The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1901-06-15

said. "Do with me as you will. l am
|. very bad man, Blanche; a very wick
I'd man. If you knew me as am you
would despise me for my wickedness,
is you despised her for hers"
''You never had fault till she crossed
,our path, dear guardian, and nothing
you have done since is going to count"
She spoke lightly, and smiled as she
aid her head on his shoulder.
| The next day was Sunday, and as
Miss Dean had gone home, they drove
,lone TO the village, about two miles
Instant, to attend church. Blanche
! lad never looked so we'll. The crisp
,ir brought the blood into her cheeks
md blew her hair into froth Of gold
about her eyes and brow.
''Perhaps we ought not to drive so
:ar," he said, solicitously, as they were
entering the carriage. "Do you think
DR.. Fleming would approve of it?'
| HE said outdoor exercise was what
[ needed most" answered Blanche.
Don't worry about me; the medicine
he prescribed is making me strong
again. Did you notice the breakfast
ate? / was ashamed of my appe.
tite."
lie was silent a moment as they
drove along, then he eravely said:
81 want you to go to a good ply
sician tomorrow and ask his advice.
IL has been some time since YOU saw
DR.. Fleming"
"Oh, don't begin that" said Blanche,
pretending to pout. 81 am getting along
beautifully.'
"But.l-I want-you must see doc
tor" he stammered. Il shall feel bet
ter now to know that everything is be-
ing done that should be done for YOU"
you talk as if were going to die, -
said the girl. "Why, I've just begun
TO live"
For a moment he looked confused.
He could not reveal his real fears, and
vet he was now deeply troubled about
her condition.
"Of course, it isn't anything serious, -
he said; 'but Still! to please me you
will let me send for DR.. Fralich."
NO, | don't know him, and don't
like to make new acquaintance. Be-
sides, DR.. Fleming is coming to New
York in about ten days. ! promised
faithfully to see him when he re-
turned
GLOW do you know he is coming?''
asked the major, in surprise.
81 had Il note from him yesterday.
He explained that he was coming to
New York earlier than he expected
owing to sudden change in his plans
will go to see him, if you insist on it
but L know he will tell me | have
taken enough of his tonics.'
"Well, that will do" said Goddard
reluctantly. He thought of the Grim
son pictures in the medical book he
had consulted. and his heart sank
After all, his new-fornd happiness was
only to end in her death. and then
Goddard's mctlitations about Blanche
always stopped there. He had Shut
men who are striving for better
things shut out the memory of past
evil deeds and associations.
Il That night when the house was still
and he found himself alone in his study
he forced himself to the task of com
municatng with Jeanne. And as car
in no better way revea. the working:
OF his heart, | shall reproduce the let
ter word for word.
In beginning it he wrote deal
Jeanne. but there he stopped abrupt
ly. and sat staring at the words fol
several minutes. then he tore the shee
into small bits and let them filter
through his fingers. His letter begar
simply as follows:
"Wcll, / have at last done your bidding
| was a mailman. 1 confess that-the Yer,
flames of hell had scorched my brain.
have committed an unspeakable crime
against the purest, loveliest creature tina
God ever gave life to. You will be sur
prised perhaps to find that I have change,
so quickly, and really have changed com
pctely. The scales have fallen from m,
sight. feel like man who has been hyp
Noticed and wakes to find he has murdered
his best friend. I despse myself as NJ
mortal ever despsed himself before.
now know that my passion for you wa
the blindest, most insane infatuation tina
ever dragged the soul of man from al
atmosphere of hope down into the mire o
helish dependency. l now know that m.
| lONe lpE lily Wdiu WAS lHe Ouly pure low
| l have ever experienced. Yes, loved he
when l met you, and l love her now will
all the tortured soul within me. / hav
wronged her as no man ever Wronsed
pure, unsuspecting woman. but as her lif
will be OF such short duration. if cal
prevent it she shall never know of tn
stain have put upon her fair name. Will
she lives l shall lavish all the tenderness
OF my soul on her, praying to God that
may in that way atone Il little--a very littl
for my crime against her. She marriet
me to comfort me in my loneliness; mar
ried her at the bidding of an intrigue
of the most objectionable type. l wonl'
confess all at this moment but for the fea
that the shock would kill her. How coul,
l tell her that you are alive, and that an
not her legal husband?
II would not write to you now. but TO
the fact that it is due you to know TIL
stand | have taken, ard that we must nov
thoroughly understand each other in re
gard to Blanche's fortune. AS God is m
judge ! do not want her money, and a
God Is my judge you shall never lay you
!! covetous hands upon 1t. l shall at ono
take precautions to see that, at her dea tn
the money shall so to her blood relatives
AS to you, | Shall never willingly see 70,
again, nor write you another line iron
this day forth. | see my duty and shall
do it. Any letter YOU write me will be re
turned to you unopened. DO your worst
: II you wish to publish to the world tina
. you and ! have played on its crodulity. d.
, so, L shall then confess to the part tool
, i'll your scheme. AS much as l now hat
you. would not let you bear all the blame
am as guilty as YOU because am q man
| herewith enclose Il draft payable to Mrs
Nolan; 1t is all the money l can send yol
now. l am about to enter into specula
: ton in railway stock and IL it turns GU
we'll l shall send you more money. Ho,
| vir, hall