The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-06-04


II have brought It back" she said.
'IIe was out last night, and I opened 1t.
] always open his letters. ] am his
wife"
His wifel"
she had thought Of him as sick, as
poor, even as angry, but never once
had his probable marriage entered her
consciousness. "His wifer' The words
fell on her heart like an actual blow
She sat down, saying in a half-con-
scious way; His wife!'
"well, have told you So He mar
ried me out of pity. five years ago. 1
did not think so then, but have found
|. il out since"
"You are Robert Kensalrs wife?"
IT am Robert Kensalrs wife. Now.
will you go away? Don't let him know
| that you have been here. II can do you
no good. 1t will make him very miser-
able. And / should suffer also. l
know all about you. / have read it In
his diary"
How could you be so dishonorable
How could your"
"Will you go away?" If Robert should
see you, and then look at me, what
chance have 1? oh. can't You under
stand?"-
"I can"
| "And you will go?"
II will go at once"
The poor soul looked at her hand
some rival with wonder, and little
shame. II am often very ill.," she said
softly. 81 am i'll now;' and she
turned away and went toward the door
Katherine followed her, and on the
| threshold said:
LET me kiss you once for his sake
We have both loved himr' and she tool
the woman's hands and kissed her, and
then stood watching until she was Out
of sight.
For awhile she sat still with her sor,
row, and tried to face 1t. To weeI
now for Robert was sin; he was the
husband of another zCman. The year:
of her ignorance must suffice for hel
love. and her longing, and her first
monNion was to ask forgiveness for thC
wrong, done without intention. Hence
forward, utter announcement was hel
first duty, and not moment of the
future must be sullied by regret. Th'
advice she had given to others, sht
must take into her own heart, ant
learn by experience another lesson II
loves sorrowful book.
So she returned to her home and he
work. taking it up in a more health!
and cheerful spirit; and the months
and the years went by, and she was no
unhappy. All humanity touched he
heart; and she travelled to the bounds
of the earth, and the seas and the ever
lasting hills. Only that one little towi
on the Fife coast was blotted from he
map of the world. Thither she woulc
not suffer even thought to stray
Every woman, at some time Of her life
is Eve. The tempting apple is ther
for her to take, or reject. KATHERINE
would not discuss her right to it; sh
simply declined to know it's existence
and in so doing she was wise beyon,
words, for the first step toward an.
wrong is to consider whether it nigh
be possible to do 1t.
1t was on the night of her thirtietl
birthday, that her life turned back T.
find it's age of gold; a lovely night il
August, when the trellis in the oil
garden was all abloom with white an
red roses. The full moon cast owe
them her wondrous glamour; and tn
nightingale in the boskages of tn
|
intervals his song of passionate love
This night, in spite of all her efforts
the thought of Robert Kensall woul
flash itself into the peace and beaut
around,and she suddenly became afrai
of the sweet temptation, and turne
toward the lighted house. Then, a
that moment, Robert Kensall stood be
fore her. He took her hands, an
| int nd s-ai1 onlu
katherine! My sweet Katherine!"
Then all the debt of happiness tn
past ten years owed them was full
paid. Robert was now free to tell hi
love, and plead his cause, and oh. hoy
easy it was for Katherine to excuse
and where excuse was hard to finC
then to forgive. And what sweetnes
il was to pardon! What Joy to sta
with kisses the confession of pride, an
poverty, and weakness, which RobeT
had to make. He told her everything
and she loved and trusted and freel
forgave him everything. Had he no
also suffered? And she kept the SUI
fering before her consciousness, and re
fused to see that his own want of fait
and patience had been the cause of
! all.
For three wonderful hours they wan
dered, or sat, in the old garden; tellin
little stories Of their love and sorrow
or planning, to the birds song abov
them, the joys Of the future. And whe
Robert at last said a reluctant "goo
night, sweet Katherine! Good might
my dear one!" she ran lightly and hap
PLY upstairs to the music Of her heart
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