H. Esselstyn Lindley

“ Scott said, “is it possible that all you have told me is true? Can it be true?”
“It is, and I am sorry I deceived you,” she said, while the thin white hands reached out toward him. “Oh, Scott, if you will forgive me.”
“Irene, you have wronged me most bitterly, and I forgive you, but remember that man’s forgiveness can avail you nothing in the darkness where you are going. You must look to God. He alone can forgive your sins and lead you through the dark valleys to the light of eternal day.” ”

“ You left me once, but you can’t get up now, and the ghosts are coming by and by to hold you down and then they will grin and nod their heads while I tell you all about a woman betrayed.”
“Bessie, come with me,” said Blanche.
“Miss Robin, keep still. I will not go.”
“Take her away,” said the wounded man impatiently.
“Let her remain,” said Ross, in a hard, cold voice. “The time has come for your coward heart to bow to the will of a weak woman. I would not take advantage of you in your helpless state, but Bessie has the right, if she but had the power to tear your heart from your body.” ”

“ I think Max is too cross to live. He really abuses me, and after making so many promises, too. I wonder why I am not as much of an angel now as I used to be. Oh dear, oh dear. Perhaps Max will be better natured when he gets over his fit of drunkenness. If I were not so ill I would get even with him yet.”
Again the face of Scott Wilmer came before her, and the searching eyes seemed to look into hers with a gaze that burned down into her very soul. ”

“ You do not know, you never can know how some souls are hungering.”
“Ah,” she said, “I have not even the love of a mother and sister to cheer me, as I traverse life’s path. There is a skeleton in the closet of every home, and mine will step out and mock me with its hideous form even though I doubly bar the door.”
“A skeleton in your home, Miss Elsworth; have you no friends or relatives?”
“I am all alone. I never knew a mother’s love or a sister’s.” ”

“ Scott said, with a smile.
“I cannot tell you to-day. When I have schooled my heart to do my bidding then I will come to you and tell you that which perhaps will turn your love to hatred.”
“It will be a terrible tale that will change my heart, for earth has never held for me the happiness of this hour. There is one thought that rises and throws light over all the dark clouds—it is that you love me!” ”

“ I never did love him as I love you.”
Irene may have spoken the truth, but there were times when the manly form of Scott Wilmer would cross her vision, and his fine hazel eyes look down into her very soul, reading all the deception there, and the very honesty of his gaze would cause a shiver to pass over her; but she would drive away the shadow by calling before her the handsomest face she had ever seen—that of her betrayer, and she would not have retraced her steps if she could. ”

“ Scott arose and walked slowly up and down the room. His face had grown very grave, and his lips were pressed firmly together. At length he stopped before Paul, and grasping both his hands tightly in his own, and looking straight down in the boy’s face, he said:
“Paul, my boy, I cannot give you up; it is useless to try. You are a part of my home. Mother and June look to you in all their troubles, and now when all is darkest with me, will you leave me in still greater darkness? Paul, I have never made a confidant of any one, but to you I have confided more than to any other.” ”

“ While Scott and Mr. Le Moyne are holding an important conversation let us enter for a time the home of old Meg and Crisp. They are seated at their rude table, eating their meal of soup, crackers and brown bread. Old Meg looks still more repulsive than before her sickness. Her face is thin and overspread with a dark, sallow color that is almost frightful in appearance. She looks up at Crisp with a grin of satisfaction. Her gray locks are falling from under her cap and straying in slovenly fashion over her cheeks and forehead. ”

“ Wilmer. Perhaps if you consider it for a while you will decide that it is not best.”
“My decision was made before I spoke to you, Miss Elsworth.”
“I am very selfish,” she said. “I want the first and only love, and that you cannot give me.”
“Perhaps not the first; but I can give you the greatest and deepest love my heart has ever known. I will not censure my dead wife nor speak of her faults; but this I will say, that she never held the place in my heart that you do.”
“It seems strange to me, Mr. Wilmer, to hear you speak of love. I did not think you would ever love another woman.” ”

“ June asked with a little shiver.
“I would rather be good, if folks would be good to me. I could be good, for any one like you, lady, but when they are so awful mean to me sometimes I think I could kill them. How can I be good when everybody is so cross to me? Mam scolds and beats me, and Crisp and everybody else is cross to me but you, and your brother. Oh, I could die for him; he was so kind to get me out of that place, and I’d—oh, I’d die for him!”
“He would not let you do that, and if you lived with me I would not scold you, neither would Scott, and papa—why, he’s too sick.” ”

“ I cannot help loving you if you are a gypsy girl. You must have been a brave, good girl to have fought so many hard battles, which I know you must of necessity have been compelled to do, to reach the standard you have. You have done a noble work, and however low your birth, whatever misfortune you may have met, so that you have come out of the fire purified, and with a name honored by yourself and your God, my love is still the same. ”

