Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1901-11-12


he knew all about 1t. He is in the
house now. And, then, to hurt him
with such letter, to let him know
that I was suspected! And he never
told me! He bore that, too, for my
sake, In silence"
"Oh, he's in the house now, is he?
cried Mrs. Dean in her shrill staccato.
"You'd like us to believe that, would
your You'd like to make US believe he
knows all about the man you've got
hid som'ers here now"
Nothing would make US believe
your husband is in this house now but
seein him in the flesh and blood" said
Mrs. Hostetter solemnly. "May the
Lord have mercy on you for a sinful
woman! Your only hope Of salvation
Is to make a full confession Of your
sins. Bring out the partner Of your
guiltw she exhorted in loud voice.
Bring him out and let him suffer the
awful effects Of his secret sin! Moth
In can save either Of you but bein
purged with fire. Mebbe you think it
was pleasant fer US to come here and
be insulted? We've done our duty like
Christian women, and we're ready to
leave 1t all to the Lord. Bring out tho
partner of your guilt
Her voice faltered. The door Of an
inner room had opened. A young man
came slowly toward them.
Not greatly like triumphant lover
looked he. He was pale and haggard.
The three women started and grasped
hold of one another convulsively. He
faced them with an air Of desperation.
"You want to know who am" he
said. "She'd die or lose her reputation
forever before she'd tell you, but I'll
tell you. I'm her brother, the son Of
her mother. live In hut up in the
forest, and don't dare to show my
wretched face to man. I'm an escaped
convict from the penitentiary, where
went for forgery. was guilty too. 1t
is my fault that my old mother sits
there in bed gibbering idiot. 1t Is my
fault that this awful burden Is on my
sister. Yet twice week for months
she has been letting me come here be-
cause my mother knows me and is
calmed by my presence. Only an angel
would have clung to such an abandon
ed wretch as am and tried to make q
man of him. She has never once re-
preached me, never once lost faith that
| will yet be man. Her husband,
modest ladies, knows all about my
coming. The birdcage was not hung
out to inform me that he was not at
home, but that none Of her kindly in
terested neighbors was making an aft
ernoon visit. Since you have known Of
my visits for six months l am almost
stunned with wonder that you did not
drop in before. I marvel, in fact, that
you did not take up your bed and board
in this unhappy home. Your delicate
self repression fills me with admira-
tion."
He paused for second, in absolute
need of breath. When he spoke again,
a glance Mt his sisters face, which
showed signs Of deep suffering, had
changed his look and tone. "Well." he
said deliberately, "you have Invaded
the sacredness Of my sisters home.
You have wormed out her sorrowful
secrets. You have tried to estrange
her husband from her. You have
bounded down q guilty, repentant
wretch who had nothing left but to be
near his mother and sister, whose lives
he had ruined and who must now start
out again on bis lonely wandering with
no place in which to lay his head. You
belong to the church. You call your
selves Christians. Are these the things
Christ taught you to do? Are these
"Hey. heyr' cried the old creature on
the bed. whats all this fuss about"
She peered at them with dreadful eyes.
The pupils were like little blue black
bullets. "Why don't you give 'em a
cheer? They don't look like ladies. but
give 'em q cheer anyhow"
"And now," concluded the young
man, walking to the door of the inner
room and throwing 1t open. my SIS
ter's husband will say few words to
you, and then we will regretfully per.
NIT you to depart"
When the three women became con-
vinced that 1t was really Mr.. Mayhem
who was entering. their faces were
things to behold and remember. Mrs.
Frazer confessed afterward that she
had "giddy feelin, as II she'd let all
holts Co." The very carpet itself went
up and down In waves under her. Mrs.
Dean shrank back against the wall for
support Mrs. Hostetter's fine fighting
feathers drooped, but she stood her
ground bravely.
Mr.. Mayhem advanced and stood be-
side his wife. He was pale and worn
looking. He spoke in quiet. even tones.
II have heard all that my wife said.
although she did not mean for me to
hear It, and am glad. She spoke the
truth. I have been jealous Of her de-
votion to her mother. 1t made me mis-
erable, and In turn made her miser-
able by my hardness and coldness. Un-
til this hour have been unable to ap-
preciate the unselflshness and nobility
of her character. Her brother. too. has
spoken the truth. The letter which one
of you must have been 30 kind as TO
write me made me feel more bitter to-
ward my wife for having placed US
both in false positions. brooded over
It without telling her. But, foreseeing
that sooner or later the author OF the
letter would make the visit of investi-
CATION which you are now doing us the
honor to make, I have remained at
home every Tuesday and Friday since
to protect my wife when she needed
me. My wife"-without looking at her
he reached out for her hand, which she
gave him quickly and silently, drawing
nearer to him-"is q woman who will
let me atone and make her so happy
that she will forgive me. Henceforth l
shall bear her burdens and help her to
do her duty. Now you know all. And
now, as you have gratified your curios-
ity in what you are probably pleased to
consider truly Christian manner and
spirit, we shall be glad to be left alone
to bear as best we may the bitterness
and the humiliation which you have
heaped upon u.s."
They got themselves out Of the house
somehow. Their faces were Of q dull