The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1915-09-09

NduO. Inc uAkIldS6 Was Ohly 10
hours away Upton was in her moth
er's home when a messenger came to
the door.
An old colored woman who lived
eight miles away was dying. She had
something to confess before she died.
She wanted minister-any minister.
The message had come to Upton be-
cause the Methodist minister was out.
"But you can't go, dear!" exclaimed
the girl. ''Mr. Barrett will be back
in few minutes, and he is her min
lister. AT least, all the colored people
about here go to his church"
'I'll have to go, Madeleine" the min
ioter answered. THE call has come to
me-"
well, I think It outrageous" an
swered the girl holly. Remember, IL
you keep me waiting tomorrow, I'll
not marry YOU"
why, my dear, I'll be back by mid
night" Upton answered.
She suffered him to kiss her, but
her manner was distinctly aggrieved
as he took his departure. And when
he reached the miserable shack, he
found cause for further delay.
The old woman's son was expected
hourly from the South. He had COM
mitted a crime; he had confessed to
his mother. and when he arrived she
wished him to unburden himself of his
secret and suffer the penalty. 1t
would mean dozen years in the peni-
tertiary. She could not die leaving
him with his crime unatoned.
The minister waited. Hours crept
by. 1t was morning before the son
appeared. He was just in time to say
good-by to his mother, to listen to her
plea, and to make his confession.
The woman died, and the minister
took the man to the police station.
By the time these formalities were end
ed it was ten o'clock. And he had half
an hour to go home and dress for the
wedding.
There were no. telephones in those
days. At furious pace he drove his
horse up the hill, to encounter the
brides carriage going to the church.
Madeleine saw him. He pulled up and
tried to speak to her.
Take US homel" cried the girl to
the coachman.
Those were the last words of hers
that Upton heard Arrived at the ma
nor, she shut herself up for days. In
vain Upton tried to see her. She
would not receive him. She returned
his letters. week later the young
man left Clayton and his successor
was installed. A fe-7 weeks after that
Mrs. Driscol died, and Madeleine soon
closed the house and disappeared.
She had lived in the world, she had
tasted the sweets and bitterness of
life, and now, at thirty-fve, she had
returned to her native town. And
those memories which she thought she
had forgotten came back to her with
poignant intensity
That was the story she told the
bishop.
What can do?" she cried. 81 have
been punished. Heaven knows have
suffered, have ruined two lives"
you have never seen or heard of
this Upton vane since them" the bish-
op asked gravely.
mo. l don't know where he went.
How could l seek him out after that 2"
But you knew at the time the cause
Of his late return?"
Not for weeks" answered Made
leine. "And then, what was the use of
being sorry?"
do you still love this man" in
Quired the bishop gravely.
She flung out her arms YEARLY. Il
have done with love-" she answered. Il
only want to restore the part that /
have taken out of his life. 1 want to
know that he is happy and has forgot
ten me-"
He is happy" answered the bish-
op. But he has not forgotten you"
Something in his voice made the
girl start and look at him intently.
She had not seen his face for her
tears. now she found .lerSelf looking