Evening star., 1902-02-15

| him. For now, in the first flow of graft
tude, words might be said, a reward might
De onered which in common gratitude for
all Isabel had done for him he could not
refuse.
He owed everything to her-his freedom.
h hls good name: his present prospects. his
that she had found him in the deepest dis
tress and had taken him out of his misery:
ne had no right to entertain the thought Of
any other woman If this woman should
happily claim more than gratitude, more
than friendship.
Isabel was in her parlor. the room at the
PACK on the ground floor; her own room.
where she sat when she was alone, sur
rounded by her books and her pictures
She looked up when Oliver appeared, with
an inquiring glance.
Madam, he said, II bring ycu what
hope you will consider good news"
iou always bring me good news, Oliver
Tel me quickly what your news is. 1 am
more anxious than l can tell YOU
| providence, madam, has been on your
side-may l say-on our side?''
| surely you may say so. But how?"
Your enemies are finally scattered. You
Will hear no more of them"
| 'How2 What have you done?"
! Madam, 1t is not what have done It Is
surely the hand of the Lord. You We're in
silenced and power1ess. AS for the escaped
convict" he paused, thinking how best
to present the story of the last scene.
| has he gone on board?'
| W. Sii tiiC Sdip prov fuSu lOl LAS
alike visum: by the gods the end was 9TH
erwise appointed He has embarked on the
ship whose pilot Is Charon Some one-be-
ileve you, madam-not myself-betrayed
MIN. The constables were sent out to ar
, rest him. He fought them being fellow
or Infinite courage, and weII-nigh escaped
them-for the moment-but in the fight
| some one-I know not who-drew a sword
and SO he fell. Murderer robber, compan-
! ion of murderers and robbers--hc has met
| with the death that he deserved, but not at
| my hands,
Isabel sighed but not with grief '.IIe is
dead. Alas! Oliver, cannot choose but
| feel relieved. You think that he has left
nothlng-no papers-behnd him?'
hat papers could such a man possess.
| or leave, who knew not how to read or
| write? He has left nothing-neither pa
pers. nor record, nor history He has de-
scended seen into the grave; his place knoweth
| MIN no more. Well for him that he has
perlshed in this way instead Of the way he
| feared-and deserved
Isabel bowed her head. "Can pretend to
| be sorry? she asked. IF We may not de-
| sire the death Of a sinner we may at least
! acknowledge the hand of Providence when
| a sinner is cut down. 1t might have been
myself Oliver, can l forget that l once
held that mans hand while the parson de-
| clared that those whom God had joined to-
| gether man must not part?"
| Dear lady, there was marriage. He
| was already married"
! The marriage was in my mind; 1t was In
my intention. can never forget the shame
| and the humiliation Of it,
| Let the memory of the day and the hour
/ perish. Dear madam, forget the man aud
| all. AS for the other, the poor drunkard
who in his sober moments talked of re-
venge; who pretended that YOU made him
| bankrupt"
| What of him.
! ''You know that he Is in the Kings
| Bench prison. He is now submissive end
| repentant-that is, afraid he will get no
more drink. l have ventured to pledge
your word for small allowance, which will
| give him sufficiency. 1t is the best place
| for him, believe me. At the tavern where
| he lived he drank all day long. He would
nave been killed in few days or weeks.
Already he had begun TO see rats and
| creeping things, which is the worst sign In
the world. He will live longer m the prison.
| If it is worth while to prolong a useless life
| IN the nope OF repentance. Iint he has had
fright. He will never again talk OF re-
! Venge. If he does he will have tC go back
/ to the poor side, where there is no drink
| to be obtained except for money And he
will have none"
Il must tell his wife and Alice where he
1s Oliver, 1t was my sin that found me
| out when this man was taken to my
brother-in-aw with his story. He goes into
a prison where he will die--a pallper am
| free and rich
Madam, you have done kind and good
| actions. These are like guardian angels for
you. They stand between you and evil.
| That mans life has been a long course of
] drink, with the evils that drink brings with
| it. Do not waste your pity upon him..
| Il will not. Poor wretch Yet she was
| wasting pity upon him. Perhaps his wife
| will go to see him.
There remained the Fleet parson. Madam
! You will not be surprised to hear, perhaps
| that shortly after you him this worthy
| divine went to bed drunk: it was not | be-
] iitNe, an uncommon ending of the day with
/ aim the candle set fire to the sheets and
| IN the extinguishing that followed not only
| his life was lost, but his latest book Of
! ~ rSNa nJ
| Madam. said not that Providence was on
| your side. Affiavt Deus: the Lord hath
once breathed and your enemies are scat
! tered
1.-The Lord hath sent me also faithfu,
and most loyal friend" She gave him her
| hand. He stopped and kissed it. She took
his hand In her own and held it. He
changed color, thinking of what might be
| In her mind. There" she said softly
"henceforth you are my brother. Do You
| understand? My brother" Alas Oliver
| would never understand what it cost her to
confer this title upon him. He only thought
| that Alice had been mistaken. MY
! brother she repeated. They were. he
thought tears Of relief-nay. of gratitude
for her release. But they We're not. They
! were the tears with which she could not
choose but offer when she made surrender,
| once for all. Of the dream that had filled
| her soul until 1t became part and parcel
| Of her life, insomuch that, without 1t, there
seemed no joy, or hope of joy, left at all.
IAN that I have is yours. Promise me
that If you want anything that 1 can give
you you will tell me. 1t will be my happi-
ness-my chief happiness, my brother, to
watch your happiness" To promote him
she was giving up to this loyal and true
gentleman the bond which would have
made him her own for life But I cannot
help you. Wealth. honor. rank, office-all
will be won by yourself, for yourself. We
women can only look on. There Is great
future before you. And l shall sit and
watch and thank God; yes, Oliver. thank
God all my life for you and for your sue
cess"
She released his hand: he saw the tears
| rise to her eyes and roll down her cheek.
He stood before her too deeply moved for
! speech. too deeply moved even to kiss her
| hand. At length he found words.
Madam. remember what 1 owe you.
Think what you have done for me. Could
I do anything, think Of anything while
| there was a service left undone for you?"
Nay, but you make too much of SIM
| pie act!' She dried her tears. ''Oliver. .
she said. there is one thing that must
do for you. Oh! one thing I must do
and that tonight-immediately
| What Is that madam"
1T Is the thing that is dearest In your
thoughts, and lies nearest to your heart.
/ Oh! Oliver you have preserved my repu-