“ Her dark, luxuriant hair was floating like a dusky cloud about her shoulders, and there was a burning light in her dark blue eyes, and a crimson spot on either cheek.
“Bessie, Bessie,” Miss Elsworth called, “come down.”
“Hush,” said Bessie, raising a warning finger. “If you make a loud noise I’ll kill you; you know, don’t you?”
“Yes, I know,” said Blanche, with a fear that something was wrong. Bessie crept cautiously up the rocks, and seating herself she drew from her pocket her little pistol, and fired at what Miss Elsworth supposed to be an imaginary object. ”

“ Nothing but death could sever the tie, and should your hand and heart fail to perform their duty, I should be left to drift on to destruction or to be cast upon the island of despair. It was the hand of my brother’s wife that wrecked his happiness. She held the oars that carried him down the stream, and had it not been for his great strength of body and mind he would have gone down to ruin. But I am not brave like Scott; few people are. Scott is a hero.”
“Yes,” responded Guy.
“I wish those truants would hurry back and take us to the island,” said Carrie. “I am getting tired of waiting.” ”

“ The summer passed away, and Zula had been happy, but there was a tiny cloud in the background of her life, a fear that Crisp would, some day steal in upon her happiness and blight her life by taking her back to the old one of shadow and suffering. She had become warmly attached to Carrie and Guy, and often would she look at him and wish so earnestly that Crisp were like him. How happy she would be, and how she would love Crisp if he were like Guy. But Crisp was cruel, heartless and ignorant, never giving her a kind word, but instead cruel taunts and blows. ”

“ Oh, how Paul’s heart ached for good, generous, noble, much wronged Scott Wilmer! He hoped Scott would never know of his wife’s treachery. He had learned now from her own lips that she had not married Scott for love, but for wealth and a position in society. How could Irene help seeing what a prize she had won in such a man! ”

“ I do not know of a man on earth that I would rather give my sister to than to you, Guy Horton.”
“God bless you, Scott Wilmer; you have made me happier than I ever dared hope to be.”
“Be good to her, Guy, as long as you both live, and Heaven grant that your lives may be happier than many others have been. Have you spoken with June?” ”

“ Soon after she told Guy’s fortune, and really he was to be just as happy all his life as I.”
“I am sure that is pleasant to think of.”
“Yes, but it would be very strange if we were both happy all our life. No one ever is happy always.”
“Very few,” said Scott, and then his mind dwelt on the scenes which had passed, and he thought of the gypsy woman’s words: “You will marry a beautiful woman, and there will be tears and the stain of blood on your hands.” ”

“ June says they are like brother and sister, but you know it is very convenient for young people to feel a sort of relationship for each other, and if you will watch closely you will see for yourself that she has a dangerous love for him.”
“It may be true, but I have never thought of June being so silly as to care for the society of Paul, especially as I have so often cautioned her not to bring herself down to his level, and really had felt quite easy on the matter, seeing him appear so distant and seeming to know his place so well; and really, they are nothing but children.” ”

“ Irene Mapleton was two years older than Scott Wilmer, and through his mother’s influence he had paid her marked attention while she was on a visit to a friend in the beautiful city of Detroit, her home being in San Francisco. Her father, who had invested largely in mining stocks and become wealthy, spared no pains to give Irene means to gratify every wish. June had spoken truly when she said that Irene’s dresses were lovely. There never was a bow or a flower misplaced, or colors that did not blend with perfect harmony. ”

“ Poor, foolish girl. Oh, what a terrible mistake we both made in our marriage.
“Poor, foolish, weak woman. Poor girl, her punishment will come sooner or later, and God knows I pity her.”
Paul passed his hand over Scott’s brow with a tender, loving caress, then his finger-tips rested lightly on the rings of hair which clustered around his brow, and softly the great tears fell and dropped on Scott’s hand. ”

“ I am willing, Irene, to forgive, and as far as in my power lies, to forget, and take you back to my heart, if you can say that you come with a determination to live for your own and my happiness, but never must that bold villain who holds such an influence over you cross my threshold. ”

“ Wilmer said; “I have just received a dispatch by telegraph saying that Irene Mapleton will be here in a few days. Isn’t that nice?”
“I don’t see anything nice about it,” answered June, honestly; “she cannot amuse me any, for she is older yet than brother Scott.”
“But she sings and plays beautifully, and you cannot help loving her. I always enjoy her society; she writes such lovely poetry, too.”
“Well, I can’t see anything very nice about writing poetry. I am sure that will not amuse me at all.”
“Perhaps not, but we must love Irene for Scott’s sake, for you know she will be his wife some time.” ”

“ The child raised a pair of coal-black eyes to the lady’s face as she turned to pass out of the dining-room door, which had been left open to let in the cool June breeze; but as she was about to cross the threshold she was seized by the strong hands of a policeman, who had answered Mrs. Wilmer’s call, and the silver was scattered in a dozen different directions.
“Did you ever see such a bold little creature in all your life? Who would have thought she would dare come in here, right in broad daylight, and steal my spoons off the table? Why, it’s awful!” ”

“ June replied.
Miss Elsworth was seated in her cozy parlor when a visitor was announced.
“Ah, Mr. Wilmer,” she said, with a smile that went straight to his heart, “I am glad to see you. I have a little business to transact that takes a lawyer’s head to accomplish, though I am not partial to that class of men.”
“I am sorry,” he said, as he took the chair she offered him. He had not intended to fall in love with her, and he had said to himself that he would not allow it; but, alas for his intentions. He really had never known what love was until now. ”

