The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-06-17
HAGAR OF THE PAWNSH0P
Continued From Page Seven.

peace to these. Hagar was implacable
and urged revenge, but Margaret
weak, sweet sOul-leaned to the side of
charity. Waiting the arrival Of her
false friend, her lost lover, she prayed
for guidance and for strength to sus-
tain her in the coming ordeal 1t was
the last and most painful phase of her
long, long martyrdom.
Mrs. Mask arrived an hour later, as
Hagar had announced, but alone. Her
husband had been detained by bust
ness, she explained to the girl, and
would come later. Like herself. he
was anxious TO see their dying friend.
Does he know the TRUTH" asked
HagaT, before admitting the visitor
Jane was now a large and prosperous
woman, with an imperious temper, and
in an ordinary case would have replied
sharply. But the discovery of her
treachery, the knowledge that her vic
tim was dying, had broken her down
entirely. With a pale face and CULVER
ing lip, she shook her head and sighed
that she could not bring herself to
/ speak. Hagar stood aside and permit
ted her to pass in silence She would
have lashed the perfidious woman with
her tongue. but deemed it more just
/ that the traitreSs should be punished
by the friend she had wrOnged so bit
/ terly. Mrs. Mask entered the room and
/ slowly walked over to the bedside. The
/ blind woman recognized her fOOtstep;
/ yesi recognized it even after these
many years.
| Jane" said Margaret, reprOaChfully,
/ have you come to look at your work '
The prosperous lady TecOiled as she
/ saw the wreck of the merry, happy girl
/ she had known thirty years before.
| TOngued-tied by the knowledge that
! Margaret spoke truly, she could only
stand like a culprit beside the bed,
/ and like a culpTit await her sentence.
/ Hagar remained at the door to listen.
Have you nothing to say" gasped
/ Margaret faintly-"you who lied about
me with your accOmplice-whO made
my John believe me faithless? My
/ John! alas, he has been yOurs-wOn by
/ dishOnOr-these thirty years.
/ II loved him. stammered the 9th
/ er woman at last, gOaded into defend
ing herself.
/ Yes, you loved him and betrayed me
! FOr. years I have suffered hunger and
cold; for years I have lived with a
broken heart, alone and miserably.'
/ 'I-I-Oh, I am sorry"
! Sorry! Can your sorrow give me
back thirty years of wasted life-Oi
long enduring agony? Can sorrow
make me what I should have been
what you area happy wife and moth
/ er?''
Margaret" implored Jane sinking
on her knees forgive me! In spite OF
all my prosperity I have suffered in Sc
cTet- Ny sin has come home to me
many time, and made me weep.
searched for you when I returned L
/ England; I could not find you. Now
am willing to make what expiation yoJ
wish"
Then tell your husband how yol
tricked him and ruined me-
Mono! Anything but that, MargaT-
ct! For Gods sake I should die o.
shame if he knew. He loves me now
we are old; we have children. Two o
my boys are in the army; my daughter
is a wife and mother What you will
but not that; it would destroy all; i
would kill mer'
She bowed her head on the bed cIothe.
and wept- Margaret reflected. Her re
venge was within her grasp. John wa
coming. and a word from her wOUl,
make him lOathe the woman he haC
loved and hOnOred these many years
would make him despise the mother o
his children. No. she could not be s.
cruel as to ruin the innocent to punisl
the guilty. Besides. Jane had love-
him, and it was that love which ha,
made her sin. Margaret raised herseI
feebly. and laid her thin hand on tn
head of the woman who had martyrize'
her.
81 forgive you, zane. Go in peace
John shall never know"
Jane lifted up her face in amazemen
at this GOdlike forgiveness. You vii
not tell him?' she muttered.
No. No one shall tell him. HagaI
swear to me that you will keep silent
Il swear" said Hagar, a little sui
lIenly. But you are wrong"
, mo, I am right To gain forgive
/ ness we must forgive others. My poo
Jane, you were tempted, and you fel
OF Lucy, I shall say nothing; God wi
bring home her sin to her in-ahi dea
Lord Hagar! III dieI''
Hagar ran TO the bedside and place