Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1896-11-19

ing my father.
And 1 can give you no explanation
of them now; am even here in secret,
I must see you only in secret. and you
must give me your word of honor never
to mention this meeting. or even men.
ton the fact of my return to England"
Not even to my mother!"
Not even to her; least of all to herr
alas. alas, my father, do you hate
her SOP
Hate her?-hate your mother-hate
Athenie-hate-oh, heaven. Alma!-no,
/ do not hate her: on the contrary"
Here his voice broke down. and rails
ing his cloak he veiled his agitated
face in its folds.
ALAS. alas, my father! what horror
was it that so suddenly burst asunde1
all ties of affection between you?
Father-father, answer me!-tell me
that it was not her fault, not my moth
er's faultv'
He dropped the fold of the cloak
from his face, and looking for the first
time angrily upon his daughter, de-
manded sternly:
why should you dare to ask if your
mother was in fault?"
ALAS. l know not. beg your par
don and hers. My short life has been
made desert by this mystery, father,
and vet for myself have never once
complained; but when 1 know that her
life is one prolonged agony, and now
see the agony stamped upon your brow,
I become half crazy, and thinl-I know
not what
II will answer your question. unhap-
py girl; and assure you, in the presence
OF high heaven that our violent part
ing was not caused by your mothers
fault. A purer sweeter, noDler woman
than your mother never lived,' said
Hollis Elverton, earnestly.
"Oh. God, l thank thee-I thank thee
Il thank thee for that" cried Alma, in
a thrilling voice that betrayed how
heavy had been the burden Of doubt
that rested on her mind, and how in
effable was the sense of relief now that
it was lifted Off.
You are satisfied?' inquired Elver-
ton.
FOR her. oh, yes; but oh, my father,
tell me-this separation was not your
fault either?" she cried, clasping her
hands and gazing with imploring eyes
into his face.
mo, nor my fault either, Alma; 7
swear it to you, by all my hopes
of heaven! We loved each other
as man and woman seldom love
in this world" replied Elverton,
in a hollow voice; I'VE severed, and
until the judgment day it may never
be known why"
You loved each other so deyotedly;
you married publicly, with the bless
ings Of all your friends; you came hith-
err to your beautiful home. and in one
month, i'll the very perfection of your
happiness, your union was shattered
as if by a thunderbolt from heaven.
You parted; oh, my father, was that
well?'
sit was well.' he answered, solemn
ly.
She looked into the stern sorrow of
his face, and read there that, in the
simple words of his reply he had ut
tered some awful truth. Again her
heart yearned towards her father with
inextinguishable love. She extended
her arms and advanced towards him
with imploring looks. But he waved
her off, saying, in plying tones:
Come no nearer, unhappy girl! Be
tween you and me there is Il great gulf
fixed! Hark! Some one approaches!
l must leave you now! Goodnight
nay, stop one moment! l must see
you again at this hour tomorrow. Ill
the meantime, drop no hint of my
presence in England"
None; 1 will keep your secret. my
father" replied Alma, as Hollis Ever
ton, waving adieu. disappeared in the
coVe:ts Of the wood.