The San Juan County index. (Aztec, N.M.) 1890-19??, 1902-12-19

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through"
have never come to me. No one but
you will ever know this. You at least
have tried to understand me--you
and Margaret, who is dead. l tell you
this because l loved her-perhaps
you ought to know although she
never guessed it. / loved her better
than the soul within me-than God
himself. Not with the passlon which
drives men mad, but with that deeper
feeling which is depressed and throbs
IN mighty silence through every
thought and purpose while life lasts"
yes, you hid it from us both" said
Edward, dimIy, vaguely,-"and 1
think | understand" He arose and
began to pace the room. His face was
working now with some unfathomed
condict-the calm was gone After
a time he stopped before the others
chair and regarded him ~intently.
III have to ten you now" he
said, hoarsely. You have the right
to know. You thought that Margaret
died Of heart disease. All the world
thinks SO. 1t does not know the
truth-but you shall. Read this"
Gregory took the letter from the
others hand and spread It out before
him. He started as the first line met
his glance and turned to his com
panion. go on" said Edward, read
It through" and Gregory, with a
white and silent face, turned to the
page again. 1t ran as follows:
My Husband-It is not for you
or other men to judge me for the
deed l am about to do. That is for
God, who knows the frailties Of wo-
mems hearts. Nor is mine the fault
that / have not the strength longer
to fight the passion | have hid from
you thus far. You are so strong, so
independent OF a life like mine; you
win not miss me as a weaker man
might donor will you blame me
when you know the truth. / am cast
ing way my life. In a little phiai,
now within my hand, there rests a
sure and rapid cure for earthly ills
and one which gives no sign. II
draws no lines Of agony upon the face
One merely sleeps, and It is over,
My father was a chemist-he taught
me somewhat OF his craft, and Of this
berry, which, stepped In wine, gives
peace to weary hearts.
And now the secret which causes
me to take this step; It is a thing
which came into my life unasked.
Something stronger than myself-the
love OF another man; your friend. II
was destiny that made you bring him
to our home one night. DO you re-
member? The quiet man. whose face
was placid and whose heart was full
Of upshed tears. He talked OF com
monplace events and tried to hide his
real nature from me with light words
"a nature so grand, so beautiful, so
rich in finer things. It thrilled my
being with celestial melodies. You
did not know, And he-he thought
me but a foolish girl, who could not
understand.
Thank God, my husband, that he
was honorable-or that he did not
see. For. had he hidden me / should
have fallen at his feet. I should, may
hap. have brought dishonor to your
name. for love like this is greater
than the things OF earth. You brought
him many times to me, and, after he
had gone, / tossed about and grappled
with my duty and my soul, lest /
should follow him and beg that he
might take me In his arms for u
brief moment and then to let me die.
They were terrible. those battles
In the night They Slapped my
strength until you thought me M. II
you could ever know the struggle that
n cost 10 greet him then, again. with
smiling face-to stiil the beating OF
my heart and play the friend 90
have done with other men, q you