Year: 1873

and never suspected her of being really guilty
of such wickedness toward him, which mus
have been prompted solely by malice, as il
was in no way necessary for the furtheranct
of her design. He overlooked all that die
come to his knowledge, for the sake Of keep
ing the woman in good humor for the fac
that she was the keeper of his terrible secret
made him dread to excite her anger, and pu
him completely in her power.


[All this regarding Claude, Lucy subse
quently learned from the child himself; bu
have introduced it here in order to main
tain the regularity ofmy narative.]


Stanley then related how, throug n careless
ness on Mrs Ford's part, Bertha had escaped
from the room in which she was confined and
explored the house, while the house-keepe'
endeavored, for some time, in vain, to ind
her. 1t was she whom Lucy met in the entry
and whose spectral appearance in the moon
light had terrified the latter into a swoon
during which the maniac was recaptured and
restored to her place of concealment-not
without force on the part Of both Stanley and
the house.keeper, and much resistance and
shrieks of terror from the poor victim, who
imagined that they were going to murder hel
for what she had done.


He then described Leroy's visit to him, and
his own distress and perplexity to know how
to act in this new dilemma. He also related
the circumstances of his encounter with him
in the grounds on the morning after the fire
Whether he was the actual cause of the catas
trophe which was about to result in his death
he knew not; but if such was the case, he
considered it as visitation of Gods judg'
ment upon him, and wished no steps taken to
apprehend Leroy or bring him to justice
He himself, he said, was the guitier man Of
the two, and felt too much concern for the
fate of his own sin-aden soul to cherish any
desire for revenge.


"And now, Lucy" he gasped, "you know
all. I am at least innocent of having inten
tionally done you the wrong Of marrying you
while Bertha still lived, for God is my wit
ness that believed she had long been dead
Of the other wrongs and trials you have suf
fered at my hands, I can only say they were
all the result of this one awful catastrophe oi
my life. Do you still forgive me, as you
promised me you would ?"


And the broken-hearted, injured woman
who was no wife, but felt herself an outcast
upon the earth-the innocent sufferer for hi
guilt-bowed her head upon her hands and
murmured-


II forgive you, as trust to be forgiven"


"And Bertha :" faltered Stanley, "does she
yet liver"


II do not know" said Lucy; "she appear
ed in extremity when I last saw her."


"Find out for me, Lucy" said Stanley
"Perhaps in these last moments, her mind may
be partially restored. If I could, 1 would
ask her forgiveness too; it's the only repara'
ton I can make now"


Lucy went into the next apartment, where
Bertha Stanley was lying She still lived
but it was evident that it could not be long
ere the sands of life would run through, and
she, too, pass to the land where crime and
suffering would alike be forgotten.


"Missy," cautiously whispered Melissa, who
had been left in charge of the dying woman
"she opened her eyes little while ago, and
looked at me quite friendly and sensible like
1 do think she's got back her right senses"


Bertha now opened her eyes, and seeing
Lucy near her, said in gentle tone


"Who are you, sweet lady? Your face is
one | have seen before"


"My name is Lucy" was the compassionate
reply. "Can do anything for your"


Nothing if you could; but there it
only one thing I desire now upon earth, and
that cannot obtain"


"What is that?" asked Lucy.


"To see my husband. do not know where
he is-he sent me away from him, long, long
ago but do not mind that now. And I had
sweet little baby, too ; but he is gone. II
you could only let me have them both back,
1 should be so glad"


Her mind was not clear, but recollections
of the long past days seemed thronging upon
her, excluding all curiosity or wonderment at
her present surroundings.


81 can bring them to you," said Lucy
trembling, "but-but they are both greatly
changed"


"Changed yes; but I am changed, too
you see 1 cannot move, except just my hand
little way-so-and I used to be quite well
once. have strange feeling too, as if some
thing were passing through me, and lifting
me up, higher and higher, into the air and
the sunshine. So you see I must be changed
or 1 would not have such feelings. Bring
them, sweet Lucy, and let me see them once
more, before I am lifted quite away out Of
their reach


And now the couch on which Stanley lay
was wheeled into the room, and Claude, too
was summoned to her side.


"Claude," said Lucy to the wondering child
"this lady had little boy once, named Claude
just like you. She wants to see him again
and you must let her suppose that you are
he."


She could not tell the innocent boy the sto
ry Of his fathers guilt.


! Stanley stretched out his hand to his wife
saying in broken tones, "Do you know me
Bertha?"


"Oh yes," she answered quite calmly, and
without manifesting any surprise. II have
been waiting for you this long while. You
know you promised to come back p