The record-union., 1898-04-03

man and had InnOcentiy and unknOW-
ingly made the fatal mistake of taking
Selma for an unmarried young wo
man. Her youth. her bearing. her man
ner. All aided in the delusion, her frank
acceptance of the few attentions he had
paid her. 1t was too late for his peace
of mind and hers when he found out she
was married.
| And Selma, few pleasant words from
the man she called husband might have
saved her, but he was usually surly and
gruff and more uncompanionable.R Rest
| less, unhappy, she took long, lonely
walks along the shore or to the Post
office at the river. Here she always met
Tremain and altho' he never spoke one
| word of love to her she knew he cared.
| His warm glance. and low word of
! pleasant greeting was what her starved
4 heart lived on between these meetings.
| She did not realize the wrong she was
drifting to in loving this young man.
Her church, her duties, her husband
We're not neglected. Her marriage VOWS,
made in her earliest youth. gave her
reason, if her conscience ever did ques-
/ tion her as to her motive.
The climax came when she received a
! note from Tremain. 1t read: Il must
I see you once before / say good-by for
ever"
Her cheeks burned, her heart beat
/ like bird in it's cage bereft of liberty
And through her brain surged the
! thought "Good-by for ever, for ever"
What would be her life now? The know
ledge learnt in hard school came to
late
| The answers she might have given to
the questions In his blue eyes had been
learned to late.
The tears brimmed over her eyes as
she turned at the sound of a step, and
saw Tremain standing before her.
| Don't, don't come here she cried. GO
back"
! mo, want to see YOU" he said dog
gedly. What is the use of going back
to that old man; you know 1 love you.
A divorce is an easy matter. Be my
wife. l loved you the first time / saw
you under the naples
He drew her to him and kissed the
pretty flushed cheek She yielded a
minute to his embrace, then pushing him
away from her she turned and ran
quickly down the road to her home.
The old man came home, ate his sup
per and numbered off to bed gruff and
| glum.
| Selma sat up far into the night. She
put out the light She could not think
with it cleaning bright and clear. She
turned to the window Across the bay
the red harbor light Shone like a great
eye and seemed to search her very heart
and soul. She flung herself on a couch
crying bitterly, and the day dawn found
her cold and miserable.
The old man was half i'll with a bad
cold and kept her waiting on him all
day. her pale cheeks and dull eyes
mute witnesses of her heartache-
| 1t was the Easter season and the
rector of the church had asked her aid
in decorating the little place of worship.
The sun was setting when she went
to the church. The window over the
altar depicted the scene between Christ
and the Magdalene. AS Selma stood ST
| lently there before it she felt as if the
eyes aglow with pleading with pity
turned on the sinner was bent on she
herself. The eyes searching the
thoughts hidden in her heart and laying
hare before her the intention. She had
scarcefy Acknowledged to herself Of
| leaving her home. The home of her
plighted VOWS, made though they were
/ i'll childhood's days. She shrank back,
then she leaned forward again quickly
and laid the flowers at the feet of the
picture. She said in sobbing tones:
| "Oh Christ, no; not that. Forgive the
thought of sim" And putting her head
down on the altar railing she wept heal
| ing tears that eased her heart.
Out on the bay the old mans sail was
visible, and in his boat was Dick Ire
main. The day had been exceptionally
fine for the time of year And the Cap
tain had met the young man and gruffiy
| invited him to go out with him.
Other eyes had noted Dicks infatua-
ton and evil tongues had even then
| told the old man of his rival. So the
invitation, accepted in good faith by
Dick, BODIED him no good.
A slight squal1 had darkened the water
and bringing the boat around so swiftly
the fiendishly jealous old man managed
| to upset Dick into the sea- churning in
| the wake of the craft.
Dick was strong and a good swimmer
and coming to the surface quickly he
struck out for the boat, calling out, II m
all right"
Are YOU" sneered the old man. Stay