Rocky Ford enterprise., 1897-04-22
SE kE
BY B.C.FXRJEON.


If you had gone boldly into her house
and spoken to her plainly. all this mis-
cry, all this torture. might have been
avoided. But you had condemned her
In your heart from the first, and were
only too willing to believe all the bad
things that were said of her. You, a
woman who. for my sake, II not for
her own, should have defended her. a
young and inexperienced girl. from the
malicious tongues Of slanderers and
liars. who were striking at my life and
my happiness, sided with them against
her, and had no word to speak in her
defense.
What could have been in Mabel's
mind on that happy Christmas night,
three years ago, to cause her to win
from me sacred pledge of trustful-
ness In her faith and love. l cannot
with certainty say: but some shadow
OF fear was upon her. Perhaps she
suspected you were not her friend; per-
haps, with the knowledge that her
own mother was against me. she dread
ed that circumstances might occur in
my absence to cause breach between
us. and she wished to strengthen both
herself and me. Anyway. she drew the
pledge from me. and she gave me hers.
and l believe in her faithfulness with
all my soul. The harder task Of faith
fulness is yours she said. as she kissed
me; and she told me that while was
absent from her she would have three
talismans with her-hope, faith and
love. 1 should never doubt she said.
My love for you and faith in you have
become part OF my life.' Listen now
to the words spoke to her; they are
craven on my heart: 'Henceforth this
good season holds a more sacred place
In my heart because 1t has brought me
the priceless blessing OF your love: be-
cause. also, of the lesson II has taught
me. the lesson Of faith. to live forever
undImmed in my SOUL Well, whis-
pering these words to her from my
heart OF hearts. shall l. on this ami
versary Of that happy night. bitter as
1t is to me. prove them. even by the
shadow OF suspicion. to be false? No.
Henceforth have but one task before
me. When that IL done. and not till
then, you and !, mother. shall meet
again.
What are you going to do. Amos?'
II am going to act toward my wife
and child us my father. Amos Beecroft,
would have acted toward You and yours
had you been slandered In his absence
as my wife has been in mine. I will
never put foot inside this cottage again
until find her; and when she is be-
fore you, and you are face to face, you
shall ask her pardon. for the wrong
you have done her"
II ask her pardon now! sobbed my
mother. IL have been weak and
wrong-I see It, ! ought to have done
as you said. No. no. Amos: do not
leave me without word OF pity and
forgiveness! As | kneel TO you I will
kneeI to her. my son!" Her tears
choked her utterance.
God forgive you for what you have
done!" answered. not looking at the
PROSTATE form at my feet. "and send
comfort 10 us both. go away tonight
n crushed and desolate man. and there
will henceforth be no light in my life
Till have found my wife and child!''
Thus In the blindness OF my grief
spoke. throwing, In my unreason, all
the blame upon my old mother: and
as I stepped out into the cold and win
try night. her mournful cry. "Oh, Amos.
my son!" crept after me like n wailing
wind. I knew that ship was lying at
Gravesend ready to sail for Australia,
and for that I was bent. trudged
doggedly through the snow. hating
hut once. outside house in which, not
withstanding the lateness OF the
night. merry making was going on.
What caused me to pause was wom-
ans voice singing the very song my
wife had sung on our wedding night:
Though friends be Gliding.
And waves dividing,
in faith abiding,
I'll still be true:
And I'll pray for thee.
On the stormy ocean,
In deep devotion,
That's what I'll do"
The hot tears this reminiscence
forced from me relieved me somewhat: I:
but a gnawing pain was Mt my heart
Ms I repeated the words "1n faith abid-
ing I'll still be true" The tone In
which my mother had informed me
that Mabel did not go away alone had
haunted me from the moment the
words were spoken. and strovc In
vain to deaden the poisonous thoughts
they engendered. The two themes, In
faith abiding. I'll still be true" and
MIR. Drucc. your enemy. Is with Ma
bell" came alternately to my mind.
mocking each other and adding to my
misery.
In two days | was again on the sea.
on my way to Australia.
CHAPTER XIII.
dN RING scenes