Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1896-11-20

glowing health, but there was an un-
naturally deep flush upon her cheek, and
her lips were tightly closed together
When we reached the station. the
train was already in IL. rushed to the
booking office, bought our two tickets
Il have them now, for they were never
used). seized my change and hurried
my wife Off the platform, reaching the
train just as 1t was beginning to move.
Alice hesitated.
"Get in, for goodness sakei" cried
peevishly. opening carriage door. and
then--God forgive mel gave her q
push, and You know what happened
next.
My poor wife never spoke again. but
as she lay in the waiting room, mutt
lated and dying, she just opened her
eyes and looked at mo. Then sad.
sweet smile came over her face. and
raising her arms toward me. az l bent
over her In an agony Of remorse, she
put up her dear face for II kiss, just as
she had 40 often done in happier days.
stopped down, and then--somehow
l could not give her that last kiss.
Something held me baok--a feeling of
utter shame and unworthiness. A shad
ow of pain crossed her face. the arms
fell bRok, and In moment the oppor-
tunity had passed forever and our span
OF welded life and love had ended--so.
Do you remember that awful inquest.
Harry? You were good to mo that dry.
old fellow. No one could have proved
himself truer friend
You remember that. when gave my
evidence, said that tried to assist my
wife into the carriage. Well, you know
now that was playing with the truth,
and you will probably despise me for 1t.
almost hoped that there would be
verdict of manslaughter-that / should
be sent to prison,
There is only ono thing more to tell
you. When the accident became known,
received many kind and sympathetic
letters from my friends and hers
hardly read them, for each Of them was
fresh stab to me. IF they only knew
my conscience kept saying to me. she
knows. She died cursed by my III tenn.
per, without parting kiss, and If We
meet In another world what will she
say to me or to herr
But tnerb was ono letUer bnuU ufTthttu
my attention and caused mo far more
pain than all the others put together.
IL was from the lady whose invitation
had caused our fatal quarrel. Per
haps, !" II ended, 1T may be some COM
fort to you to keep the inolosed letter
from her. received 1t after her death
probably the last she ever wrote. Z"
DEARnsT MAy-ThanIE you 80 very much for
your most kind invitation. l should dearly
love to come and 500 you again and have
good talk over old times, But Charlie cannot
we'll spare mo Just nj present, and ho ~ 40
good and kind 10 me and nice about evory-
thing that do not like to bo away when he
wants me.
We are Just on for u jnunt TO celebrate our
wedding day, and Charlie In calling for mo to
start. Your loving friend. ALICE.
That IL what she was writing while
bullied in the hall That IL what she
had written, when she silently listened
to my Riumbling on the way TO the sta
ton. Oh, tho irony Of IL all
Now you can understand. Harry, why
1t Is that take 40 long getting over my
loss. One thought. and one alone, some
times arises to comfort me. Perhaps
that last movement Of hers meant for
giveness, and-perhaps-when her at
tempt at reconciliation failed. she sent
me that letter as message from beyond
the grave. Odds and Ends.