The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-01-11
PART ".

connected itself, in his mind, with per-
soual embarrassment; it had been too
remote from himself. He found him.
self hesisating for word.
"Perhaps j am fool to tell YOU he
began; sit may make you unhappy,
and"
startled look came into Amy's eyes;
shen the color flooded up into her face.
She lifted her head with beautiful,
tmperious gesture, and stopped him
with word.
"I-understand. Don't tell me. L
understand" She bit her lip as she
spoke, and her eyelids quivered as
though the tears had risen suddenly.
"You understand" he repeated, in
a puzzled voice; "do you mean you don't
want me to tell you?"
"William," she said, in a low voice,
Il do not think woman has any busi-
ness with good mans life in the past;
if-he was not good" She trembled
as she spoke, and then her eyes sought
his, filed with love and grief.
A wave of tenderness made his whole
face melt and CULVER; he murmured
something of his undesert of such love
MS this: "You are not like other wom-
rn." he told her, rs every lover has tod
his mistress since the sun first shone
on lovers. ut isn't what you think"
She drew quick breath and
smiled. "Ah." she said, I'm glad."
Her relief was SO apparent that he real
lied how austcrely sweet her face had
been as she forgove Sim. 1t gave the
man a sense of the meaning of the
divine love coming down to earth for
us men and for our salvation. He was
ebnahed before her. and IL seemed to
him his love was form of worship.
"Go on and tell me-" she said; IL am
not afraid to hear anything, now"
.XhatiL Lynn can. forgive anything? ?"
he asked her; with his whimsical sr,ile.
She flashed a look Of pride at hinE
"Ah!" she said. "the things / could
not forgive, you could not dol"
This made him glow. After all, who
would not confess, anything, to be met
by such confident love as this?
This happened long ago, Amy; when
Twas nineteen. forged a check for five
oundred dollars"
Forged" her lips fell apart; she sat
staring at him.
ffewas holding her hand, lifting IL 10
his lips sometimes, and looking at 1t as
ii lay in his. He went on, quietly:
1T was when / was at college; 1
needed money; and, poor. desperate,
wicked. silly young man, ! forged Prof.
Wilson's name. l don't know what L
supposed would become of me when 10
was found out. And don't know what
would have happened, but Henry Will
son died before the month was out, and
SO, by some strange chanee, it never
was discovered. If it had been-well.
you and would not have been here to-
day. Human justice would have inter
posed before Divine mercy He
looked up with n solemn elation which
seemed to put self out of his mind. at
pight have gone lower and lower!
NVho cnn say? II was an easy thing to
10, for / was his secretary, and he
trusted me. That, OF course. was the
most horrible part OF what / did, the
part that now seems TO me incompre-
hcrslblc--thc broken trust! Well, OF
course. made reparation. as called il.
cut OF the money he left me. I gave
rway many times the amount stole:
Tut il was only because was scared at
The risk hnd rrn. and the thought Of 10
y hurasseri nc. IL was sort of expedi-
n~~x ~ Nf l,.,r n,t,x y
,onsc;encc for peace Of mind. Then,
about year afterwards. met Y.
beard him preach. and life changed.
Tow extraordinary il seems 70 look back
upon II now. Then Irepentcd. Before.
had only reformed. That was when I
rntcrcd tho divinity school. But just,
Amy. just think of the difference! How
life might have gone-yet here ! am to-
day, your lover. your husband! Oh!
the mercy OF God!"
He was deeply moved. He got up and
walked the length Of the room. Amy
sat silently looking down at her hands
IN her lap. When he came back his
eyes were full of peace.
"That is all. dearest; how we will
forget IL. You know my life as you do
your OWL"
Forget IT," she repeated. with n
sudden. sobbing laugh, that tore at the
mans heart.
"Amy. dearest, have I shocked you
90? Remember. IL was twcnty-ilrec
years ngo: Twas only n boy. Let me tell
Won how IL was: was madly in love
with q woman. az least. - was not love,
but thoughttwas; she fascinated me.
and"
"Ch. 60 on; 20 on!" she interrupted.
ooarscly: "as IL that mattered!''-
lie tried 10 take her hand. but she
-cudc n prctense OF arranging the
Cowers IN her belt: her head was turned
little from him. lie lenned forward
with grave authority 20 command her
attention. took the psnsies frcm her
und held tacm IN his hand.
'Well: ! was posSrssed to Indrry her
or course, she would rot lool, az me
ccnniless. charity stuienti But