The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1903-09-18
(CONTINUED.1

i, "Oh, God; to think Of It! Had but
KNOWN! buckingham shall pay for this
WIN his head; but how could I know ?
was out poor distracted girl, sure
10 make some fatal error. I was In
such ngony-your wounds--helicyc mo
suffered moro from them than yo,,
could. Every pain you felt was ponp
Tor me-and then that awful marriage;
was Deing sold like a wrctched slave
10 that old satyr, to be gioatcd over
ana Toasted upon. No man can know
the horror OF that thought to n woman
to any woman, good or bad. TO have
ones beauty turn to curse hcr ana
make her desirable only-only as we'll
leu cnttle are priced. No matter how
great tire manifestation OF sucI- w
called love, it ALI tho more fepels
woman and adds to her loatliing day
by day. Then there was something
worse than all''-shc was almost weep
Ing now--"i might have been able to
bear the thought even Of that hidcous
marriage others have lived through
the likc--but-but after-tlat-that
day-whcn y0u-it seemed that your
touch was spark dropped into Il heart
Fall Of tlndcr. which had been lying
there awaiting 1t all these years. In
that one moment the fame grew so IN
tcnsc l could not withstand it. My
throat achcd; / could scarcely brcat the,
and 1t seemed that my heart would
burst" Here the tears gushcd forth as
she took q step toward him with out
stretched arms and said between sobs:
Il wanted you. you, for my husband
for my husband, and could not bear
the torturing thought of losing you or
enduring any other man. could not
give you up after that--it was all too
late, too late; 1t had gone too far.
was lost. lostr'
He sprang to where she stood lean
iEg toward him and caught her to his
breast.
She held him from her while she
said: "Sow you know-now you know
that would not have left you in that
terrible place had known 1t. No, not
II IT had taken my life to buy your
fror,'om."
~ do know; do know. BE sure Of
that. know 1t and shall know 1t al.
ways. whatever happens; nothing can
change me. will never doubt you
again. 1t Is my turn to ask forgiveness
now"
mo, no. Just forgive me. That Is all
ask" And her head was OIL his breast
Let us step out into the pnssageway
I Edwin" said Jane, and we did. There
were times when Jane seemed to be in.
spircd.
When we went back into the room
Mary and Brandon were sitting In the
window-way OH his great cloak. They
rose aud came to us, holding each 9th
er's hands. and Mary asked, looking uI
to him:
"Shall we tell them2"
".As you like, my lady"
Mary was willing, and looked fol
Brandon to speak. so he said, "Thi.
lady whom hold by the hand and my
2 self have promised each other before
the good God to be husband and wifi,
II fortune ever so favor us that it b,
possible"
"No; that is not It," interrupted Ma
ry, "Therc is no If I'm ii. 1t shall b,
whether II is possible or not. Nothing
ehall prevent" At this she kissed Jan,
and told her how she loved her, an,
r gave me her hand, for her love was s,
great within her that 1t overfowet
upon every one. She, however, alway
had n pienitude Of love for Jane, and
though she might scold her. and appar
emily misuse her, Jane was as dear n
a sister and was always sure Of he
steadfast, tried and lasting affection.
After Mary had said there should b
no "if'' Brandon replied:
every well, Nine. Destiny" Their
turning to us, "What ought / to do TO
ono who Is willing to stoop from s
hfph an estate to honor me and be m