Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1894-01-01

wretched being she now was. Wlareve-
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 so rudely speaking it was
evident that her heart was gradually
softening perhaps a little comforted by
the sight Of those who had always shown
her kindness. Poor, desolate Maud! 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 it 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 IA
theirs crimes, had driven her from him
into this rash marriage, thinking that
with Varney's wealth she could close her
heart against that love.
Vain thought! Every day by contrast
she had loved the nobler 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 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 Ian
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 a 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 go 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 if 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 see her again.
The day before Dunbar and George
left Mrs. Newton received grateful let
ter from Mrs. Varney, inclosing one for
Estella, with the request that the colonel
would carry it to her. He did SO and
had the satisfaction Of learning that it
contained confession Of her own doings
and free forgiveness of Estellas sins to-
ward herself, with the assurance that
she was determined to try to lead bet
ter life. She spoke tenderly of Mr.. New
tons family and hoped to be still remem-
bered by them. This letter was great
JOY to Estella, who died few days after,
leaving Rose comforted with the hope
that the poor girls iniquities had been
hardened and her sins blotted out.