The record-union., 1891-11-07

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the outside world would have suspected
OF being blackleg. He was such
handsome, boyish fellow, and so polished
IN his manners, such pleasing talker,
and such an elegant dancer that he
seemed destined for nothing but society
man. and yet he was one of the most fear
less men, and one of the most unscrupul-
Gus gam blers that ever came to Carson's.
He and Katie met often at the many
balls given, and / was so infatuated with
him that l was always asking him to the
house. Things went on in this way, and
it was late in November when began to
imagine that Katie was becoming fond of
him, and that his attentions to her We're
altogether too marked. At first | would
not say anything to either of them but
one day when | went home earlier than
usual, and met him coming away from
the house looking flushed and eager, my
anger broke over all bounds and catch
ing hold OF the little figure which sprang
up to meet me. L let loose all the devils I
had nursed in my heart for so long, Il
was in vain that she begged and pro-
tested they were only arranging charac-
ters for the masquerade ball, which would
take place Christmas Eve, and all the
long years which have passed since then
l have never forgotten how she clung To
me and begged for my love. while I
cursed her.
when the time for the ball came /
made her go, and l can see her vet, as she
looked in her pretty PEASANTS dress, with
her fair hair braided under little black
velvet cap. / choose plain domino and
jealously watched her. At last l saw Il
form / knew too well approach her, and
whirl her away in a waltz, after which
they disappeared from the ballroom. [
followed and found them IL Il little alcoye
which had been cut off from the supper
room. he was holding her hand and
talking eagerly.
Il rushed upon them, and cursing,
tried TO Kill them, but was prevented by
the crowd, which came III at her screams.
Il can't tell more Of that awful time
nor OF the week that followed. When l
remembered again, Katie was gone, and
SO had Herbert. They had not left to-
gether, but felt sure they had met be-
lore they had gone many miles.
i went 20 ali the towns in the State
limiting for them, but could find no trace.
For many months l fingered in San
francisco, hoping to meet them, when l
intended killing them both.
''One night / went to fire. and wall
fell, crushing me and two other men un-
der its ruins. We were carried to the
hospital, but it was not until many weeks
had passed that | could sit up and look
around the ward. One OF the men who
had been hurt with me was on a cot next
to mine, and was, as yet, unable to move
his arms.
surely, there was something familiar
in the outline of that curly head, and
while l stared he moved. and 1 looked in
the eyes of Herbert Hoffman. | tried to
| spring upon him, but my broken legs re-
fused TO aid me, and l sank back.
Katie" gasped, ''w here is she? the
girl you lured away and stole from me-,
II don't KNOW" he answered simply, II
have never seen her since that night at
CarSOn'S, so long ago.
! ''Do not lie to me'' I shrieked, s'I am
helpless now, but l mean TO kill you as
soon as can move; | will kill you, as
| you lie there"
II know you will" he said, land you
| are quite welcome to do it, but I swear
that am telling the truth, when l tell
you that she rejected my offered love that
night, as she had done before, with
words OF bitter scorn for me, and Of
tenderest love for you. You wero a fool,
a mailman to doubt her. She was one Of
| the sweetest, purest women in the world,
and was tiend 10 try to tempt her, or to
even dream she would care for me; but,
Aleck, | did love her 1 know you will
! Kill me, but have told the truth. | have
never touched card since / left Carson's.
and God knows l have tried to be a bet
ter man. | don't expect you to forgive
me, but alter you get up, and have
! finished your score with me, for Gods
sake find her, and love her again"
Looking into his eyes, | could not
/ doubt him, and you can call me fool,
| coward, or what you will, but from that
| moment my heart warmed toward HIM
again, and it was my sole wish for both
OF US to get well, so we might together
| search for Katie.
1T was long time before we two pale
| creatures crept out of the hospital, and by
! slow stages found our way back into the
world; but we did at last, aud for two
! years we hunted everywhere for my lost
darling. At last we gave up, and then
our hearts turned toward poor old Car
sons. The big mines had all stopped
working, nearly all the town had been
moved away, and but few people were
here, and they were all strangers, and
my sad story was unknown to any of
them, and we have staid here. And now,
always together. He is Herbert Hotf-
man."
There is a lot Of coughing and of sus-
picious blowing of noses, among the
boys, before Joe at last finds voice enough
to ask:
And have you never heard anything
of Katie?"
NO" answered he sadly, sit is now
seventeen years tonight since / drove
her from me, and perhaps she is dead. If
she is she knows how / have repented
and sorroWed for her, and how, year by
year, her image has dwelt with me,
cheering me and helping me in my mis-
fortunes, and how my love for her grows
stronger with sorrow and timeo His
voice is unutterably sad, as he finishes,
and there are choking sobs heard in this
homely cabin as these roughly-dressed
miners gather close around these two
men, who in sorrow and desolation are
growing old together.
None of them notice noise at
hn h int, 1of%;
in gust of cold air. Aleck goes to close
the door, and just outside he sees the two
women who have been snow bound at
Sally's. The girl stands in front of the
| older woman. who appears to be weep
ing. The girls face is very fair, and
her face. She does not speak, but points
to the trembling form beside her.
Aleck staggers as he sees the face of the
girl so like Katie. The other woman
drops ner cloak from about her head, and
with her arms held toward him, calls:
"Aleck, have suffered so long, can
you forgiven" But the words are smoth-
cred against his bosom, where her poor,
tired heart is pressed.
The men, led by Herbert, quietly go
out by another door, and husband and wife
are alone. But after q few moments
silent joy the wife lifts her face:
''Alecll, do you know this is our child,
our daughter, Alexia, whom you never
saw"
Now indeed is heaven open to him as
he clasps this sweet duplicate of Katie to
his breast, and the tears which stream
down his face are no disgrace to his man
hood. 1t is late before he will allow his
wife to tell how, half-crazed, she had fed
that long-ago night, and wandered on un-
til passing stage picked her up, and
at last she had found her.
self in San Francisco. where
when her money was gone, she had