For answer Hagar bent quickly over her, and breathed a few words in her ear that caused her to cry out in horror and amaze.
“No one will ever know,” whispered Hagar; “it is the wisest course. The truth will lie buried in our own hearts, and die with us.”
Six weeks from the night his golden-haired wife had died Basil Hurlhurst awoke to consciousness from the ravages of brain-fever––awoke to a life not worth the living. Quickly Mrs. Corliss, the housekeeper, was sent for, who soon entered the room, leaning upon Hagar’s arm.
“My wife is––” He could not say more.
“Buried, sir, beneath yonder willow.”
“And the babe?” he cried, eagerly. “Dead,” answered Hagar, softly. “Both are buried in one grave.”
Basil Hurlhurst turned his face to the wall, with a bitter groan.
Heaven forgive them––the seeds of the bitterest of tragedies were irrevocably sown.