Crawford avalanche., 1895-07-11
ONE W0MgA's LOVE.
BY JESSIE FORSYTH CLINE.

BY JESSIE FORSYTH CLINE.
"You are free, my darling, as free
as / am innocent. The law detains
me, but there is no law which binds
you to convict husband. Remem-
ber, Elizabeth, you are free. I"
20, Herbert! No, no, l can never
be free in this world or in the next
never freed from my great love for
you"
Then you do love me. in spite of
all?" he entreated, raising her face
that he might read her eyes.
Her answer was to catch his hands
in both her own and press her lips
tenderly, passionately, upon each
broad palm.
Elizabeth, il you indeed love me,
say the words, Herbert. l believe
you limo cent. he begged.
But his own heart. beating away
the seconds was oil he heard Final
ly he spoke again. "You do not
care for me? What is love without
faith? My God, thou hast indeed
afflicted me! / thought the jurors
bloodhounds because they did not be-
lieve my testimony, but il my wife
doubts-"he could not finish, but
sank into a chair, letting his head
fall upon his chest, his W hole atti-
tude one of despair.
Herbert, my husband, / did not
say believed you guilty" sobbed
Elizabeth, throwing her arm around
his great form and pressing him to
her breast.
Herbert Norton abandoned himself
to her endearments as he had to his
despail
Poor little wife," he said, drawing
her to his knee. 'It is so much harder
for you than it would be If you trust.
ed me as trust you. Do you think,
darling, il / saw you do dishonor-
able deed ! should believe my own
eyes? No. / should say, My facul-
ties are playing me false, not Eliza
beth. / should doubt my reason
before / could my wife"
stop, stop, Herbert. / cannot
bear it. do not believe you guilty,
and yet"
'You are tender judge convince d
against your will" interrupted TIN c
man, ''and l forgive you Some time
you will know that am innocent, il
it is not until the Judgment day.
"Yes, my love. believe you now.
have been mad. You are innocent !!
How could my faith have been
shaken for one moment?"
Mamma, are you gong out to-
day? o surely you are not. 1 do so
hate these Fridays; l thought you
would surely stay at home to-day.
See how it rains-and you know the
umbrella is no better than a sieve.
If it rained cats and dogs it might
be little protection, but anything
smaller than kitten would find it
easy getting through that worn COW
ering."
The speaker was pretty girl oi
about Is. She stood with her arms
thrown affectionately around her
mothers neck.
where do you 60 every Friday,
mamma? Cannot l go in your place
and carry the basket? 1t is such q
big basket. and you are so small
What big appetites the family must
have, to whom you take the food &c
regularly" she laughed. "Tell Inc
about them, mother, dear.
With a tender kiss the mother
drew herself away and quietly pre-
pared for a rainy day walk.
my Friday visits are not happy
occasions, dear" she said, land dc
not want to bring unhappiness, even
the unhappiness Of others into your
life so early. Some day you shall
come with me-"
You have already made me un.
happy, mamma, by not letting me
share your grief. know how miser
able something makes you every Fri.
day. You 60 out looking quit,
bright and fresh, but you come back
oh, so haggard."
DO look fresh, really, when
start on my errand, dear?" questioned
the slight. pale faced woman eagerly
That IS we'll, and reminds me that
! want you to pick me that new
blown rose. i am glad il can take
little sunshine into the gloom sur
rounding these poor people,"
The girl picked the rose from th'
plant in the window and, lifting tht
cover OF the basket, which stood upor
the table, placed it on the SNOWY
linen which hid the viands.
mo, dear" demonstrated he
mother; put it on my coat, righ
here. i want to wear it"
How queer you are, mamma,
exclaimed Bessie. II believe your,
getting vain; but how out o
place flower looks on that common
old coat"
'It Is pity more roses do. no
bloom in unexpected places, dear.
Bessie stood at the window ant
watched her mother Until she 1isap
peared down the road. There wer
tears in her eyes two large drops fel
upon the back OF the cat, which So
upon the window ledge.
Pussy rubbed her soft sides agains
her mistress and purred sympathet
ically.