“ Tears are only for women; not for a brave boy like you.”
“I know it,” Paul said, wiping his eyes, “but you are so cruelly wronged. I know you must be, or you would not look so white. Oh, I hope the woman who has ruined your happiness will never see a happy day.”
“Hush, Paul,” said Scott quickly. “Sin brings its own reward, and remember that she was my wife. God help her, and bring her the happiness she is seeking. Please bring mother and June.”
Paul left the room and soon returned, accompanied by Mrs. Wilmer and June. ”

“ I 275 am not capable of brightening any life any further than to do my duty to mankind by helping where I can.”
“You may not quite understand me, my dear Miss Elsworth. I do not say that I dare hope for a return of love from you, but I do say that it would make my life brighter. I know that you can win a man far better than I am in every respect, but that does not make me love you less.” ”

“ Scott had decided to remove to New York. There were several reasons why he wished to change his place of residence. One was that he thought a change would be beneficial to his mother, who grieved so over the loss of his father, whom she had deeply loved. Another reason he had, he thought that Irene might be happier if she were removed from the object of her foolish infatuation. He had learned from his own keen observation that she was not what a true wife should be, and he resolved that no lack of duty on his part should make her more unhappy. ”

“ To be sure, I sometimes wonder what he is about, and if he is married again, as I am, but I don’t suppose he is, for he always had such a very old-fashioned idea of right and wrong.”
“He never knew what love was, not such love as mine; he never can know, he is not capable. But tell me truly, darling, do you never wish yourself back with him?”
Irene tried to think whether she really did, or ever had wished herself back in Scott Wilmer’s home. ”

“ It was just three years since Irene had left her husband’s home. She lay upon her couch in her home at San Francisco. She had grown much older in appearance than she would have done had she led a different life, for late hours and careless exposure had brought on a hacking cough that not even the healthful climate of California could stay. She was so often left to pass her evenings alone when she did not feel able to go out, and while Max was enjoying himself at a game of billiards or cards. ”

“ Zula drew from her pocket the same little pistol which she had carried in her childhood days, and pointing it upward, she said in a clear, firm voice:
“Do not threaten me, Crisp; you see I carry something besides marks.”
“Keep still, Crisp, keep still,” old Meg said, in a frightened whisper.
Scott Wilmer arose to his feet. His attitude commanded the most profound silence. Old Meg sank cowering in her chair, while Crisp dared not so much as raise his eyes.
“Meg,” Scott said, “if you were a man instead of an aged woman, I should deal with you as you deserve and the law would show you no mercy. ”

“ There is a hungry feeling so often comes up in my heart that I almost cry out in despair, though my sorrows are nothing compared to many another.”
“There are some sorrows that never can be crushed—that will exist while life lasts.”
“Yes,” she answered, looking up at the soft twilight sky, with a face full of tender emotion, “and God pity those who are helpless.”
“There is a skeleton in our home that can never be removed, a disgrace which can never be blotted out, 274 and I have sworn to have revenge on the villain who threw the dark shadow over our lives.” ”

“ Scott and Le Moyne left the house, and as the door closed after them Meg arose, and standing before Crisp, with lips fairly purple with rage, and eyes from which gleamed the fire of hatred, she said:
“Crisp, we may as well get our money and go. There’s another one on our track, and there is no use to try to hide it any longer. They’ll shut the whole of us up.”
“They never will; we’ll slip away first.” ”

“ Why, it is just as natural for June to stop and smile on some poor little beggar as if they were dressed in satin, and she has mortified me more than once by bowing to some shabbily-dressed school girl.”
“Of course it will not do. People in our position cannot bend to such servility. One thing I have noticed which I think should be checked, though I hope you will not openly rebuke June, for in that case she might think me a mischief maker, which I would not be for the world; but I have so often noticed Paul’s familiarity, and it has fairly made my blood boil. ”

“ Scott arose with compressed lips and pale face. His arms were folded across his manly breast, a favorite attitude with him when laboring under any excitement.
“No, it is not. The house is at your disposal, just as ever. If you have found you have made so great a mistake, keep the society of your lady friends, and I will not trouble you, but for the sake of yourself, for the sake of my mother and sister, if not for me, do nothing to disgrace us.”
135
“You have no heart, Scott Wilmer,” she said, bursting into a flood of angry tears, “and the best thing we can do is to live apart.” ”

“ Again the handsome face arose before her, sealing her lips to that which should in justice, have been said.
“Irene, I warn you now. Remember what you are doing. I am sorry for you, but the die is cast, and there is but one thing in all the world to do, and thereby protect your honor; do you know what it is?”
“I suppose it is to spend my days with a man who has not one thought in common with my own; to live with a man I never can love, and who does not love me.” ”

“ I have been a witness to your joys and your sorrows. I have known of your bearing with patience the hardest trials of life, and I have said that not in all the world is there another man like Scott Wilmer. ”