The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1891-03-13

you the happiness and peace I viii for

And in an instant she was gone
Before the next morning dawned /
was miles on my way 10 my birthplace.
/ sought for happiness where nv boy
ish dreams had given it in the past.
and spent the succeeding weeks In
life of days without yesterdays, that
died into nights without norrowsn
could not think 1 was SO prostrat1d by
the blow. and / was only conscious Of
dull sense OF suffering.
Then came the messenger of hope
just these words:
John, / want you. Grace
On the afternoon of cold. dreamy
autumn day was with her. She came
up TO me tinidly. and putting her
hand in mine, said: John, l have
thought of you constantly since you
left my side, and you had not been
gone day ere / would have recalled
you. l can not give you the passion
ate love l felt once In the past, and yet
think | can give you an esteem now
which can not fail OF growing into
love-"
| was happy then.
In the autumn of the next year we
were married, and treinbled at my
own happiness. Grace. too. was bright
and cheerful. and accepted my love
with quiet satisfaction that contented
me. though my heart yearned to have
her return it as eagerly as il was
given.
The happy years gIided swiftly
away, and Grace was my idol. my
light. my constant care and only
thought At this time speculation in
which | had embarked took me much
away from home. and when / came
back to my darling. fool that was.
did not note. in my eagerness to greet
her. the look of terror In her wondrous
eyes at my caress.
On my return home one evening.
from an absence OF several davs, /
looked for Grace at the doorway. where
she never failed of meeting me; and
missing her. / mounted hastily to INV
room. and with dread forebodiRg OF
evil, hastily tore open the envelope on
my table:
Once more mt my bidding you must suffer
bitterly. why was ! selected 70 inlet suffer,
John Darcy. can be your wife no longer.
God pity US both. for no earthly compassion
me. Knowing this. then. in Justice to you
same roof. Forget me II you can. If not,
think of me only as dead. GRACE"
This was her letter. Ny head swan
dizZily for moment. aud, with cry
of anguish, fell to the floor.
Six weeks passed. and was slowly
recovering from a brain fever. Heaven
was not merciful enough to take the
life / despised. Rising at last from
bed. 1 wandered for FIVE years to find
my wife and wreak my vengeance on
the man who came between me and
a L. - n
hearts blood. Vain and fruitless the
search.
Ten years ago. and still the agony
RACES in my heart. and still this frame
withstands the throes / 5ray daily to
release ny soul from its bondage I
sit beside my desolate hearthstone,
heart, and my spirit cries out, How
long. o my God. how Iong?s
Now that / have seen her dear face
once more. now that have heard from
her lips the story of the years gone
past, l am content
Once again, after the years of suffer-
ing. there has come to me another
message out of the past.
John, want you. Grace
I went to her. and heard her sob out
on my breast the words which brought
me again into the world of life and
light.
John. was fascinated by that man;
he held me by some power as complete
and subtle as that of a snake over a
bird. When you came home 20 me
the first time your kiss broke for q
moment the spell; and when gazed
into my heart | was terrified to find
his image where | thought to fiud my
husbands. / knew that If I were to
let you go from me again, and leave
me in his power. the result could be
only crime. and l fed, fed from you,
from him and from myself. For all
these long years / have never seen
your face or his. Time has tried my
heart as a refiner's fire; the dross IS
gone. and the precious metal is left.
His image / have forgotten. but my
soul cried out for my husband; / knew
then | loved him better than any man
on EARTH
/ was content. I sat by her side and
held her close to me in quiet soul COM
munion. until the glories of the day de-
parted; and as the vivid hues deepened
and faded in the sky the darkness was
illumined by light more glorious than
| of earth; and as the moon kissed her
still, fair brow. she whispered. Come
nearer. John; say you are content. Kiss
me once more Love is immortal; eter-
nifty can not part us. John, come to
me there,
AS / gaze out upon the grave in the
churchyard. my heart knows no bitter
ness. 1t can nY be long. and when
through the dark waters he calls me to
go. my soul will rejoice. for on the
other side / hear my darling's voice.
And there shall be no parting there
N. Y. World.