The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1893-05-12

the host. ''Did you notice The big
villa just al the turn of the road I
That's his-buill last April, houeh
he's been with us nearly Two
years. | have been here myself
three years"
"Yes," said Denton, thoughtful
ly, "he looks like a prosperous
man."
"lndeed he is, and as fine gen.
tleman as ever lived. He is ii
wealthy land owner, and has divi-
dends from the Pennsylvania
mines also. Aud no one but him
sell 10 spend The money that
comes rolling ln."
"Eh !! then he is not married y
"No, but he should be and would
be il The shadow of a scOundrel
did not stand between. say
shadow, for The man himself has
been away these seven years, but
his wife don't know whether she
Is a widow or not. But here, Pm
saying too much about"
Never mind, | know Of whom
you are speaking. Eve heard Oi
WilIred Denton and his folly"
"Folly, sir? 1t was downright
crime to drag a woman down 10
his own mean level, and then de.
sert her. Yet they say he WASN'T
wholly bad, and that's why folks
think he is dead; they say he
would have sent word If he ls
alive, and for one would like u
see the woman he left find some
happiness AT last"
"You think she would marry
this Richard Noble il she knew
her husband was deady asked
Wlllred.
"Every one says So. l wouldn't
be surprised if she did anyway
the law will tree her, and he j.
nothing to her now-why should
she not I"
"True, true, why shouldn't
shey" mnttered Denton, rising.
He went out into The sunshine
but his heart was wrapt in deeper
darkness than ever before.
Mabel had forgotten him; news
of his death would be welcome lt
| her; she loved another, and hi,
, miserable self Stood between hel
! and happiness. He had reformed
he had repen,ed, but he had come
: back too late!
: 1t was early twilight when he re
| turned To The hotel, and some I'M
pulse led him by way of the new
: villa.
Suddenly he heard voices, ant
drew near the hedge.
} Three persons passed him, ant
S WllIred Denton could scarcely re
press cry.
Beside The man he had seen a
= the hotel was a fair, slender wo
=, man, and cllnging to her hand
| golden-haired girl. Ills wife am
. child!
lie could trace Mabel's delicat
+, beauty in The youthful face, and
! great longing came over him I
D rush forward and clasp the liltl
form 10 his throbhing heart.
; Mabel was looking up into he
:, companions face with a brigh
S smile, and there was somethn
: almost lover,llke in The way h
bent toward her, with his eyes fiy
e cd lenderly on her pale, pretl
| face.
0 Wilfred Denton followed then
keeping back in the shadows.
| A couple OF the town peopl
passed bywith a glance at The Two
u but they scarcely noticed til
0 slouching figure behind.
"She could be Mrs. Noble II
|' morrow, and a fine thing it woul
). be for her," sad one as they pas
u ell Denton. 81 guess it, only
g matter of time, anyway, for il
e easy nowadays to"
s The man heard no more; Il
e knew what they meant.
u 81 the subject was freely dl
u cussed in the village-so it mu,
be true.
e He walked On behind his vii
e and the man who loved her, whoi
! she loved aud would marry it sh
q could free herself from the horr
bic past.
. Wilfred Denton went to his ROOT
g in The h0lel and sat down befol
:, the window where the evenin
= breeze cuuld Ian his heated broy
u II might have known" he mu
!. tered. "Il's almost like En0c
!. y Arden over again. What can
p do? Death never comes to lhos
i; who desire il. | cannot appe;
! before her now. will go away
y. - M | must see her once and sa
g good bye. l will tell her TO see
"a her freedom, but | would like h,
- to know first how | have live
II these seven years-hOw | despai
ed at first and could not thro
! inside the chains Of vice; then
IS IS last my will prevailed and ros