Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1900-08-23
Repented at Leisure.
BERTHA M. CLAY.
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whether you love me or not, ] cannot
help It now, | must tell you all"
Her beautiful head bent in unutter-
able shame, her face wet with droop-
ing tears, she told hcr story OF her
folly Of so long ago-the secret, hur-
ried marriage which had been the bane
of her life. Sh did not omit one
detail. She told him the bitter truth
in all it's nakedness. He listened IN
surprise that was too great for words.
My poor child" he said, gently
when she had finished; my poor
Ethel. how terribly you have suffered.
And that man is your husband-youfs
1t seems incredible.
Then she remembered how time was
passing, and that Laurie Darlington
wished to die in peace.
He is dying, Oscar" she said, and
| must see him. viii you-it seems
strange to ask you-will you take me
to him."
yes" he replied; you do right to
go, Ethel. If he were well, l should be
one of the first to punish him for his
cowardly vilianly, for his mean, wicked
sin; dying, l, like you, must pardon
him. l will take you, so that | may
stand as a shield between you and All
harm. Oh, Ethel, my poor child, how
terribly you have suffered"
Even he could not conceive 1t all
no one but herself could ever know
what those years Of hidden anguish
had been like.
He took her hand silently in his.
This is the nearest way to the
cottage" he said. ETHEL it will be
better for the world not to know about
his matter. There will be people with
the poor mau-nurses and attendants.
How can | best. screen you from their
observation"
Il leave all to you" she returned;
and from her heart there rose to
Heaven a great cry OF Thanksgiving
that he was there to help her.
II will send every one from the
room" he said. "and then they will
think you are friend of his Even
should it happen that they mention
that a lady has been there, it will be
thought that some lady from the great
house has paid him a visit Of COM
passion See there-among the trees
that is the cottage. Why, Ethel, |
remember reading the story Of young
Darlington; and a very sad story |
thought it was How little | dreamed,
my darling. that it concerned you
In another minute they stood at the
door of the cottage. From one OF the
upper windows came a faint glimmer
of light. Sir Oscar raped gently at
the door. 1t was opened by one of the
keepers, a stranger whom Ethel did
not recognize.
How it the poor MANI" asked Sir
Oscar.
Dying slowly, sir; he will not last
until the sun rises
rs he conseious-is he able to
speak?" inquired Sir Oscar.
Yes, sir; he has been praying, and
he is now crying some woman's name
"a strang name that have never
heard before The nurse seemed
timid, so offered to remain with her. %
THAT was good and kind Of you
We have come to see him. We can go
up stairs, I suppose
Eyes, sir; the nurse only is with
him"
Ethel stood by in silence; it was
great relief to her to find that the man
did not think her coming strange; on
the contrary, he seemed rather to eI-
pect it.
II thought some one would come
from the Hall tonight" he said; and
Sir Oscar slipped a golden fee into his
hand.
lie held the light while they went up
the steep, narrow stairs
Ethel. Ethel" they heard a faint
voice crying; zone word-only one
world"
She turned faint and cold when she
heard the sound of her own name ana
the tone Of appeal in which it was
uttered she trembed so violently that
il was with difficulty that she could
mount the stairs.
Ethel, Ethell' the voice repeated;
only one world"
Sir Oscar turned anXiously TO her.
DO you think you can bear it, he
asked.
81 must she replied.
They heard the voice OF the nurse
| trying TO comfort him, but from him
came no other words but those which
they had Just heard.
Just before he opened the door. Sir
| Oscar turned to her again.
"You are trembling, ethel; It will be
better not to so in, am anxious
about you"
| But she raised her eyes to his face
with a look of trust which he never
| forgot
II shall have no fear, she said, 1T
you remain with me-"
Then he opened the door, and they
entered the room together.
| CHAPTER XLY.