The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-12-24

me from this hour, and may the lesson
which 1t teaches you make you a wiser and
a better man"
1t was with great reluctance and as much
pain that he left the room. I drew long
breath of relief as the front gate opened
and closed sharply; then 1 sank down into
chair, exhausted. / did not sit there long:
1t would not do for Maurice to come In and
find me thus, and started to go up stairs.
Ny way crossed the sitting room. The
shadows had begun to steal into the cor
ners, but in one of them was shadow
darker than those of the early evening It
rose up and came forward.
"Oh, Maurice, l exclaimed, 'ls that
you? Maurice, only hear me; 1 can satisfy
you; can explain al1i
II have heard ALL" he replied coldly
And you have never told me this, and he
has dared to come into my house and pour
into your ears the old story of his passion.
You have listened to it, and only sent him
away because of your fear that /, your
wronged and wretched husband should
know the truth. Out of your own mouth I
condemn you, Marguerite Dale, my conf
dence in you is lost forever"
l shivered and staggered under The ter
rible words, but there was no pity in
Maurice's face. Then my pride reused it
self.
from your lips, Maurice Dale, no matter
how the facts may condemn me, so long
as you will not listen to the explanation
which could make. And as you send me
out of your heart forever, it is best that
should go out of your home, also, tonight"
mot unless you insist upon it; you can
stay here If you like, and what / have
learned tonight need never again be allud-
ed to by either of us. Only remember my
confidence in you has gone, and my love
with ftp
1 did not stay to hear another word. I
with n deem main and
weight in my heart.
OF the two weeks which followed l will
not write, except to say that they were
long and dreary, and as we-had company
for Christmas we were left but little alone.
| had uttered the word with which my
story commences half am hour after my
guests of the three of four previous days
had gone l had been pacing the floor to
and fro wondering If the New Year would
come in finding Maurice's and my relations
so strained as they were then.
In the midst of my meditations / was
quite startled at the abrupt entrance of my
nearest neighbor. "Oh, Mrs. Dale, have
you heard the news?' she exclaimed .un-
tremendously.
mo, is it anything very bad Mrs. En-
merson?"
Eyes. indeed The cars ran off the track
this morning, on the long bridge between
Clandebury and Maltby and a large number
of the passengers were killed outright or
shoekingly mangledi'
MY husband was on the morning train
to Maltby. He left about two hours ago to
visit patient there!'
believe l spoke these words calmly. but
I felt cold tremor stealing over me. Then
L grew extremely nervous. My neighbor
tried to quiet me, but her efforts were use
less. She thought the sudden shock had
driven me wild. At last dashed out of the
house, out of the gate and down the road,
where her cries followed me for awhile,
and then grew faint and were lost in the
distance. A resolution possessed me to
know whether my husband was among the
living dead.
But in descending a steep hill on my way,
I suddenly caught sight of a familiar chaise
approaching me. My heart stood still, and
a moment later caught sight of the face
of my husband!
"Why, Marguerite, are you wild?' Maui
rice cried, springing from the carriage, his
face white with wonder.
The great joy of my heart must have its
way. l put my arms around his neck, ana
shouted and laughed and cried. 'Oh, Maui
rice l thought you were dead; that the
train killed your And ! shook him to and
fro. as held his shoulders Then he took
me into the carriage and I told him about
the wreck He said that he had intended
going to Matby, but as he left the house a
nasty message came from a man VINO ;had
broken his arm, so he delayed his trip to
Maltby for the afternoon.
He understood my frantic fears now, and
there was more tenderness in his voice and
manner than ever knew before When ne
folded me to him.
And laying my head on his shoulder L
told him the history of my engag Sment Win
Winston Garrett, casting away all the pam
which tho knowledge of that one secret hid
den from him had caused me.