Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1898-11-10
CHAPTER XXX.


Coombes, which took place fifteen years
ago in that very church, and which beg
ged you to keep q secret for my sake.
That entry referred to the union Of this
lady and myself"
she is your wife, exclaims Della.
Il was says the Sister, sadly.
You are-you ever must be, at least in
my opinion replies Mr.. lie Mesurier.
Fifteen years ago, then, l was staying
at Southampton reading for holy orders,
when l met Adela Coombes, who was
teacher at a school. She had had the
misfortune to have very unhappy home,
and"
Here the Sister, who had been strug-
Cling between desire to atone for the
past by a humble confession and the nat
nral feeling Of shame which forbids her
making it in the presence of stranger,
takes the words out Of Mr.. lie Mesurier's
mouth.
"John-John. let me tell the story.
There is no disgrace too great for such
woman as l have been. Madam" she
continues, turning toward Della, Il told
you but just now that the blight of my
life had been effected by an unpardona-
Bile deceit The deceit involved an unpar-
Slonable imprudence. AS a young girl L
had, it must be confessed, a most unhappy
home, and to escape its discomforts. L
eloped from it. at the age Of sixteen, with
the mate Of a merchant yessel-a man L
had only seen some half a dozen times.
Z was married, and lived with him at
Southampton for a while until he went to
sea again, when his ship was wrecked
and all hands reported lost. I did not
grieve for him-he had been too little to
me; and when 1 met Mr.. LIE Mesurier and
learned that he loved me, [ was too elated
40 care for anything else. l was support
ing myself then as a teacher in school;
7 had entered there under my maiden
name, and | never undeceived John in the
matter, but kept the fact of my first mar
riage a secret from him. After we had
been acquainted a few months he pro-
posed to me that we should be married
privately. He was his own master, but
Die did not wish his family to hear the
news all at once. SO we were married at
The little village of Cloverfield, and for
awhile we r'ere happy-quite-quite hap
Yy."
Il was, heaven knows interpolates lie
tAIesurier, in voice of deep feeling.
Then came my awful temptation and
fall. The news reached me in q round
about way that my first husband had
been saved from the wreck, and was do
ing his best to trace me. | suffered the
fortunes of hell, but I never told John.
] knew that as soon as he heard it, We
should be forced to separate"
My poor Adela"
But [ betrayed the truth, spite of my
self John was interested in mesmerism
at that time. He studied the science
deeply. and l was the patient on whom
he made his chief experiments. | did not
know the extent of the power he held over
me, and he thought his wife could have
no secrets worthy of the name from him.
so one day when | was under the :nttu-
,ence, he commanded me to speak what
was in my mind. / obeyed him-and lie
learned everything! Then there came a
horrible awakening all was over be-
tween u.s..
You went back to your first husDand:'
Gays Della, who is intensely interested II
the story of her poor friends life.
"No." with a shudder; ''thank heaven,
that was never required of me. Rat he
found le out. or rather his friends de,
and | nursed him-he had been fearfully
.sniured and crippled in the course of the
fardships he had undergone-untIl he
went to his rest
lis he dead:" eXclaimS lie Mesurier, in
an excited manner.
Adela chances at him reproachfully.
YES; years and years ago. And when
shat duty was over, | entered upon my
present career. and found the peace I
never knew before
He is dead, and you never let me
Know" says lie Mesurier: land while l
Rave been spending my life in vain regrets
for what l thought to be an irremediable
grief How could you be so cruel?'
What would have been the use of dis
surhing your mind afresh, when hoped it
had turned to better things for comfort
/ was not your Nife-I never had been
+ never could be, after the shameful de-
eeption had practiced upon you, and the
sin in which l had knowingly permitted
You to live
AZ do not attempt to say you We're
Tight, Adela: but your fault. however
great. arose from love for me. But |, too,
Rad injured you, though innocently, and
II was not fair to debar me the option of
remedying the wrong l did YOU
I'VE were so very. very happy togeth-
err she says. through her tears.
And so you will be again. Mr.. LIE
Nesurier l heartily congratulate you on
your good fortune. And YOU so fully de-
serve it. Ii it had not been for your gem
erous friendship for me, and sympathy
81 my trials, you would not have been
Bore to-day to find your long-lost treasure
sSain. Adela, if you love him still, make
Aim happy! His life has been a wasted
enc for want Of you"
''Oh. John, can you forgive me? Is it
possible you can love me still?" says
Adela.
She is answered by the stealing of an
arm about her waist. Della rises hastily
and walks to the window. She is rejoic-
ing with the most unselhSh joy over the
sew-born happiness of her friend, and
she will not be witness to the sacred kiss
that heralds it.
AT this juncture knock sounds upon
She door, and Adela has hardly had time
10 disengage herself from lie Mesurier' 8