Rocky Ford enterprise., 1897-06-24


pressed in my features caused her to
pause.
1T was I whom you saw" said. Il
was saved by miracle almost"
II. too. was saved" she sobbed. But
scarcely know how. After you dis
appeared from me, found myself with
two men on a rock, where we fingered
miserably till, by Gods mercy, we
were rescued. But I will tell'yo all
by-and-by. Amos. | have suffered
much-oh. so much! Rave you no
word of love for me. after all these
years of misery?"
She chung to me. and would have
embraced me, but lung her from me
with bitter laugh.
What would you have said to Mr..
Druce?" | cried snvagely. 'if he stood
before you instead of me? You be-
lieved me to be dead! So did | be-
lleve you to be-and hoped 1t. ay, hop
ed it! A new misery has come into my
life, when l vainly hoped that my
troubles were at an end. Love for
you! You killed love. and poisoned my
heart to you years and years ago, when
then, cherished you in my heart of
hearts. and was true and faithful to
you. us l vowed to be. But you y"
My passion and my grief almost
choked me: but II had not paused
from that cause. Mabel's attitude
would have arrested further speech.
She had risen from her feet. and was
now standing by the table. Her trem-
bling lips denoted that she needed
some support.
"And you believe the stories that
we're circulated about me?" she eX-
claimed; in a tone Of mingled pride
and despair. "You believe"
II believe what know to be true
I said, interrupting her. II have
heard and discovered enough. and wish
to hear no more. Had l been told 1t
was your face l should have seen to-
night when I entered this house.
would have flown from 1t as from
pestilence. No words! l tell you again
l will hear nothing further. But came
here for n purpose: and for my moth
er's sake. will ask you II she lives
and II you know where she is to be
found"
"She lives" replied Mabel, family;
land l know where she is to be
found"
Thank God for that" I exclaimed.
"You will refuse. l suppose, to tell
me where to seek for her."
She was not strong enough to
speak. With heaving bosom and
clenched hands she directed me to the
table by look. Following her gaze,
I saw an envelope on the table. and
written on 1t my mothers name and
the addres of n public house.
Can l take this?" l asked.
She nodded, but made no further
sign.
There was something heavy in the
envelope. l tore 1t open, and took
from it a small piece Of silver and a
few copper coins, and flung them on
the table. In the blindness of my
passion, did not stop to trace the
connection between the addressed en-
yelope and the money inclosed.
Before CO." l said, with my hand
on the handle Of the door, Il will tell
you, as is my duty. what you may
II
are poor; have money. What 1t is
incumbent upon me to do. as your un-
happy husband, l will debut not for
love. I live in the old cottage. But
do mt come yourself, for I will not
look upon your face. Write or send,
saying what you require and demand.
and will forward it to you. l recog-
nize your claim upon me as my wife in
the eye of the law. You may not know
that your lover, Mr.. Druce, who sailed
with you in The Rising Sun"-a look
of amazement flushed into her eyes.
but 1 was in no mood to interpret
signs-"is dead. He was saved, with
myself and others, in a boat, which
enabled US to reach the shelter of an
island, where we lived until we were
rescued a few months ago. He died
there, a natural death, saving my soul
from the commission of crime For
had l seen him, and recognized him,
in life. should have killed him."
God forgive you. Amos Beecroft,"
she murmured, with parched lips, for
the base and sinful thoughts that
would have led you to the crime!"
l need forgiveness, but not for
that. Another thing. Your child"
my child! Oh God! Yes. yes!" 1t
was the mother speaking now, not the
woman.
Lies buried in that lonely island.
The poor boy died in my arms"
Am I dreaming, or am I mad?" she
muttered, with dazed look. "The
poor boy died in your arms!"
And now have but this to say: Az
ter we had found refuge in the island,
we happily saved from death a little
girl, who, in our exile. grew into fair
womanhood. She is young and pure
and good; and l have adopted her as
my daughter. 1t is for her 1 live. for
l love her as my own; and it is for
her sake that l forbid you to come
to me. She does not know the partic-
ulars of my unhappy history-she does
not know that my wife betrayed me.
and played me false. The story Is too
shameful for my Pearl to hear. and l
would save her from the contamination
of your presence"
She gave wild scream
"Your-Pearl Pearl! Saved-from-
death!" she CRIED lettering toward me
with wild, appealing motion of her
trembling hands.
But l waited to hear no more.