Year: 1866

cared for nothing. My husbands love wa
torture to me, and every day l found 1t more
difficult to bear At last there came one
who. though nominally my husband friend
sought both his ruin and my own. He reao
my secret fully, and humbled me with 1t.
was mad-l was desperate. My husband
false friend watched me closely, attended me
like my shadow, and at last asked me to fly
with him. In my wretchedness | consented.
Heaven knows was innocent of slnfullntent,
but in my misery clutched the first chance
of escape.


We left the house one dark, stormy night,
and entering close carriage, set off at full
speed for the railway station. The horses
took fright and ran away. | sat IN the car
riage, dumb with terror, and almost uncon-
scious of everything until sudden crash
startled me, and found myself buried in
one corner of the vehicle, which fell heavily
on one side. In an instant my companion
was out of the carriage, so that when the
people collected around it no one knew he
had occupied it with me. They helped me
to alight, and congratulated me on my for
tunate escape.


As | was moving away, | saw them take
a human form from under the wheels, and
was told that it was the body of man who
had been run over and almost killed when
the carriage upset. lnvoluntarily L sprang
forward, and saw In the Pickering lamplight
the pale, CHASTITY features of Walter Gwynne.
| did not faint or cry out, but sustained by a
superhuman energy, followed the men with
their burden to a room In thetavern near by.
A physician was summoned and he pronoun-
ced the injuries mortal. He said that Wal
ter would die during the night.


AT my request, all but the physician and
myself were excluded from the room
never left it until Walter lay in it a corpse.


In about an hour he recovered his con-
sciousness. The doctor told him he must
die, and asked if he was prepared. A soft
sweet smile lit up the dear face as he an
swered-


'Yes; God be praised that am so near
the end of my trials.


with joy.


1t was kind in you to come, Nellie" he
whispered.


stayed by him during the sad night ]
told him that Iloved him had always loved
him, and how had suffered; but kept from
him my shameful attempt at fight / could
not bearto embitter his last moments with
such a confession.


He held my hand lovingly, and never took
his eyes from me, until they were closed upon
earth. At last, as ale was sinking fast, he
whispered


own you kiss me, Nellie? There viii be
no sin in it. [ am sonear Heaven thatth
will be no faint of earth in it.


bent down and kissed him, and my tears
rained upon his face His hand released It's
grasp; and his eyes closed gently; then there
came into his face look of happiness and
peace, and knew it was that peace which
passeth all understanding.





In a few years my husband died, blessing
me for having been a true and faithful wife.
He never knew how deceived and wronged
him, and | am thankful he did not. II
would have darkened his last hours with a
sorrow which his trust in me spared him.


l am still watching for the day when /
shall follow them / have sinnned but | have
suffered and repented. / have sought mercy
and forgiveness at the foot of the cross, and
wait humbly for the day when the heavy