Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1897-03-31
CHAPTER Zy-fConttnued.,
VOL. III.

CHAPTER NN.-(Continued.t
Molly's fatal answer, inclosing Stella's
letter. arrived at Torresmuir. and these
letters Ralph handed to his brotherin-
law That night when Stella went to her
husbands room he handed her the enve-
iope containing the letters and bade hJ
read them.
With trembling fingers she opened the
envelope and took thence those two
piteous little letters to John Harrington
letters written in such anguish of soul.
but also in such perfect trust and love.
She tried to read the words, but they
danced before her eyes.
You have read themf" said Alanf
voice at last. "You have read themE
IL remember what l said" returned
Stella, with difficulty.
Alan's face turned still more pale. " ct
you tell me that you have not deceived
use?" he said. with shaking voice. You
loved this man when you married me-
Gay that you made me believe lie.
Stella looked at him gravely. sOberly,
from out those beautiful eyes, the tran
guilty of which had always been to him
their greatest charm. Her agitation had
vanished; she was perfectly collected and
uumoyei. The shock of his unjust Judg
uent Of her had steadied her trembling
0eryes.
You are wrong" she said, with curl,
Gus question. ''Now, hear me, Alan;
must and will speak now. You have read
MY letters, it seems-a thing that
should scarcely have expected you TO do
but 1 will forgive you for II II we arx
led thereby to a full explaua tiGn; clear
ing away OF the cloud ~tkaf lar
u rTE IN
l wrote those letters Immediately before
/ promised to marry you. If you look al
the dates you will see that they were
written year before. A year is a long
time in a young girls life, Alan. John
Harrington had indeed won my giriish
love, but be had cast me off when he
found that | was poor; he wrote to me
sejectlng the love that he had Won
was pained- -humiliated-fOr a time
even thought that / was heart-broAen
But little by little l learned that il was
not SO. My fancy had been touched: but
l had never given my whole heart to
Joh- Harrington. l had kept that for
anOther-for IA worthier man.
You gave it to mef You loved me al
the while? Stella, my darling
Listen" she went on, infexibly
Every thing must be said now il ever II
Is to be said at all. | loved You, l say
and you threw my love back into my
face. You have distrusted me-insulted
me-been harsher and crueler and colder
to me than John Harrington himself;
and | have not been able TO bear it, Alan:
think love win bear anything but injus
tice to itself-disbelief in its existence
That hurts 1t, mains it-kills it finally;
here comes a day when You look for Il
and il Is dead"
lis your love for me dead, then
:stellaf" Moncreff asked.
She had sank back wearily in her chair,
..nd he stood before her, with arms cross.
ed upon his breast. with a gray pallo,
about his lips.
II am afraid So"
You mean that | have killed it? Lei
a.e have the whole TRUTH 1 want to know
the worst" !;
I'VE have failed TO be happy together,
had l have been of no use to Molly; | can
Le no use TO her nov. for you will moi
listen when l plead with you to forgive
her. You are merciless to her as you are
merciess to me. Be merciful now." said
his wife. quickly. .'and set me free"
''Set you free! What do you mean?'
LET me go out of this house." SHE
pleaded. Let me leave Torresmuir. ]
VIII make no Scdnudi. VIII 20 Qulelly
and Openly-as if l were going for q long
visit somewhere-and nobody will know
that do not mean to come back again
Stella. are you mad?'
Indeed. indeed, l think 1t would BE-
the best way" she said. I'VE do moi
love each other. How can We be happy 2"
THAT is not the question" said Alan.
almost harshly. You have 4 duty to
me. and | have one to you: We cannot Be
free from one another. l shall never re
lease you. You are my wife,
Then as her whole form seemed to col.
lapse before him, as the tension Of hei
nerves gave way, he caught her in hii
arms and held her, half fainting, closely
to his breast.
Stella did not remember (although she
was afterward told that she was carried
up to her room in Alan's arms. She waa
unable to rise from her bed. however, fol
the next day or two. She felt weak ans
broken. as if she had had a severe illness
On the fifth day. the sun sh0ne brightly
into her room and inspired her with Q
wish to get up. She was not able to beal
much light, and her eyes soon grew din
aud tired; she closed them for q time
and must have fallen into quiet doze,
for when she looked up at last, with
sudden start, she found that she was moi
alone. Alan had come softly into th'
room, and stood leaning against the win
dow, watching her as she slept.
Il came to see for myself how you
were" ~ <sid. with an s""--t Of su
barrassment. Il hope you are feelinr
tetter?"
"Yes, thank you," said Stella. not dar
ing to look up. Her color huctuateo
sadly.
II have-if you will allow me-a request
TO make"
Yes" she breathed, the brightness
vanishing hastily from her face.
II should like to ask you," said Alan,
ito promise me-if you will-to take no
steps without informing mel mean con-
cerning the-the proposal you made on
Monday night, You will not leave Tor