The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1894-01-06
'pYRehTEo 8Y 6opEY- PUBLISHING Co. T6q3..

mere ner oIu rriends sougnG ner. 1re
reader can easily imagine from their in
sight into Mrs. Varney's character that
Mr.. and Mrs. Newton were coldly IL not
rudely received. It was maddening to
her proud spirit that these whose coun-
sci she had despised should now find her
so far beneath the position she then
aimed at. When Mr.. Newton apologized
for calling by saying he had some in
formation to communicate respecting
her eldest sister, she positively refused
to hear a word, charging Estella with
the ruin Of all the hopes she had ever
nourished, saying that but for her
mother and sister, long before her fa-
theirs death, she might have been trans
ferred to peaceful, happy home, bless-
ing and being blessed, instead of the
wretched being she now was. Whatever
Estella had suffered or was suffering,
whatever her fate might be, she richly
deserved all that could befall her, and
from herself Estella need expect no pity.
Even while 30 rudely speaking it was
evident that her heart was gradually
softening- perhaps little comforted by
the sight Of those who had always shown
. her kindness. Poor, desolate Maudi A
gentle word, a kindly voice she had sell
dom heard since she so abruptly left these
same friends on the morning of her i'll
fated marriage.
Mrs. Newton saw that 1t was best to
wait patiently till the overburdened
heart had had time to pour out the wild,
vengeful feelings it had so long harbored.
All self control seemed swept away, and
in her ravings-for truly it was little
less-it was evident she had never for
gotten her early love. Her pride, the
shame of Sherwood's knowing of her fa-
ther's crimes, had driven her from him
into this rash marriage, thinking that
with Narneys wealth she could close her
heart against that love.
Vain thought Every day by contrast
she had loved the nobier nature that
might have been hers more fondly in
stead of forgetting, and hardly conscious
Of the sin had begun to look forward to
the time when her husband s death should
leave her q rich widow as one more
chance to win back her former lover, for
getting that her whole course, so public
ly manifested, must have destroyed all
Sherwood's respect and love. When at
length conscious that her imprudent lam
guage had revealed all this to her friends
with her, for moment she was greatly
shocked and alarmed, but suddenly all
pride forsook her, and she burst into
wild, hysterical weeping.
Mrs. Newton tenderly soothed her, and
when exhausted by the struggle she
quietly sobbed with her friends arm low
ingly around her. Then they quietly
led the conversation back to Estella.
Seeing indications of another outbreak,
Mr.. Newton beckoned Dunbar from the
carriage, and in few impressive words
he narrated his meeting with Estella,
sick, starving and deserted.
Before he had concluded Maud was
again weeping, but softer, more unself- |
ish, more human tears than before. |
Eustace urged her to 60 with him and |
see her sister and be reconciled before |
her death. To this she would not con-
sent, but the violence of her anger had |
passed, and when, hoping il left to think |
alone She might relent, Mrs. Newton rose |
to leave the poor child cordially thanked |
her for her kindness and expressed a !
hope that she might sec her again.
The day before Dunbar and George
left Mrs. Newton received q grateful let t
ter from Mira. Varney, inclosing one for
Estella, with the request that the colonel I
would carry it to her. He did SO and |
had the satisfaction of learning that it 7
contained confession of her own doings
and free forgiveness of Estella's sins to- |
ward herself, with the assurance TINT |
she was determined to try to lead bet |
ter life She spoke tenderly of Mr.. New |
toms family and hoped to be still remem- |
bered by them. This letter was n great !
JOY to Estella, who died few days after, |
leaving Rose comforted with the hope /
that the poor girls iniquities had been |
pardoned and her sins blotted out.