The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1891-01-24


have believed? Never r
"IIelen. listen to me one moment. |
was mad then, mad with despair and jeal-
ousy, or perhaps | might have hesilated
Let us forget the past and its trials, and be
again as we were before. | was wrong,
and bitterly have atoned for hasty judg-
ment. am rich now
''You are rich Who cares for your
riches p Helen Graham answered pas
sionately, conscious that his words had
moved her deeply sWhat is wealth when
there is no love, or which has been killed
by doubt? There would always be some
thing between us, some intangible"
"AIy dear wife, for the sake of the little
oue"-Graham bad touched upon sym
pathetic chord, and be continued at was
no mere coincidence which led me to find
her last night. Nelly, never at any time
during the last four miserable years have /
forgotten you By hard work | have found
my lost fortune, but have not found for
getfulness."
He pointed to the wondering child, who
stood regarding the speakers with eyes of
deep intense astonishment The tears rose
unbidden to the mothers eyes, but she
dashed them passionately away.
"Do you think have never suffered"
she cried, call this time, with a taint upon
me, and the hard Struggle l have had to
live? As you stand there now you doubt
my innocence.
''As heaven is my witness, no !" Graham
answered brokenly. 'I am no longer
blind.
81 thank you for these words, Lance"
came the reply, with certain soft cadence
a know you loved me once"
sAnd I do now. l have never ceased to
love YOU.
''Do not interrupt me for a moment.
For the sake of your &ipdness to my child
l forgive you. Friends We may be, but
nothing more. She is your child as well
as mine. l cannot hinder yop from seeing
her, for the law gives you that power, /
know"
"The lag !" Lance returned bitterly;
"things are come to fine pass when hus-
band and wife, one in Gods sight, can
calmly discuss the marrow laws of man
making In this little while the child has
twined itself round my heart more than |
dare confess. cannot come to you as
friend, You know | cannot. will not take
the little one away from you, and there is
no middle course for me to adopt"
There was another and more painful 81
lence than the last All the dramatic scorn
had melted from the injured wife's heart
and left nothing but warm womanly feel
ing behind Strive as she would, there
was something magnetic in Graham's plead
ing tones, conjuring up flood of happy
from the forgotten past. Gra-
ham, throwing all pride TO the winds and
perfect in his establishment, spoke at
length, speaking quiet, tender earnestness,
more dangerous than any wild
av horfatioo could ha
Nelly, must have the truth, said he;
81 am alone in the world, nay more, for l
am beginning to realize what I have lost.
If you will look me in the face and tell
me that all the old love is dead, l will 90 away
and trouble you no more.
"But as friend, Lance Surely if
might"
Graham beekoned the little Nelly to his
side, and took her on his knee "Little
sweetheart, " he asked, ''tell me all yon told
me last night about your wicked runaway
father. Who taught you to say God bless
dear papa and send him home again, as
You said to me last night 2"
"Mamma, said Nelly confdentially, "and
she says so, too"
Graham looked up with smile There
were tears in his wife's eyes beyond the
power of control, and broken smile upon
her face.
''Let the little one decide she said.
Lance leaned down and kissed his child
with quivering lips Then, with one of her
imperiOus gestures, she pointed TO her
mother and bade him kiss her, too. There
was momentary hesitation, quick move
ment on either side, and Helen Graham was
sobhing unrestrainedly in her husbands
arms.
GAS if could have let you CO." she said
at length. "oh I always knew you would
find the truth some day, Lance"
"Yes; thank heaven" he said, gravely.
" Providence has been very good to us, dar-
ling"
He turned to little Nelly. ado you know
who am ?"
"oh yes, yes" she cried, clapping her
hands gleefully. 'You are my own dear
runaway papa. Mamma, you mustn't let
him run away any more
"You will find him if he Does" said