Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1897-12-03
HER CONFESSION.

Long after the speakers words had
died away the listening people waited
In hushed expectancy, unwilling to be.
lieve that he had finished and unable to
descend all at once from the heights to
which they had been raised.
John Ordway and his wife came from
the chapel among the last Both had
been strongly moved by the evenings
sermon, but in different ways. indioa-
tive perhaps Of their widely differing
temperaments
Ordway helped his wife into the
wagon, the horses struck into swift
trot, and the driver leaned forward to
draw the rug more closely about his
companion, peering up into her face 50.
licitously.
They moved swiftly past the scatter.
ed houses of the village and out into
stretch Of open country. Three or four
times the woman raised her head AZ
though about to speak, but checked
herself with an effort a
II have something to tell you, John, "
she said at last IL am afraid
ought to have told you long ago"
Are ye sure ye ought2" no asked
gently maybe there amt any need. T"
"There is IL need" she answered. II
have known all along that 1t would be
better to speak out, but somehow
never felt that could until tonight 4"
She paused as though to gather courage
IT'S about myself and Willis" she
said. lyon remember"-
Ordway bent forward suddenly with
a warming shout to the horses, and tho
wagon jolted heavily in deep rut.
That's me all over" he said. with
a chuokle. II took special notice of
that hole 80 as to skip ii on the way
home, and here am drivin right into
it again. like an old fool. That's what
comes Of listenin to sermons ye can't
quite understand "
Wont you listen to me, john" his
wife asked pleadingly.
''Of course / will" no answered,
"only my nerves bein so wrought up
I'm sort of afraid to have any big shock
come on me shdden, ye know.
Ordway put his arm around her and
drew her closer to him protectingly, AZ n
mother soothes "a nervous, sleepy child
II wasn't jokin," he said "I'm al
ways glad to listen to ye, only think
ye'd best wait till we get home. We're
most there now. ="
Go in by the fire. said John Ord.
way, when at length they ratified into
the farmyard. "Itll take mo some time
to fix things up
D. L., f,1. La. al. a. la.
he found her waiting, leaning against
me Of the square posts Of the porch and
looking out across the darkness of the
valley
IL wanted to wait until we could go
IN together" sho said
Tho long, low kitchen was full of
changing sha lows. which danced across
he time polished floor and lost them
selves in tho corners Of the irregular
ceiling, when Ordway crossed to the
huge fireplace and piled some sticks Of
soft wood on tho glowing ashes. At
length ahe spoke slowly and with evi
dent effort at calmness.
lyon must try TO be patient with
me, " she said You'll be astoniahed,
| know, and am afraid you'll be angry
and 1 couldn't blame you-but ]
want you to wait till-till Two fin.
ished.
She hesitated AZ il to gain strength,
and he marked how tho slender figure
quivered with the effort Of her hurried
breathing
81 had promised to marry Willis be
fore knew you" she said unsteadily
We quarrelcd about some little thing,
and each was too proud to speak first
Finally he went away without seeing
me. You know how We heard that he
died in Africa. | believed tive all
did-and | cried myself to sleep night
after night because hadn't acted diff
ferently
"As time went on | began to forget
little by little, and after awhile 1t all
seemed like sort Of dream. Then you
came into my life and taught me 10
trust you and turn TO you for help in
everything And, in truth, loved you
more than you could eyer understand. "
Her voice trembled You believe me,
john" she asked. Say that you do
believe me. "
II amt never doubted it," he an
swered softly.
II was happy and oontented for two
long years 1t was like heaven, and you
were happy, too, Johnr'
"Happyp' he said All, yes! No
body II ever know how much. ="
"And then little Dora was born, " she
went on, and somehow all our trouble
began right there, for it seemed as
though her baby hands took hold Of our
hearts and pushed them apart. little
at first and then more and more. Well
things got worse and worse, and wheT
she died almost believed you were q
blame in some way-I don't know how
Oh, it's awful TO think about, but
couldn't help feeling that way Viii
you ever forgive me for itf''
II never laid it up against ye," b.
answered. II reckoned it was natural
and knew ye wasn't well. 80 | triet
to forget all about that part Of our life
and done it-almost.
THE rest Of my story Is harder q
| tell a1sd harder to listen TO. You re
| membeT that Willis came back al,