Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1894-05-31
AT WAR WITH HERSELF.
The Story Of WOman's AtOnement,
by Charlotte N, Braeme.
CHAPTER Xiv.

speak of him as quite the gentleman"
On this June morning, when so great
q change was to take place in his cir
cumstances, he had risen late. Miss
Danvers had sent twice to say that
breakfast was ready, and yet he did
not appear. A third tina the little
page knocked at his door-this time
the message was OF more startling
description.
"A lady is waiting to see you, Capt.
Flemyng, and she says her business Is
important"
"a lady, repeated Paul; who can it
be-"
He never even dreamed Of Leonie;
his only impression was 1t might be
some one soliciting charity--some one
about fancy fair, or bazaar, or some
thing of that kind. How little he
thought that waiting for him were the
title of Earl, and the inheritance Of
Crown eighton!
"a lady," the little page had said; so
Capt Flemyng hurriedly completed
his toilet and thea went down to the
drawing-room where the visitor await.
ed him. He saw u lady closely yelled
and wearing large traveling-cloak.
He bowed, inwardly wondering who
she was and what she wanted. Then
the yelled figure came up to him and q
faint voice murmured his name, He
started back in surprise.
"Leonie," he cried. Great heavens.
what has happened, what has brought
you here?" He saw then that she held
in her hands a paper packet. She
placed it in his,
Take this, Paul, " she said, simply;
at is yours"
He took it, wonderingly, and then
she threw back her veil and gave
great gasping sigh as OF one who
is relieved of a dea lily burden. He
looked at the beautiful colorless face,
with its strange expression Of leace
after a storm.
What does it mean, Leonie?" he
asked. you astonish me-stay, you
shall not speak one word until you have
taken something. You look so i'll, my
darling"
Still holding the packet in his hand,
never looking to see what it was, he
led her to the little couch and made
her sit down, and then he poured out q
glass Of wine. She would have refused
it, but he told her he would net listen
to her until she had drunk it.
The generous wine brought back a
tinge of color to the sweet face. 1t was
all sweet now; that torrents OF tears
seemed to have washed away the
former pride, hardness, and GOODNESS
forever He was struck by the soft
ened beauty, and bent down to touch
the hite brow with his lips, but she
shrank from him as she had never done
before.
"Do not do that Paul, until you have
heard what | am here to say, Look at
what is written on the document have
given to YOU"
He looked and saw
"The last will and testament of Uric,
Earl of Charnleigh.
"Leonie, he cried, what does this
mean?"
But she had risen from the little
couch and was kneeling at his feet. He
cried out again when he saw that; he
tried to raise her, but she bent her
head in lowliest humility.
Listen, Paul--listen to me. an
worthy only to kneel here, not to stand
by your side, dear; for have willfully
robbed you, knowing that all had was
yours"
Robbed mel" he exclaimed. "What
can you mean, Leonie?"
"Read that will, and you will under
stand"
He opened the document and as he
read murmur of wonder that sounded
almost like regret came from his lips
Mine, he said-"it is not possible
Mine, Leonie, and not yours"
YES; have robbed you, Paul.
found this will long months ago, and
hid it. | came down to Crown Leigh
ton this morning purposely to destroy
it, never intending to give to you wha'
is YOUR own, but could not do it
Heaven was merciful to mel could no
do it,"
He seemed quite bewildered
81 do not understand, Leonie. Wha
is it you say? Explain to me clearly
YOU have startled me-"
Kneeling there, she told him the
whole history OF her sin-from the frs
moment when she found the will o.
the eyentful night Of the charades t
this, when, humbled and repentaut, sh
came to confess the truth to him. Sh
did not spare herself; she told hir
how, ore by ore, she had discarded he
own self-respect, her love, her honor
her hopes of Heaven. She did no
)are herself; she did not hide fror
him one single incident Of her wrong
doing
! 1T was terrible temptation, Paul,
she said, and l yielded to it. l hav
not enc excuse to offer. repent OF m
sin now, but that will make it none tn
less heinous."
Paul sat like man suddenly berel
of his senses, unable to speak, unabl
even to think clearly.
81 am dazed, Leonie," he said, at las
81 cannot understand your words eve
yet. 49, .o,a g
have deceived you in every way.
have kept this will back from you, tr,
inc to compromise with my conscience
irving to make myself believe that II
married you it would be the same =
would not matter which had the inhe
itance, you or l.
He tried to speak, but she went
hurriedly- -,
Bertram Gordon; and the create
wrong | could have done would hay
been to marry you, for love Bertha
with all my hearts love.
"Was it only to be Countess OF Char
leigh that you promised to marry me
co1lU