Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1897-01-14

80 ivoh oack upon
that time that he spoke the truth,
but then ! was very angry and VOW
ed that come what may, that same
voice should plead for my shallow
heart, and plead in vain. Then
an (! then, ! would haye my revenge.
How many years is it since? to
connt by suffering, and misery. it
seems as il . long life time has
passed since that New Years eve,
when the pride and folly of my
heart drove me on to madness.
Tie xhols scene comes back to
me with painful viyidness. The
long low conservatory. Thick mass
es of clustering palms. A girl in q
shimmering satin robe, bending
shyly above some lily flowers. A
dark form towering beside her, and
then her voice falls softly upon the
air.
And you really love me Lester !?
1t seems so strange that you should
give your heart to me, while Mar
jorie is near.
'Your sister seems to chain a
host OF admirers, but dearest, you
are my ideal woman. A man
wants more than beautiful face to
cheer his life, he wants the true and
noble soul which my Murial has,
'Ah |! but Marjorie possesses ALL
the loyal little sister replies. But
| wait to hear no more. Ihad come
upon them suddenly and unob-
served, and as silently I steal away
1 know there is a steely glitter in
my eye that had never been there
before and a feeling of Nemesis in
my heart, but I move among my
guests with the same proud bearing,
and the smile l give Lester Came
ron at parting is sweeter than ever,
while all the time my heart is whis-
pering that yet he should bow be-
fore me and acknowledge me queen
Of his heart.
Were the devils leagued against
me I wonder. Sometimes think
my guardian angel must have grown
weary and left me, for with that
shining form beside me how could
my soul have grown so black?
l never thought OF giving pain to
Mural. No. never did the thought
dawn upon me, and the knowledge
Of my thoughtfulness has been all
that kept the remorse from killing
me. Having never loved, 1 knew
not what passion of this kind meant,
Afterward, when love came to me,
and my whole soul was bowed and
softened, and not until then, did
the knowledge of the greatness of
my sin come upon me. Oh, Murial, il
I could only undo the past, could
only 60 back in life to that New
Years eve when you came to me
with your hearts happiness how
different it all would be
Is it a weary dream 1 wonder
the old wainscoted room, with
only the light of the stars creeping
through it, and I standing at the
window gazing out upon the snow
covered world-God's beautiful
world that sin had filled with dark
ness The bells have stopped their
pealing and I know the New Years
work was begun. God forgive me,
but l wish I had never seen it.
Marjorie and a sweet tender
voice echoes through the stiffness
and little white figure comes soft
ly up to me. 'Are you very tired,
dear %
No; do you want me, Murial p
/ laid my hand upon her hair
cleaning soft and pale in the star
light. She came little closer and
twined one arm about me.
4 could not sleep before l told
you Of my happiness, Marjorie.
Don't you know, dear, must be
the happiest girl in all the world p
How her words comes back to me
now as she tells the story of her
love, the love I had vowed that
should be mine.
/ listened quietly never knowing
what feeling was uppermost in my
heart, and when she had finished,
looking up for response, l bent
down and kissed her. In after
years l thought of that caress
knew that it was only Judas kiss
/ gave my child. Yet / did not
mean to hurt her so; God knows
that did not. How could I tell