The Dupuyer acantha. [volume] (Dupuyer, Mont.) 1894-1904, 1896-01-16

of love from another beside her hus-
band. Gladly would she have welconl-
ed the bolt of death; she would even
have met Adolph's gaze and revealed
all the truth. But Albert. enfeebleu
by severe illness as well as shattered
In intellect by his great despair. had
less fortitude or a deeper conscious
ness of wrong. II cannot-will not
meet him." he exclaimed in agony
'let me tiy!' She pointed to the door
which led into the little garden in the
real of their little cottage. and in a
moment he rushed through it.. Sick
at heart ard trembling in every nerve
fibe'. BERTHA unfastened The door at
which her husband waited; she had
neither strength nor courage to open
it: and 4Adolph, who had fallen into
one of his habitual reveries. remained
for some minutes without. Alas! when
he did enter. his eye had "A fearful
brightness and his voice. preternat-
Ula!ly calm. had n %sternness which
might we'll appall a holder and loftier
spirit than that of the wretched being
before him.
"Rertha.' and she started as the
sepulchral sound fell upon her intent
ear, "by Il single act of folly o have
destroyed your future peace inc mine.
| was standing idly at the door but
now. when my attention was attracted
by Il rushing noise in the garden. l
looked and saw the friend of your
childhood, whom you once introduced
TO me. fling himself madly from the in
closure and fly as If in terror. His
flight was marked throughout by a
band of ~reprobate students who hap
peDed to be passing. who saw me
standing as if in waiting at the door.
ard who instantly set up n shout of
merriment and derisiOn. Tomorrow
your name will be the Jest of every
vile heart and s%candalous tongue in
GCttingen! How could you so distrust
and mistake me as to deem me capa-
bic of vulgar Suspicion-as TO resort
to this wretched and ruinous subter-
fuge to conceal from me the visit of
II whom as your friend | would
He ceased. for she had fallen heavily
and senselesS on the floor. BY the ap-
plication of every restorative she was
at length awakened to consciousness,
but not to the clear light of reason.
Her mind wandered; the past and the
present, the absent and the near, wore
blended in ineXtricable confusion, and
Adolph could only understand that his
pltSCLNS was lbtiIltu W HUI, duu tIlut
she entreated him to retire and leave
her to compose her troubled thoughts.
He Obeyed, but not without misgiv-
ings; slumber vas out of the question,
and he proceeded to his little study
and was SOC immersed, so far as it
was possible at such a time even for
him to be, in the perusal of a favorite
volume. An hour passed; he found
that he was but deceiving himself; the
words burned and danced before his
eyes. but no corresponding images
were imprinted on his brain; he be-
came alarmed at the profound silence
maintained by Bertha; swiftly he re-
visited her apartment, but to find it
vacant; he called, but received no re-
ply. Slowly and in agony wore away
the remaining hours of night; the
morning dawned but to confirm his
worst forebodings. Distracted, hope
less. and burning with shame and con.
triton, she had stolen noiselessly from
the home which by a venial but fatal
error she had disgraced. and rushed
wildly to a neighboring river; a plunge
a moments struggle, a gurgling
choking sound, and all was over. A
lowly grave in a secluded dell. a weep
ing willow and a humble stone mark
the earthly rest of the hapless victim
of a rash, misguided union.