The Press., 1892-09-08

 all my fault"
 She arose and opened her bureau and took forth little lockwood box, and pulled back the sliding lid. Within lay small book. on the'cover of which was written, My statement" and small parcel wrapped in tissue paper and tied with ribbon.
 The explanation of the mistake that had parted her from Jefferson Fosdick lay there.
 s.I hoped agin hope that should be able to let him know the truth some day." she said. '.I wouldn't hev no one else know I'd be larfing stock. But he had orter; owe it to him.
 She replaced the box and began to rock again.
 "I hain't felt so bad sence that old time," she said. "Oh, dear! if l could only do something something or an- other. Elf I'd found it out before they were engaged, I'd have sent her packing. It's mermaid work; there's human mer- maids worse than those that watches on the rocks for sailors. Jacintha was one of them; so was her ma before her. ought to hev knowed, ought to hev knowed; anybody else would"
 She was quite tragic in her grief, and for many days both Miss Pam and her niece were very unhappy, but they had resolved not to give Jacintha the satis- faction of knowing it.
 They allowed her the customary Yan- kee privilege of having the parlor to herself to entertain her company" in. They asked him to tea on Sunday after noons. Poor Edwina laughed much more than usual. Miss Pam was digni- fled but gracious. When at last Jacin- tha went home to Texas to prepare for her wedding, Edwina threw herself into her aunt's arms.
 "I never let him see how felt once did l, Aunt PamT' she asked.
 "Never once," said Miss Pamela. l was just as proud of you as could be. |" "Of course you know don't Care any | longer" said Edwina with a sigh. Why, of course not" said Aunt Pam | You're not beset to marry; you know you'll have all leave"
 Don't talk of leaving" cried the girl. "You are all have now" Then she set to work to make wedding pres ent for Jacintha, and. spared no pains to have it bright and pretty. and not a tear fell on the delicate silk.
 The wedding day was only four weeks off. To care for another woman's hus- band was a crime, and Edwina knew that it was her duty to forget all she had ever felt for Norman Driscoll, in ex- actly three weeks and six days. Before that time had passed she burned the dead rose she had kept because he gave it to her, tore the inscription from the volume of Moore's poems he had sent her. and gave it to one of the residents of the in valids' home who was fond of poetry. Her last act was to fill 6 French bonbon box. that he had once presented, with chocolate cream drops and give it to a neighbor's child.
 She would keep nothing sacred to Norman's memory, and she went to church with clean conscience, and said to herself that if Norman had been her idol and she had been punished for having one, she had proved that girl could be a very fierce iconoclast if she had proper principles, and what Aunt Pam called "a Christian bringin up' to begin with.
 She was glad when it was all over. The young couple, having been feted and feasted iu the brides Texan home, and afterward made the tour of Europe and spent six months in Paris, came back to Bingham and settled down at the Driscoll house. where an old housekeeper had re1gned since Nor mans mother died.
 Mrs. Driscon sent out cards for q re- ception, and Miss Pam and her niece at tended it in new costumes. Then they saw no more of each other. There was 8 fashionable set in Bingham, and al Cohasset and at Nantasket in summer time many well te do strangers. The Driscolls had all the company they wanted, and Edwina was glad not to be forced to meet Jacintha, whom, as she told her Aunt Pamela, she "despised."
 Then Miss Palmer and her niece be- gan to live the calm, old life again Young men called, for EdWina was 6 favorite. One or two showed symptoms of the tender passion, but Edwina sc verely declared that she preferred spin ster life. There was some gossip about the Drisco1ls before long. The fashion able people might make sort of pet oi Jacintha, but the plain folk spoke de cidedly about "carryings on." She flirted openly. To married woman this was not permitted in Bingham. People said that Norman Driscoll was looking un happy.
 Miss Pam blamed herself for feeling pleased when she heard this but she could not help 1t. He never would have looked unhappy if he had married Ed wina. She would not have gone gallop ing about the country with person de scribed as foreigner, with mustaches, or have rowed out alone in the moon light with "an actor from the hotel after she was married. However, : time came when Jacintha remained a home and Norman looked happy again and one morning the local paper report ed the fact that our esteemed citizen, MT Norman Driscoll, was the proud paren of 8 lovely daughter. Compliments were also paid to "the beautiful Mrs. Driscoll.
 Handsome is that handsome does, said Miss Pam.
 By the next summer the baby wal consigned to the care of housemaid and in Bingham it was said that Mrs Driscon was carrying on worse thar ever."
 Aunt Pam had been hearing some par ticulars and was endeavoring to make herself believe that she was sorry, whe1 walking idly along lonely path by tho water she came upon Norman Driscoll She tried to pass him, but he came for ward and threw himself in her path.
 'Stop," he said. II want to talk to you Miss Palmer"
 He spoke rudely, and Miss Pam drew herself up and regarded him indig nantly.
 You'll have to speak differently i