Year: 1869




both. the curtain fell from between our
hitherto vailed hearts


Before suspected his intentions, the
man whom had az least allowed to love
me, and who was. which was worse than
all, my husbands brother, had bent over
me, and drawn my face to his with one
wild. mad kiss of passionate love. In a
moment | saw the fire leaping from the
craters mouth, and I knew where I was
standing


had been rcared-oh. my sainte1
mother in far different school and
right was not wholly era shed out in my
heart yet. I forgot that l had been as
bad as ne if not worse aod wrenching
myself from his grasp, | flung out the
words, "You are a miserable coward -
and few iuto the house and up to my
room, only to stumble into the close en-
brace OF my husbands daughter.
81 have been a witness to the whole
and pity you," she said, as she kissed
me tenderly, but I shrank away from her
carresses with q shudder, and put the
length of the room between US.


Her father was my husband, and |
hated them both now; for had l not
wronged them both
She did not seem to mind my actions,
but locked the door carefully, and wait
ed until | was quiet enough to listen to
her.


L am not going to reproach YOU" she
said, though love for another beside
your husband is written upon your face,
for pity you; but [ appeal to your own
sense of honor and Justice You are right
at heart still, believe, though you are
astray now but y.u must be true to
! your marriage vows


Il had better 90 home at once" said


''By no means" she answered quickly
"Iicnry sails tomorrow, and"
stopped her.


"To-morrow Oh, pity me :"
| was covering at her feet in an agony
Of pain, however wicked it might be,
while the angel at my side, as angel she
has truly been to me, was saying, 4 do,
d. believe me-


She moved a little, ani I thought she
wa going home.


''pon't leave me am lost if you Do, y
[ cried, clinginc to her like drowning
person.


am not going, poor dear But lis
ten, she said keeping her voice steady
through it all 'IIenry sails Tomorrow
know that he will be away for an indef-
mite period, probably for many years.
You must see him in my presence, con-
tcss that you are wrong, and then get
strength from heaven to do what IS right.


She waited asa hour or SO, until was
comp paratively calm, and then sent for
him What they said at the door l could
not hear, but She spoke for several min
rtcs TO him : and then he crossed to
where | stood awaiting him.


= have been wholly to blame" he
said, Forgive me. l shall never look
into your face again"


g No, was wrong, too, " 1 gaspel
out


He tool, my hand, but I threw nay
arms about his neck, and for a moment
our faces touched TLa: is all | rcmcm-
Der.


When | came to a knowledge of things
about me, my daughter Helen, the blcs-
5 d woman who had stepped in and saved
me from myself, was beside me She
told me at once Of Ienry's departure and
my husbands distress at my illness,
though he hal not the slightest us1icon
Of Its cause, and then bending down and
looking into my eyes she said, Heaven
will keep You through it all"


| knew what she meant, and thanked
her from my heart.


Fr, m the moment that she saw that
really needed her help, words are too poor
10 tell what that woman was to me. |
used to look at her in speeches. wonder
She seemed 10 have become suddenly i'm
bued with uncarthly wisdom and strength;
Tor when | was weak she supported me,
when | was ready to give up in despair
She encouraged NE and what was bet
ter thaa all. she loved me truly, which is
lar enough from what she had great rea-
son to do


Bat fer her I should not be the woman
| trus, | am but for her. | could not
now look my little child in the face, and
feel that could. having now forgiveness
through bitter repentance, lead her as 4
true mother should


look back over many years to this
episode o. my life, and never think of
it but | say. Heaven bless for ever and
ever my husbands daughter, and the best
friend woman could ever know -