Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1904-02-12

to me-" ' u W hot Kneel
oh' woman, every word vo, ,++or
sinhS me INTO an abyss of shame, 7 soa
msSeil a fool, a knave, a brute. I am
not worthy to touch the hem of your Gar.
nsn May heaven bless you--and for.
give me-" he moaned. ior-
1ne niaue MIN rise, ever assisted him
ana weak and trembling, he sank bacl,
into a chair, almost incapable of mot;on
Inc herce will, the strong frame thav
seemed w1thered up by the mad force Of
TINS demon remorse.
on' Lawrence, | thank heaven for
bringing us face to face again. | have
WIN me proofs that will dispel all those
terrible charges of the past"
reace'' he said, interrupting her, 81
would not look upon one of them for q
King S ransom. Oh, did | not find ont the
truth for myself? Has it not been tbe
CONSCIOUSNESS of this that has pierced nv
heart like a knife at times, rendering me
almost mad? Wife, wife, l have atoned
In suffering for my sim,
i believe it, Lawrence. What I have
suffered shall remain sealed within nv
heart; you can imagine it; but never will
you hear the story from my lips. The
most bitter blow of all came to me when
l heard that in your anger you had ap-
pied for and received the decree of di-
vorce-that was no longer your wife"
1t was false, and whoever told you
that willfully deceived you. | never ap-
piled for a divorce, never received one.
SO far as the law is concerned, you are
as much my wife as you ever were,
though the bitter past can never be WHIP
ed out-neyer, and we must ever remain
~estranged."
"Oh, Father in heaven, I thank Thee
for this mercy. Husband, let US then
try and forget that bitter past. 1t has
darkened our lives for many years; why
should it shadow our whole future?" And
she stood before him, a light shining in
her eyes and a flush upon her cheeks that
had not been seen there for many a day.
Lawrence Richmond seemed dazed.
DO / hear Alright? Are you an angel
that you can live down all natural feel
ing Of outraged innocence in the past
that you can kiss the rod that smote you?
All! what a soul is there back of this,
a noble, womanly soul, and l am unwor-
thy to receive you. Do not touch me, for
| have done you the worst wrong a man
could do a loving woman, his wife-thrust
you out into the cold world as though you
were accursed."
Hush, Lawrence. Let peace reign
between us, and when Carol comes she
will bless our reunion. Poor child, she
has troubles enough Of her own"
And l am the miserable author Of
them, but II heaven spares ME l will
make the future speak for itself. I will
from this moment cast off the miserable
cloak that has hidden and almost stran-
gled what good thoughts were in my
heart, and show a new nature to the
world. My poor wronged wife, would it
be too much if l dared to kiss your hand
in token of this new peace and the for
giveness you extend to me"
For answer the old lady put her arms
around his neck and held up her face for
him to kiss. He trembled like an aspen
leaf, and then, bending down, gently
kissed her.
The past was healed, the abyss SPAN
ned, and in the future they could go for
ward hand in hand down life's decline.
He could make no reparation for what he
had done, but it was enough for her
that he had expiated that wrong in sor-
row and remorse.
They tell us woman's nature has never
been understood; that it is unfathomable,
and so it would seem.
From this calm and joyous contempla-
ton of the future they were suddenly
aroused by the entrance Of Carol, in
tears.