The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1881-04-09

*uhu stfllieS came Dack TO the
1tziiul face, though sometimes the
SfApw of the old pain darkened it.
tau four years later she met Les
vt 7znciair again. handsomer, if pos
si2'e thar ever, with new gravity
a2ouf him that became him well.
laid his fair young wife to rest
4% grave, and VAS free again.
lee grew pale when she first
hearf it, paler still when he bent
over Der hand and the past seemed
fdtk0ten.
Even when he married the wealthy
ask3a Clare Dnpane, Lester Sim
girl held more of his heart than he
would willingly acknowledge. and
not seeing her day after day, to revel
in her loveliness, the old love deep>
ened, till Renee Courtland held every
hope of happiness for him.
AS time passed on, Victor Gray
noticed an added restlessness in Re
nee's eyes; that the weary look
around her mouth deepened and
could scarcely understand it.
He enters the room now, graver,
perhaps sterner than of old and the
girl came forward to meet him.
"Yeu are welcome, Victor" she
said, clasping his hand, "and Mar
garet will be so very gIad."
"You do not look happy this even.
ing Renee", he said, his eyes on her
face.
The girl turned away with quick
impatient gesture.
II am not happy" she said, "my
life has been one mistake"
(which will be righted in time,''
he answered quietly, though his face
paled slightly.
When Victor left her she went
back to her place by the window.
"Will happiness pass me by for
ever?" SIZE cried ; "is he blind, or is
it that he will not see ?"
Only that morning Lester Sinclair
had stood before the girl, whom he
wronged In early girlhood, and plead
ed for her love as man might plead
for life itself.
Coldly, almest haughtily, she had
answered him.
mo. My love died for you years
ago it never could come to life
again."
"Renee, Renee I" he cried, in a
passionate pain, and the girl knew il
she wished revenge on Lester Sinclair
most truly she had it now.
"My love died long ago." she re.
peated more gently, half pitying his
pain. "No, Lester, it can never be. "
Victor Gray merely went up to
change his business suit and speak a
few words with his sister. and in less
than an hour he joined Renee again.
AS he entered the raom he saw she
had portrait in her hand.
"Hew you love that man, Renee" "
he said bitterly.
The proud, dark face flushed.
"What man ?" she asked c0ldly.
"Pardon me, Renee 1 was rude; !
scarcely knew what I said. You are
not angry. Renee ?"
The girl was silent for moment,
then she crossed over to him.
"If you mean Lester Sinclair" she
said, you are wrong, Victor I his
morning he asked me to be his wife
and refused him.
"You refused him !! Why Renee ?'
II loved him no longer" she said.
Was Victor Gray blind?
He bent his stately head.
"Renee, my darling, you love
me ?" he said.
The next moment he held her in
his arms and kissed the sweet red
lips.
'.Say you love me, Renee. have
only said it myself" he said.
A smile hoyered around her lips.
''And no one at all said that you
loved me, Victor"
"Loved you, Renee! / think ]
have loved you all my life-leng be-
fore you smiled on Lester Sinclair" "
"That is past" she said gently. at
was only girls first wild love,
dream (; but to you, Victor"
"You haye given what ?"
"My last, my purest love. Are
you content. Victor?"
And as he bent and kissed her
again, all shadows fed from Renee
COurtland's face. Her heart had
made its choice, and it rested In peace
in the light of Victor Gray's loyal
love.