Shiner gazette. [volume] (Shiner, Tex.) 1893-current, 1902-05-14


thought it was accepled as the price OF
your affection Affection Nay, rather
federation. Had Known it would
have flung it into tie sea before it
should have so degraded both yourself
and nae. Had you no compassion
no thought of the dreary future you
were so coldly planning out for us
both-I ever striving to gain love
that was not to be gained-you per-
petually remembering past days that
contained all the sweetness of your
life? There-it is OF small use my re-
preaching you now; the thing is done,
and cannot. be undone You have only
acted as hundreds OF women have act
ed before you-rulned one mans hap.
piness completely, and very nearly
wrecked anothers, all for the want of
a little honesty"
He made few steps forward, as
though to pass her, but she arrested
him by laying both her hands on his
arm.
oh, Henry, forgive me" she ex-
claimed, with deep emotion. you can
not leave me like this. know I have
been bad, wicked deceitful, in every
way, but, oh, forgive me! No-do not
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 If 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
it, 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 a good wife, and
love you eventually as well as | 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 ana wrongs melt away
altogether, while choking sensation
arose in his throat.
He forgot all his own deep injuries,
and, taking the phetty golden head
between his hands be 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 consa-
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
ly, had-had this day never BEEN"
Il shall never cease to be thankful
that this day did SAme," he answered,
earnestly. Bsttsf~f0 wake from a
happy dream in time than rest uncon-
scious until the waking is too late.
Bitter as it is to lose you now, and
no one but myself can guess how bit
ter that is. would 1t not be far worse
to discover that my wife had no sym
pathy with me, no thought akin to
miner" He paused for a moment and
then he said, sadly, st seems a hard
thing for me to say, but yet-oh, Mil
dred, wish we had never met!"
rs there nothing can do to make
it up to you?" she asked, despairing-
ly.
mo, 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 it mournfully;
are you SO 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
grand-aunt's death, why did you moi
then honestly speak the truth? Was
not that good opportunity"
''Oh, how could do 1t them" she
asked, turning away her head with q
little SILVER of distaste; that woult
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 it, throw yor
off without the slightest conjunction
Surely you would have thought tina
very unworthy action?"
Still it would have been better thar
this" he answered, gloomily, begin
ming to walk slowly up and down thu
room, while she stood weaving hel
fingers restlessly in and out, watching
him. t
Poor Mildred, the bitterness OF hsi
| ramnrsa lust then mazda half atnna