The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1896-05-21

"Lydia, you cannot possibly wish fov
all the happiness that is owed you"
She did not answer directly, but lift.
ing the piece of paper from her lap
she scanned it with drawn brows and
puckered mouth. Presently she dropped
it with q sigh.
"Dick, if could be happy-absolute-
~, entirely happy, just for so long asout
journeyings are to last, I think could
die content. Oh! don't look SO
shocked" she cried, stretching pretty,
pleading hands out to him. Il do not
want to debut am afraid to wish
to live. All! dearest, you would under
stand me better if you knew what the
word life has meant to me-"
She rose from her seat, and crossing
the fur rug sank down at Dick Mey
nell's feet and pillowed her fair head
on his knee.
II want to tell you, Dick, for the
first time, for the last time, what my
past life has been to me. Do not stop
me; I feel I must speak of it before
I bury it out of sight, out of remen'-
brance forever"
She took his hand in hers, and as she
spoke on, patted and smoothed and
kissed it as loving women will.
II was unwelcome when was born.
My father and mother openly avowed
their dislike for children, and neither
ever forgave the other for the addition
TO their family. In these days they were
rich, but was left to servants and gov
ernesses who treated me as they pleased.
was IA, and my parents were almost
| strangers to me, when the financial
crash came which dragged my father 8
lame, with scores of others, through the
mire of all England. Poverty and the
narrowness of our new home brought
me for the first time into daily and
hourly contact with my parents Oh!
Dick. it was shameful-terrible to live
with two people who never met without
reproaches, scorn and contempt; who
never parted without tears and oaths.
One day. wonder whether anything
even your love-will wipe out that hid
eous recollection-my father struck my
mother. That night she left him"
Like frightened child, pale-cheeked
and trembling, Lydia chung to her lover.
Darling, beseech you not to distress
yourself by recalling the wretched
past" he cried.
But she persisted, saying it was for
the last time, for ever.
II never saw her again, but the gossip
of the house filtered to my ears. and the
great divorce case between Lord and
Lady NIardale was too much whispered
about for me not to hear it. Twas left
on my fathers hands, and for a year
knew at least measure of peace. But
little as he ever saw of me, much as he
neglected me, I suppose was him
drance in his life, or perhaps too keen
reminder of my mother. One day-it
was my birthday, l was 16-he told me
he was going to give me husband. I
scarcely remonstrated-l was too ig-
norant for one thing-and in vague
way, too eager to grasp at possible hap
piness for another. Twas married to Mr..
Werner q month later"
Her voice died away, lost in the sea
of recollections which the four years of
her married life had let loose upon her.
"Don't speak Of him, LYDIA cried
Dick Meynell, II cannot bearit
But she neither heard nor headed her
lovers words. As in a dream, with
large eyes fixed upon the blazing fire,
and lips that scarcely stirred, she ranor
bled on.
ooh! the horror of that hideous mar
rage. The Moloch that devoured chill
dren was more merciful than the Satyr
who in human guise kills all that is best
and purest in girlhood. For two years
nv life was q torture" she kissed
Dicks hand 20 times, as though in miti-
CATION of her words-"then one day
courage came to me aud the dim recol-
lection of a connection of my mother who
might help he. 1t was to him, Sir Geof-
frey Thorp, I went. How kind he was.
It was his hand that opened to me ALT
tie way the door of freedom, and which
gained for me the separation which gave
me time to regain some OF. my broken
self-respect."
Her voice changed from it's low, sad
key, and she went on brightly, each
word ringing gayer through the warm,
violet-scented atmosphere.
"Then one day, Sir Godfrey and his
dear wife came to me with the keys of
my liberty in their hands. Ny wretched
husband had given me the final proof of
his sin. Do you know, Dick, that shame
full wrong which is the death knel to
the love and happiness of most women,
was veritable joy bell to me. Oh!
dearest, hope am not very bad so to
rejoice in another's sin, but it was just
ut that time-I first met you"
She blushed deliciously over her con-
fession.
1.-THE rest you know. The divorce was
easy enough-he never even attempted
to defend himself. wonder why Sir
Godfrey always mistrusted that lack
OF Defense"
"But was not your-Mr. Vernon out OF
England when the case came on?''
queried Dick, forced against his will to
take interest in the business he hated
most in the world.
II think So, said Lydia "At any rate
he neither, appeared nor was he repre-