Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1891-08-20

She wept as if her heart would break. !
Perc SEVERN raised his face. 1t was
cold and stern. His eyes, unmoved at
first kindled with a plying glow as
they fell on the quivering figure before
him. He spoke, and his voice was
dry and husky.
What then--what them" he muir
INJURED. You married a good man
you betrayed him-how all.
My-my daughter, that you may be
forgiven
She grew more composed. as if the
burden she had borne so long was
easier to bear.
II will tell you everything. Oh, |
was not guilty-not as guilty as you
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 a Identified
wife.
Bat one day the Old love OF admir-
alton, the old desire to visit again the
gay circle in which | had moved,
tempted me. resisted for time but
the wish was greater than the will.
One day | met a friend. n countess,
who had known me in the old gay
days of coquetry. She found me
changed. She thought | had left the
city, because no one saw me anymore.
She upbrdided mo for living IA life of
recluse. She invited me to go on an
excursion down the river the next day
/ in pleasure barge.
".All my old friends of the days of
folly Wee to be there. was eager to
7 go-l was thirsting for the mad life
had once led went home with my
checks burning and my eyes sparkling.
( | told my husband of the invitation
told him how much ! wanted to see
my Old friends again. He reminded
me of a promise made to him before
marriage that would cut loose from
the past, that | would give up the
foliies, the friends who had tried to
ruin my life. He refused me permits
sion. There We're some hot words be-
tween us i disobeyed him--I went. >
This is not all 1t was the priest
who spoke. His voice seemed far
away like an echo from the vaulted
cathedral. That is not all he re-
peate..
She looked up with a ha,f frightened
look in her eyes.
"Oh am not wholly to blame-not
wholly" she murmured eagerly. 1t
was his fault-his the coward" be-
tween her half closed lips,
Yes, it was his fault Was that
an echo of her words or had the young
priest repeated her speech?
Il meant no dishonor toward my
husband, God knows it. He planned
wretch that he was-that | should
be too ate-for-the-boa Too late
Then--" Her lips moved, but nc
sound came from them.
GO on" commanded the priest,
stcrnlv.
"Then-it was the next morning.
returned homc-I found the house
closed. My husband had gone away
where, no one knew. He had lef
Paris-I had no money, no friends.
II have lived honestly ever since
, have tried to do good to earn for
giveness for my sin, from my husband
from God, l was ashamed before to
day to enter church to confess: bu
to-day
The priest had risen. His face wa
,, in the light She looked into his calm
gray eyes, she saw his worn whit
cheeks.
who are you?" she cried with sob
. '.Pere Severin!"
. You are not. you are not! You ar
my husband-you are Philippe. whom
, | loved, whom | lost" She had pushe
aside the grating with her nervou
hands, she sunk at his feet plucke
at his robe. Il have confessed t
! you, Forgive me as you wish to b
:. forgiven"
He stood silent, his face unmove
us the stone chamber above. She ha
=. clutched his hand in hers, and trem
or ran through him at the contact
;, She looked up. A tear he could not re
! strain rolled slowly down his wor
4 white facet
- ''Phillippe-husban d-forgive!''
He rasied one trembling hand tOwaf
the figure of Christ on the wall. A sha
of light from the stained-glass windo
. cast a silver radiance over the Savior
= face.
- Man forgives--ask him to pardo
y your SIM
:" Without the penitents were mu
= muring impatiently among themselv'
y, half hour had elapsed since Il
+. strange young woman had entered Il
- confessional. The Marquise de Mo-
= ceau. by reason of her age and positit
y. in the neighborhood, resolved to fiji
= out for herself. She pushed open Il
door of the confessional and peered i
: She saw Pere SEVERN. the missio
, AIRY, the martyr, the vicar of Chris
- with the strange woman in his arm
- He was soothing her grief, he W
y stroking her hair. And as the Ma
quise withdrew. her cheeks aflame wi
~ righteous indignation, she heard hi
. mumur softly:
y Poor little Isobel-poor wound
5, little Isobel. New York Press.
IL Puritan and PnUan.