The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1897-03-18

with Joy. IL was In country
village that met her. I was visiting |
some distant relatives. She was poor,
but what cared for that? My own for
tune was sufficient to give her every
comfort, though had not at that time
fallen heir 10 my father's inheritance.
She was young aud beautiful and I
thought she loved me. Well, It is the
old story; I need not linger on it. An
other came upon the scene. had never
told her of my wealth or position; that
either could influence her I never
dreamed, and so one day 1 awoke to
learn that she had given her hand to
him whom she thought outbid me in
gold and glitter. Ibid not seek to unde-
ceive her. A strange, calm philosophy
took possession of me, and I felt it was
best as it was, until one day, on taking
up the morning paper, read the notice
Of her marriage. With the printed evil
dence of her perfidy in my hands, phi
losophy and reason alike deserted me,
and the pent-up feeling within me
burst in an unrestrained tide. The
blackness of death seemed to gather
round me, and for days and weeks I
knew nothing in the grasp of fierce
fever, from which struggled back to
life weak and wretched, but with
brain cleared from mist, which saw
things once more in their proper light.
Eight years passed. Meantime the
woman whom / had loved was free. In
the first year of her widowhood met
her-met her, as thought, calmly and
dispassionately, only to learn that
dared not trust myself. Another two
years passed, and yielded at last to her
cntreaties that we should meet again.
found her as beautiful as Of yore, the
bloom on her cheeks as fresh, the light
in her eyes as bright; and yet. Kate. I
! looked upon it all as one views the ra-
diant glitter of the iceberg, which to
approach is death. Beside this glowing
flame, whose ferceness consumes itself,
pure, sweet light shed it's luster Ger
! my heart, not so bright, not so brilliant,
but with calm. increasing flame,
which felt could light my way to the
tomb, which made the dark recesses of
my heart open to the sunbeams which
dispelled forever the false glamour of
my eyes, which,"
"Ah, Kate, I was just looking for you.
1t is too damp for you to be out, child
broke in Mrs. Harrison's voice. 81 will
help entertain Mr.. Creighton for lit
tie while. You had best go within"
Then, as the young girl turned and
left them, Maude Harrison stopped and
stood face to face with the man before
her.
"What were you telling that girl
may inquire? You seemed much in
terested."
II shall be very happy to inform Mrs
Harrison, but unfortunately the story
would be no new one to her ears.
was telling her only of a boy who loved
woman whom he deemed as true as
she was beautiful, whom he found al
false as the very fiends which came Il
mock his misery. An old recital! d.
you care to hear it?"
"Max," and there crept wondroul
, sweetness in the woman's tone, II lovet
, you through it all. True, was false
hut not to you. To you I was loyal
. hut to him who called me wife, wh'
, went to his death blessing me, VIII
, smiled on me in dying, to him m,
, whole life was a lie! All, was falls
indeed! Think you you alone suffered
That I during these two long years o
torture did not daily press the dagge
deeper into my heart? 1t was almos
, more than I could bear, but God wa
. merciful, and ended it ere my strengtl
gave way"
, Pardon me-" and in the mans ton
3 was no answering softness. "Of tn
E man who called you wife care not
e speak. I have learned to look on hir
, without envy"
e "Cruel! Do not know how little
e deserve at your hands? Be generous
r Max; let me in some way atone!"
e "Do you really wish it? Then let N
4 love has sprung new and holier fam
|. We have both tried the past, Maud
r The might have been has gone foreve
a but there is future! Thank God fc
t that. I love the girl who is unde
r your protection"
h "Stop! Not another word. You wh
Il have loved me confess to love for her,
+ child. You say it to try me; but listel
y There is no need. glory in the 10,
d had for you; know no shame in il
z confession. Max, look into my eyes an
read there whatever wou will.'
=. "Hush, Maude! Do not utter wore
It you may regret. Let the dead pa
h bury it's dead. For a second time 10,
has bloomed in my heart and spea
IS too solemnly not to mean all I sa
lr Maude-" but with white lips and gil
# tering eyes the woman swept past hi
J. into the house.
'e Looking out from her window, Ka
a stood thinking, wondering when 81
a should hear all the story which she fe
It might mean so much, when with
., hustle of drapery her uncle's wife stot
,r neSida her