The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1881-01-13

God for that! No single drop Of blood
marred the fair outer surface.
"Helenr' he said, again. ''Speak to
met!
1T is we'll" she answered. "Go!"
"You have no other word for me?'
"All is contained within that one-yet,
if you want more, 1 will tell you what
you already know. | will be friend to
you and yours my life long
God bless you'll" he murmured, bro
kelly wringing for an instant her two
little hands in mis-, then his steps echoed
down the walk.
She was alone. Life's cleaning had
come to her. The sunlight had died out.
The night refused to come. 1t was the
cold, gray cleaning which had wrapped
itself about her young years.
Six months passed, and of Chester
GRAY no further tidings reached her. lie
had not married. This she knew, or she
would have heard. If his engagement
was understood by the world, they re-
ceiyed it in silence, and the world is not
addicted to silence.
What. then, did it all mean? Perhaps
oh cruel thought oh, bitter sting-
perhaps he had but toyed with her heart
and finding the ripe flower so ready to
fall from its stem, and soothed it with
this specious story, and then LETT IT., car
rving with him all its unsought and I'M
priced fragrance.
She had but Just opened the door to
this doubt, when Vernon Travers refused
to hear may to his wooing, she had re-
fused him twice, persistently, firmly;
but he would not accept her decision as
final The third time, the doubt, which
was stronger ally than any eloquence
of his, had entered in and taken up Its
stronghold.
She looked at her sutton, who pleaded
his cause so bravely.
Life is 50 dark without you, Helen!
Give me only YOURSELF will trust to
time and my love for you to win its echo
in your own breast"
Life was dark to others, than, besides
herself, and she might tighten it.
Few women would have said nay to
this mamie was young, and rich, and
handsome-why, then, should she? Must
all her life be spent in wretchedness be-
cause she had listened to song, and
believed the idly-penned words set to
dreamy music the passionate cry Of a
strong mans soul?
Away with such sophistry She would
conquer herself; and so, seeing the
radiant light on Vernon Traver's face,
she placed her hand in his, she deemed
it reflected on her own.
when shall it be, Helen? | want
you, Do not keep me waiting-I have
already waited so long
when you WILL she answered, with
strange sadness. 1T matters not to
me,'
The world was quick to congrat-
ulate Miss Ransom upon her engagement.
The news soon spread from mouth to
mouth. Surely this would be one of the
pre-ordained marriages, this same world
declared.
Rarely did everything seem so fitting.
On both sides youth, beauty and wealth,
with Love the lord of all.
Only to one man had the news not
travelled. as he sat holding sheet OF
paper in his hands.
The words on which his gaze rested
read as follows:
Il write to free you, and to make you
blameless. am no Shylock, Chester,
and I guessed your secret long ago, dear
even when you honorably urged Inc to
consummate our VOWS. Your very earn
estness was but the feverish longing to
make irrevocable the thing then so re-
plete with temptation. L do not know
who the woman may be who has won
Won from me, or rather who has won
your heart; but | pray to God she may
be worthy of you, and that she may only
consider it was loaned to me but for Il
little while, and that l returned to her,
unframed, the priceless gift. You have
erred but once, dear, and that in letting
me guess what you have frankly told me.
But you erred in mans false creed of
honor. and l give you dissolution"
This was all. He had tried and failed.
God only could attest to the struggle;
but another had ended it. He stood q
free man.
ii was the eve preceding Miss Ran
SONS wedding She sat alone in her
drawing room, in the darkening twi-
light, playing and singing softly to her
self. Tomorrow would end the old life.
She was glad, but for tonight just for
tonight must hold its sway.
When the winds are sobbng family
With gentle unknown woe,
viii you think of me and love me
As you once did long ago."
What was she singing? Since that
night she has not sung, but tonight,
Just for tonight.
ain the cleaning oh nv darling.
Think not bitterly Of me,
Though | passed away in silence,
Left you lonely-set you free.
For my heart was crushed with longing;
What had been could never be,