber above. She had
clutched his hand in hers, and a tremor
ran through him at the contact. She
looked up. A tear he could not re-
strain rolled slowly down his worn
white face.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS"
He raised one trembling hand toward
the figure Of Christ on the wall. A
shaft Of light from the stained glass
window cast silver: radiance over the
SaviOr's face.
'Man forgives-ask him to pardon
your SIM"
Without the penitents we're murmur-
ing impatiently among themselves-
half an hour had elapsed since the
strange young woman had entered the
confessional. The Msrquise de Mon
ceau, BY reason of her age and position
In tina naiOhhorhoOd. resolved 70 find