Milford chronicle., 1905-05-26

broke, and package of unopened let
tiers dropped out. Brenda's blood froze
in her veins as she looked at them.
They were addressed to her in the
handwriting of John Masters. She
tore them open feverishly and read
them-letters full of love at first. of az
onized doubt and fear later, then Of
despair. One letter had been written
after her marriage. "Oh, how could
you leave me, my darling? Could YOU
not wait for me? Have I not done all
that 1 could for you? You have strip
ped life forever Of all brightness for
me. Oh, if 1 could only know what has
come between u.s."
She wept in great gusts Of passion as
she read on. And her husband had
kept these letters from her. She hated
him.
When he came to his dinner the let
tiers lay beside his plate. He recog-
nized them instantly. One Of the chill
dren was taking its MONDAY nap. He
sent the other to be fed by the negro
woman in the kitchen. Brenda was sit
ting in her place colOrless and her eyes
fixed on him and burning with re-
proach. He gazed at her a moment. /
Then he dropped upon the floor and |
groveled at her feet and she spoke for
the first time
How could you, Martin; how could
yOu?"
"Oh, know it wasn't right. Brendar'
he said hoarsely, "but loved you so! You
don't know how loved you! Nobody
ever loved anybody so. l had to have
you, and so l got Digby to get the let
tiers, and paid him not to let you have
them. Oh, it wasn't right! But it was
the only way that I saw to get you.
And haven't I been good to you. Bren-
da? Haven't done everything for
you?"
She rose and left him. His touch
seemed to poison her.
week followed Of horrible silent ,
suffering for them both. Then came a !
scene which she had pictured to herself
for many years. Even since her mar Z
riage she could not help sometimes i'm
lgining it, though she had tried to be a Z
good and faithful wife to the one who. :
IS she now knew, had robbed her Of the Z
'nly man whom she had ever loved. ,
John Masters came back to Bermuda. +
She knew nothing of it unit; ne ap- n
reared before her. though her husband 4
lad piloted in the steamer which had
irought the exile into harbor on the r
revious day and had seen him among
he passengers. He came to Brenda's A
ome in the sweet twilight Of a MAY
yening. She was playing with her W
hildren under the blooming oleanders.
He entered the gate almost like an 90
Id man, though he was scarcely thir- H.
?. His face was strongly marked and d,
is hair was streaked with gray. She m
ad grown more beautiful than ever er
18th motherhood He turned pale as
le came forward and took his hand NJ
here were no fOrmalities between tr
lem. She spoke as though they had
zen parted only short time. ba
Il never got your letters until last be
eek, John" she said simply. Il am in
arried, as you know. These are my do
ildren. but l married in a fit of "
ounded pride and despair because / tr,
sti
not hear from you. know now mi
1t have always loved you just the trl
ne, though l am prepared to live on
th my husband and to try to be a cir
ID wife to him and a faithful mother
my children. Come and tell me sal
)ut yourself" KIN
he led him to the vine wreathed 1 c
ch, and they sat down together on up,
bench. The evening wore on. The L
,rO nurse put the children to bed jos
] the long separated man and wom- pal
talked on. Then Martin Mears day
le home. Brenda did not look to- u
I'd him, and the stern expression OF
n the face Of John Masters FORBADE sea
speech between him and the man