The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1899-01-07

| hands. "Have / offended him? Have !
done wrong in any unconscious way %
Miss Euphemia made no reply. The
letter she herself had received by the same
mai! contained these words:
81 can never see her again. While she
lives | am an exile from home. | leave
her to your care. Be kind to her, for per.
haps she is the creature Of untoward cir
funds regularly Yours truly, P. To-
Miss Phemy s,t staring at the fire with
the letter in her hand. She had parted man
and wife. She had made them both
wretched, for in her heart she believed that
Marian loved Paul Thorpe.
81 dare not tell the truth now" she
thought. 81 dare not confess that | tore
the signature from the letter, and that it
was written by that brother of hers in
Illinois that she never speaks of because
he forged check once and had to flee the
state"
But even the callous heart OF Miss Phemy
reproached her for her craft
She saw the roses fading away from poor
Marian's cheeks, the elasticity deserving
her light, graceful figure as day by day
crept by ard no word or message came from
the absent husband.
But one day Miss ClaTissa came home
from district visiting, pale, languid, aud
heavy-eyed, and within day or two the
disease declared itself definitely smallpox
Of the most virulent type.
Servants fled the house, neghbors dis.
covered that they needed change of air,
friends and acquaintance contented them
selves by sending cards of inquiry through
the mails, and even q professional nurse
could not be obtained.
81 am sure don't know what we are
to do, said Dr. kenward, when il was
discovered thar Miss Euphemia, too. was
taken down by the bslefu disease
Il will take care of them, doctor" said
Marian. have had the disease aud done
fear it. They are my husband S sisters. 1t
is all ! eau do for him now
And through long days and nights Of
anguish and dclinum she remained con
slant to her charge until the balance turned
and they recovered.
'NCu wculd both Of YOU have been in
your graves under six feet Of earth ii il
hadn't been for this girl, said blunt DR..
Kenward. Under God, you owe your
lives to her y
Miss CIarissa silently Ieaned forward to
kiss Marian blauched couutenance. Eu-
phemia only drew a sort Of shor., quick
sob and asked for her writing desk
81 would not try TO write just yet"
said Marian, gently.
"Only one letter. ! must said Miss
phemy, and Marian les her have her way
"Dear Brother:-I have deceived you
about Marian, though l swear before
Heavens tribunal | didn't know at the
time how much mischief | was working.
She is as pure and good az an angel, and
through doing good to them that despite
fully used her she has wrought out her
own salvation. incloge the signature |
myself tore off that fatal letter which has
entlanged you both-the signature Of
Marian's own brother, Guy Russell DO
not reprGach me. l have suffered enough
already for my crime Yours repentantly,
ECPHEMIA THORPE.
Directed to the care of his lawyer, the
letter reached Paul Thorpe at Boston,
whittier be had just arrived frcm London,
and three days afterward he stood upon
his own threshold. Marian herself CHANGED
to open the door for him.
'Paul! My hushandw she said.
"My Marian' was all he answered
Neither of them ever spoke word of
reproach to Miss Phemy.
at is enough that we are happy once
more" said Marian, simply. Chicago
Tribune.