The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1902-05-21

| alone In the world. Irresistibly they
| we're drawn to each other. and before
| many summer days had passed they
had plightcd their troth in the good
old-feshioned way that cannot be Inn
proved upon.
Evangeline kept this let from her
godmother knowing her hatitual re-
serve. her shrinking from neighbors
who had offered kindly services. How
much more would she resent Paul's
presence! The future was theirs. the
moment sufiiced; why trouble for the
morrow?
II was early that evening when
Evanteline retired to her room; she
had intended reading one of Paul's
books. but the beauty of the night
stayed her, and she threw herself on
the bed TO watch the sky studded with
it's myrlads of mysteries. How long
she slept she could not tell. but sud
denly she sat bolt upright with the con-
viction that something strange was
occurring. Was she dreaming? She
rubbed her eyes; nc. o.there was her god
mother i'm the garden. n box In one
hand q small spade In the other. What
was she doing at that hour of the
night? Why this secrecy? She shud-
derei as she leaned out of the window
and watched the tall, silent form reel
ing toward the most deserted portion
of the garden. Should she follow?
Her honor forbade. Breathless, she
awaited her godmsthcrs' return. but
some time elapsed before she came
tottering toward the house. She was
muttcring to herself, but the girl
could not hear her words.
Tho next morning Margaret llarway
was found dead in her chair. Heart
failure the doctor pronounced the
cause of her death, and heart failure
It was. Very gently Evangeline took
from the clenched fingers some cid let
ters. ana tying them together laid
them reverentlv away.
After the death of her godmother
Evangeline yielded to Paul's desire to
an immediate marriage; alone. with
out money or friends. II seemed her
only possible course. She turned in
stinctively to Paul, and he did not fail
her.
To clear the ground around the
house was Paul's duty as well as his
pleasure. AT first II seemed hope
les task. but by degrees the flower beds
took form and outline. until the only
remaining tanglc was the far corner
under the apple tree.
As they drew near the spot. one al
ternoon. intending t. work there,
Evangelne shuddered and drew back.
at was here she came on that dread
full night" she whispered to her hus-
band. IL could see her busy among
the bushes. Oh, Paul, what was she
doing?"
Paul drew her toward him.
my darling, you must forget. Just
as the weeds and mould have been
cleared from the old place, so the
shadows must pass from my darling.
Come, be brave. this is our last task"
He struck his spade into the earth,
and threw up the rich black mould.
Suddenly he stopped.
There is something here" he said,
running his hand through the loose
earth. "Who knows but what 1t is a
fortune? II is box" he said more
seriously, drawing II forth with some
difficulty.
Evangeline was clinging to a tree
for support.
"Oh, Paul. do not touch IL! Put II
back-put IL back! know IL must be
something dreadful, something we do
not want to know. If you love me,
Paul, bury it quickly"
There was so much anguished en-
treaty in her voice that he did as she
pade him.
1--WE will leave it," he said reluc-
tantly, "but we owe it to ourselves and
to her to solve this mystery. Come
we will look through the old papers
and letters you have laid away" And
so, with his arm around her, they
went into the house and up the stairs
At first it seemed as though the mys-
terry would not be solved, at any rate
by the letters; but finally Evangeline
leaid before Paul the letter she had
taken from the dead woman's hand
then. looking over her husbands
shoulder. she read with him:-
"Margaret:-There is just retri'
button for every sin mortal man COM
mits. or this fact am an apt illus
tration. No future could bring more
anguish than that which ! endure
Margaret, !. who would have given my
life for you. have given my soul, an
despised of you.
IN a mad hour forged my employ
er's signature. We were so poor. Mar
garet, so desperately poor! To SET
you toiling day after day was torture
! could not stand, and temptation over
came me and fell--may just Power
condone my sin! When the realization
came, when l fully understood the dis
grace and loss of self. respect-then
my darling, my wife, knew but of one
way to save you; first, to make wha
reparation lay in my power, then tt
J leave you, my baby, and my country
Thus my crime would remain hidden
Knowing your upright soul, you