Marble Hill press., 1901-12-18

The phtiemani OF course Al
nsspt Dent she had great sI|n|
y run down insl a. ahe wss "a hsh
4 he would echo the little maid. W.
aist and eay that he. too, thouehl ks
beautiful. The iinpulna Of sanll} Va.
yet 2 Be reglpted, and gatherInf d
l,ef qIlhen skirts nhs ran lightly donI
ne stairs. The rom wis In shadow
tne large. old-fashlonoe lamu On ~,
table burning dimly: but siitinr A. ]
eoFneF on the goia she saw Z man /.
Iofm. 4 man who rose lmpetuounly a
PIC feet As she entered.
with . maile upon her llps ana IN
nsr eyes, and a bright mot Of Scarlet
- ner ehesks' she trippsd across he
noof and turned the lamp 20 that ne
l'sht slreamed full upon her fhon
looked up into Dents face 10 "a lhs
leok Of love ana admiratIon gathsflnE
there- looked to hnd It not Dent. bnl
some one who. for . moment, seemed
! Z ptranger-some one whose face was
prohzed and bearded, but with A
s-range pallor gathering on Il a he
looked IN vain for the words OF love
ana recognition which did not come
looked from her own palIng face, from
ne Dying spots Of scarlet in hor
cheek. 70 the aiIken train which
swept ne door IN its purity, and the
orange flowers she had fastened in her
breast Yes she knew him now. Il
was John. come home 70 claim her
lor his very own. HIs voice was very
hoarse when be spoke.
n came for my BRIDE" ho said arn
she hereY Is this dress for me "
Have pity" she walled. in answer.
Two yeaiB were such a long whIle.
FOR ok months had not heard
thought you were dead. or had forgot
ten me-" - -
Men do not forset,e he answered.
We leave that To the women who un.
DO u.s. Six monthsl And II seemed |
20 you q long time 10 wait. chlld. do |
you know what I have endured for |
the reward Of this moments what |
was hunger. toll, prIyatlon, homesIck- |
meas 70 mey aimoat welcomed them
Tor ever behind them All was tho
thought that all were for you, for the
DAY which was slowly. alowly creeping
on, when / might stand before YOU
and say: Alice. have proved NV
love With a price. You may accspt n
darling, without fear. II has been
purified through fire. And when. slr
months ago, my crowning success
came. ! started In search Of YOU; but
the long hardships had done their
work. For months was Il Deaths /
door, unable TO write. or to let others
write. Then. when grew stronger
l said; ! win wait until I can no 10
her. You were sheltered, cared for
happy-aye, ] was so mad az to think
praying for mel even thanked God
that your prayers had restored nv IIto
ana reason. I am as the man Who
toiled ell his life In search Of gilt,
terins diamond. and when at length
ne picked It up triumphant, he dIsooy.
ered Il 70 be piece Of shining glasa."
John, joint Forgive me-" she
pleaded. clinglng with both hands TO
bis arm. her face upturned in It's pale
peauty to bis. ! loved you then. Be-
lieye me. loved you then"
Through the open window stole her
words. paralyzing the form Of an un-
Eeen listener. who had at that moment
appeared upon the scene, What did II ,
moan?
He heard not the mans answerins
words-"Forgivs you? Never!"--but
saw only his last. mad. passionate en-
brace as he snatched her unresIstlna
form In his arms and covered her face !
WITH kisses which seemed half hatred !
and half love. then released her and l
went out into the night
The next day a little note was pul
INTO John Maxwell's hand. and, as be
ore II open. the strong man trembleJ
Ike Q child. He had grown calmer
Iincs the night previous, though all
he JOY and lightness had died out Of
Ifs life.
You have had your revenge shs
'rote. 1.-THE man was TO marry saw
GU take me In your arms, and heard
ie say that had loved you. Perhap,
deserved my punishment. but II Is very
ifter. You left me two years II You
az loved me you would not have done
?. was child. and forgot you and
armed 70 love another. / no longer
* you to forgive me, since you have
reaked upon me your revenge"
His own life stretched bare and
lank and desolate before him. For
moment he felt wild Joy that SO
ers might prove. The next, after
rief struggle, his manhood con.
iered. His revenge should be some
ling nobleF than q girls wrecked lie
something which. after long and
nelly years. he might recall without
blush Of shame.
Dent Dexter was alone in the cot
go he had prepared for his bride
ting with bowed head. when John
axwell sought him out, The inter,
eW between them was very brief,
Y for an instant. as they parted,
cir hands met In long, silent clasn.
le man had given hapniness--nne
q renounced 1t. So the wedding
y was not postponed, but Alice's
gers trembled as she again fastened
wedding dress, and tears dimmed
I eyes as she bent to fastep the
lnge blossoms in her breast el
ristmas Eve.
'he knew that Dent had taken her
x to his heart and home. that some
y all had been explained to him;
quite how II ali happened she
'er knew until. a year later, heF
Iband bent ever her where she lay
\ her baby boy sleeping on her
ast. and told her all the story, end
with q proud glance at the child.
he gave US our happiness, darling
will name our boy after the man
wreaked On us such d revenge
ChFlstmas Aboapa Man.ef.waE
- - - I'll