Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1894-05-07

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crib and instantly rose to her feet. Sh'
could not pray while contemplating thi
step. Should she take it, prayer for he
would be ended forever. To know her
self to be an outcast among men was ;
condition to be dispassionately consider
ed, but to be by her own act shut ou
from God-that it was impossible t.
conceive. OF what use was she in the
world? She was dependent, ignorant
and it would seem very friendless, sinct
the people in whose love she had trusted
had failed her. Perhaps this sacrifice
was duty. Her conscience would not
support the mental effort. Thus the
struggle continued-affection, pride and
intellect arrayed against conscience. Al
dawn she still debated the question, and
then she fell asleep, only to awaken and
reconsider it.
That Sunday was one that could never
be forgotten. 1t was made up of miser-
able scenes between parents and chill
dren, husband and wife, brother and sis
ter. No ray of hope, no prospect of
change, no consolation, frightened it for
moment. At dusk the fugitive would
depart, if anything more unhappy than
when he arrived.
Late in the afternoon he found his sis
ter alone in a small library that opened
from the parlor. She had gone there to
avoid him, dreading an explanation OF
his visit
care you reading, BELIEF he asked
with hesitation.
mo. was only thinking
"Mollie tells me that you have seen
Mr. Messenger about me, Belle. What
do yon suppose will be the end of all
this? He seems inclined to mercy What
do you think?'
More than l can put into words. -
She stretched out her hands, and her
! brother held them and gazed down at
her troubled face. Jasper, can any one
else do anything for xou?'
He shook his head.
Even Messengers consideration is a
mystery to me. 1 don't know that my
coming has done Mollie any good. To
part again, knowing what is coming, is
going to kill her. If had the courage,
I'd blow out my brains. 1t would settle
all accounts 1 suppose I'll come to it
sooner or later. l cannot live thus beg
ger and outcast, listening with dread
for the steps of my pursuers. -
''You could be arrested here?"
ooh, yes"
casper. is this trick to bring you
here?'
mo Messenger is square. He will
keep his promise, Besides there is no
need of artiflce 1 cannot escape. If
Mollie had only reproached mel You
will not do it either. I think insanity
would be blessing"
Jasper, Jasper! You must try to
listen calmly to me. Suppose should
do something very wrong to save you?"
"You, Belle? What evil could you
commit that would help me? My misery
is turning your brain. ~
mo My mind is very clear. You say
Mr.. Messenger is honest. mean as re-
gardspromises. He has made me an offer.
He cannot marry me, but he will re-
place this money, put an end to these
legal proceedings and assist you in
some strange place if-if'-
Her flushed face sank against his
shoulder.
"My girl, you must be going mad!
mcSSSuSCL WOu1u uSfSI udIS Ludho YOU
such proposal. -
HE did, yesterday, in his office. I am
not crazy. 1t is all-all real. B"
my Godp'
Mr.. Barclay looked at her downcast
eyes. He sat silent, shivering, covering.
What were his thoughts? His sister
waited in vain to hear them. She threw
her arms around his neck and pressed
her lips to his cheek, murmuring:
casper, speak to me 1 can hardly
endure this suffering
why did you tell me this?" he NUT
tered hoarsely. "Think, think what a
temptation!''
81 know it, but you-you will help me
to resist it, Jasper. Say-say that I
must. :"
A deep groan escaped his lips. After
a moment he rose, put her from him and
suddenly left the room.
Miss Barclay stood passive for some
seconds, then sat down, and the room
seemed to whirl about her. What had
come to her? Could this be death? How
welcome it would bel But, no. Should
she die, what would become of Jasper,
of Mollie and the little ones? She must
overcome this weakness, this shrinking
from duty, this cowardice in facing trou-
BILE. She must find Jasper and make him
tell her what to do Should he consent
to her dishonor, he and Mollie would
certainly continue to love and cherish
her; they would never forget her sacri-
flee; they would teach their children to
love and respect. Respect? She began to
tremble at the prospect she was trying
to conjure for her own consolation.
Presently she arose, but her limbs
failed her. No doubt Jasper would seek
her again. He had gone away SO that
she could review the situation alone
But his sudden going! What did that
mean? There could be but one interpre-
tation of it. He dared not trust himself
to let her read his thoughts; he had not
the courage to express them. So this was
her brother, but he saw only an open
prison door. She pressed her hands to-
gether and waited. The minutes passed.
No one came to her. The silence was
ominous, and she grew suspicious. At
length she went in search of him. She
had suddenly thought of Mr.. Howe and
also remembered that in her anxiety she
mad 1OrgOGten TO ment1On MIN and his
profered friendship to Jasper. Itwould
be better for Jasper to hear all that had
happened during his absence.
She went to his room, and finding the
door ajar entered silently. Mrs. Barclay
was lying on a lounge near the window,
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