The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1895-01-02

cred my life.
She made no answer, but lay back
among the cushions with her eyes still
fixed upon him.
"Why do you not speak:"
because you are right, James. I
have treated you cruelty, shamefully,
but it is not as bad as you think. -
"You fed with De Horta~ -
'tNo; I did not. At the last moment
nv better nature prevailed. He went
alone. But Twas ashamed to come back
after what I had written to you. / could
not face you. I took passage alone to
England under a new name, and here |
have lived ever since. It seemed to me
that was beginning life again. knew
that you thought was drowned. Who
could have dreamed that fate would
throw Us together again? When the
professor asked me- She stopped and
gave gasp for breath.
ssYou are faint" said the professor.
"Keep the head low. 1t aids the cere-
bral circulation. He fatSened down the
cushion. II am sorry to leave you,
O'Brien, but have my class duties to
look to. Possibly I may find you here
when I return. With a grim and rigid
face be strobe out Of the room. Not one
of the 800 students who listened to his
lecture saw any change III his manner
and appearance or could have guessed
that tie austere gentleman in front OF
them had found out at last how hard 1t
is to rise above ores humanity. TIE
lecture over, he performed bis routine
duties in the laboratory ard then drove
back to his own house. lie did rot cn-
ter by the front door, but passed through
the garden to the folding glass easement
which led cut OF the morning rcocl. As
he approached he heard his wiic's voice
and O'Brien's in loud and animated
talk. He paused among the rosebushcs,
uncertain whether to interrupt them or
not Nothing was further from his na-
ture than to play the eavesdropper, but
as ne stood, still hesitating, words fell
upon his ears which struck him rigid
and motionless.
''You are still my wife, jimmy, said
O'Brien. 81 forgive you from the bot
tom of my heart. I love you, and have
never ceased to love you, though you
had forgotten me. -
"No, James; my heart was always IN
Melbourne. have always been yours.
1 thought that it was better for you that
I should seem to be dead. "
s'You must choose between US now,
Jimmy. If you determine to remain
here, I shall not open my lips. There
shall be no scandal If, on the other
hand, you come with me, it's little l
care about the worlds opinion. Perhaps
I am as much to blame as you. Thought
too much of my work and too little OF
my wife. .
The professor heard the cooing, ca
ressing laugh which he knew so we'll.
II shall go with you, James, she
said.
land the professor:''
'sThe poor professor! But he will not
mind much, James. He has no heart. .
eve must tell him our resolution. .
'<Therc is 10 need said Professor
AiHslie Grey, stepping III through the
open easement. II have overheard the
latter part Of Your conversation. hesi-
tated to interrupt you before You came
to q conclusion. +"
O'Brien stretched out his hand and
took that Of the woman They stood TO-
eether with the sunshine Oh their faces.
The professor stood on the easement
with his hands behind his back, and his
long black shadow fell between them.
You have come to a wise decision,
said he. go back to Australia together
and let what has passed be blotted out
Of your lives. -
But you = YOU = stainmered
O'Brien.
The professor waved his hand.
.sNever trouDle about ne, he said.
The woman gave q gasring Cry.
What can I do or say" she walled.
How could ! have forcseen this: l
thought my Old life ewas dead, but it has
come back again, with al its hopes and
It's desires What can ! say to you,
Ai.lslie: I have brought shame and dis
Grace upon worthy nan. I have blasted
vour life How you must hate and
loatAe lie, l wish TO God that I had
never been born.
q neither hate ror loathe you, Jean
nette, " said the professor quietly.
You are wrong IL regretting yoar
birth, for you have q worthy mission
before you il aiding the life work of a
man vEo has shown himself capable OF
the highest order CT scientific research.
I cannot with justice blame you per-
sorallY for what has occurred. How far
the individual monad IS to be held re-
sponsible for hereditary and ingrained
tendencies is q question upon which
science has rot yet sad her last word .
He stood with MS finger tips touching
and his body inclined as one who IS
gravely cxporndinS difficult and i'm
personal subject. O'Brien had stepped
forward to say something, but the 9th
te;.,,.l, o,,1 ,,,oo-,.,. fr,,yo tb.