The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1898-03-18
CHAPTER XVI.
Reunited,

Ntuulldu,
Under the dull fare of the street
lamp, Morris Dudley gazed down upon
the face of the woman at his feet. Her
features were pallid, pinched, and wan;
wealth of golden hair was drawn
away from the small, childish face, and
fastened in a careless knot at the back
of her head, from which the faded hood
had fallen. Her dress was thin, old
and patched; and the little foot peep
ing forth was poorly shod.
For a moment he paused there, as
tonished, bewildered, strange fancies
surging through his brain and taking
possession of his heart then he stopped
and lifted the woman's head, and laid
his hand upon her pulse.
Suddenly her eyes flashed open-deep
blue, innocent eyes, which met his gaze
with long, steady glance; then she
tottered to her feet.
Morris Dudley" she said in low,
scornful tone, stand out of my way
Where is my bundle? Thank you.
Goodnight"
And she turned with feeble steps to
pass on. With bound, he was at her
side and caught her hand.
"Viva!" he painted, there is some
thing to be explained"
She turned and faced him calm
ly.
GAY, there is something to be ex-
planned" she repeated, quietly. Wait!
my home is near if you choose to come.
The street is scarcely the place for
YOU and me to come to an understand
ing"
She turned vita swift, flying steps,
excitement lending wings to her tired
feet, and led him into a gloomy look
ing building, not far distant, up flight
of crazy stairs, into shabby, half-fur-
nished apartment.
Viva laid her bundle upon the pine
table, and proceeded to light candle
which stood In a brass candlestick
1 lpon a shelf; then she faced her hus-
,and her eyes flashing, her superb
orm drawn up to its full height.
"You come to arraign me, Morris
0udley!" she said, in low, fierce tone,
and / demand a hearing; it is time.
"Viva," he said, bewildered beyond
expression, for the case was reversed
she was the accuser, he the defend
INT, "sit down here" and he drew
chair forward. Now go on and tell
ne all, for l begin to see that ! have
,een a miserable dupe, or frightfully
mistaken"
She tossed her faded hood aside, and
aced him, with deep scorn in her beau
iful eyes.
"You believed an appearance OF
wrong" she said; now listen to the
ruth-the whole truth-so help me,
Heaven! l left your home, it is true,
)ut not for life of dishonor-oh! how
.ould you live and believe that?-but
because she, Lurline st. Cyr made me
,elieve-for l was a giddy, foolish
.hild-that would be great actress
ind coin money for-you! l had re-
iected a great deal upon our poverty
md felt certain that you might become
great physician if we only had mon
", that we might mingle in the world
50 | went on the stage-her stage
lot the elevated life of real talent ant
,enius; and in half dozen nights
lad seen what her life amounted to
to
leartsick; l left the company, and re
I)entant, and despising my own foil.
md credulity | went home to our lit
lie cottage, determined to be conten
With the lot in life to which HEAVIER
lad called me. But, alas! you ha
been there, and finding me gone an
he silly note which / had left you ha
disposed of everything; the house wa
n the hands Of strangers, and when
sought you there was no trace OF you
Whereabouts to be discovered-Onl
you had gone to America. / came t
2 Paris then. l found an old woma
= whom had once known at home; sh
was poor and she gave me shelter
She could sew, and had position /
L small shop. She took me with he
i. 'or company, taught me to work, an
I have earned my bread since by sue
work as this"
She opened the bundle on the table
It contained dozen coarse shirts.
For a moment Morris Dudley stoC
gazing upon her, like one who suddel
" beholds wonderful revelation
The pinched, half-starved look, Il
1eep blue eyes, full of wordless sorro'
Y. he patient little mouth-all told the
ale of suffering. He drew nearer al
falling on his knees at her feet,
y. caught the toil-hardened little han
:, and crushed it against his lips.
u May Heaven forgive mel" he moa
~ ed, contritely. What wretch, VIII
an objectionable wretch l have been
CT For long time he knelt there, SO
bling like child; then he raised b
!, eyes to her face. She was weeping
lently, but her tears were more of j
than grief.
"Viva" he cried wildly, "can y
ever forgive me? Do you hate n
Viva?"
For answer she threw her arr
about his neck. Morris" she sa
- softly, through her tears, II was
blame, was wrong-altogether wron
But, believe me, for the Father of
knows it is true, did not leave hol
for any wrong purpose, not even wi
the love of the stage, but simply a
&c entirely because l, in my foolish inc
Tor perience, hoped to earn money and S,
Mt prise you with the gift; you had dc
so much for me. Morris, But | "
wrong, my darling, and Heaven kno
how | repent and regret the past.
forgive you freely, Morris, how COZ
do otherwise?"
n Hours passed, and the two
strangely reunited needed not
fight of time Sitting there togeth
Y Morris Dudley told Viva of all t
, had occurred, of Lurline ChadwicE
scheminp and the false DOsitioD VIII