The Delta independent., 1901-07-26

way, but. oh, forgive me! No-do MOI
mistake me. know well you would
never marry me now; and" lowering
her voice. neither could ever marry
you, having once shown you my heart:
SO there can be no misconception
about that But II you knew every
thing-how wretched was, how hope
less. how essential it was that the
money should be procured, how ter
rible 1t was to me to have to borrow
1t, and how Just and right a thing it
seemed to give you myself in ex-
change, having no other means Of re-
payment-you might perhaps pity me.
Could you only have seen into my
heart. you would have read there how
real was my determination to be true
to you, to make you good wife. and
love you eventually as well as l loved
that other"
she broke down here and covered
her face with her hands. And Lyndon
who had never learned the art of be-
ing consistently unkind to anything,
felt his wrath and wrongs melt away
altogether, while choking sensation
arose in his throat.
He forgot all his own deep injuries,
and taking the pretty golden head
between his hands, he drew it down
upon his breast. where she began to
cry right heartily.
Mildred. how could you do IT." he
whispered. presently. in a broken
voice had you hated me you could
have done nothing more cruel. Child,
did you never think of the conse-
quences?"
Il know / have behaved basely to
you. sobbed Mildred. But never
thought that this would be the end.
All might have turned out SO different
iy, had-had this day never been"
i Shall never cease to be thankful
that this day did come" he answered,
earnestly. Better to wake from a
happy dream In time than rest uncon-
scious until the waking is too late.
bitter as 1t is to loee you now. and
no one but myself can guess how bit
ter that is. would It not be far worse
to discover that my wife had no SYM
pathy with me. no thought akin to
mine! He paused for a moment and
then he said. sadly. 1T seems a hard
thing for me to s4y. but yet-oh. Nil
dred. wish We had never met"
is there nothing can do to make
1t up to your" she asked, despairing-
ly.
No. there is nothing" he answered,
regretfully: "all that could be said or
done would not obliterate the past
You are crying still. Mildred" raising
her face. and regarding 1t mournfully;
Fare you 30 very sorry then. for your
work? And yet few plain words
would have prevented all this. Tell
me-when returning the money, which
you insisted ON doing after your
srand-aunts death. why did you not
then honestly speak the truth? Wac
not that q good opportunity"
Oh. how could I do II them" she
asked. turning away her head. with
little shiver Of distaste; that would
have appeared SO detestable in your
eyes. What!"she exclaimed. accept
your kindness gratefully when was
In sore need of It, and then when
had NO further want Of 1t. throw you
on without the slightest compunction?
Surely you would have thought tina.
q very unworthy action?"
Still It would have been better than
this" he answered. gloomiiy. begin.
ming to walk slowly up and down the
room. while she stood weaving her
fingers restlessly In and out, Watching
him.
Poor Mildred, the bitterness of her
remorse just then made half atone
ment for her sin. With a heart a;
once affectiopate and deeply feeling.
II was to her the intensest agony to
see Lyndon 80 crushed and heart
broken. and know 1t was her own
handiwork.
For few minutes there was silence
except for the faint sound Of Lyndon;s
footsteps AZ he paced heavily to and
fro on the thick carpet. At length
she could bear It no longer.
Ito be continued)