The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1883-11-17
THE TRUi; LOVE TEST.

l had been foolish and weak, but not
wicked, in my innocent copuetry with
Leigh Lake. L say innocent because |
had imagined it sport to him as we'll as
to myself. He had the reputation of
being not only the handsomest man in
his regiment, but the greatest flirt, and
laughed when he had beer presented
to me, and said to myself, cit should
in this case be diamond cut diamond. -
Somehow my eyes had fallen under
his first admiring glance, but fortified
myself with the thought:
$50 he always looks. It is the first
move In his attack"
met glance with glance. smile with
smile, and pretty speech with saucy re-
tort, OF sentimental repartee, according
as one or the other could be delivered
with more telling effect.
"Are you sincere?' he questioned
one evening. "Answer me frankly. Ii
you are not, tell me SO now.'
''ln other Words" answered, 'sthrow
down my weapons, acknowledge my ull-
armed condition, and smilingly invite
you to advance to victory"
NO." he said. "At your hands
prefer defeat. You acknowledge, how
ever, that you hold weapons-in other
words, that you wear Il mask"
NO." replied, Il wear no mask.
| carry no weapon. BE merciful, Co.
lionel Lake."
4te grew pale, and opened his lips az
if to speak, then hastily rising, and
making brief adien, he left me.
For the first time l was a little
frightened, Il little in doubt as to its be-
ing wholly a matter OF amusement to
hlm--a little dubious as to how Roger
would regard my conduct in the matter,
Tor Roger played very important part
III my life even then, since although
5U0 miles away--he had nv promise
That OH his return [ would become his
wife, and determined on the colOlcl's
l.eXt visit would turn the convcrsa-
:ioii into ether channels.
But had no opportunity to carry
my good intentions into effect. His
lrst act, when he entered the room,
,le next evening, where l sat alone,
was to cross directly in front of me,
then to stoop and take both my hands
III his.
You asked me last night to bemer-
ciful," he began. God help you if
Jon do not mean those words. They
lave been ringing in my ears ever since.
how l love your You have raised in
lne the lirst passion of INV life, tMouah
ain to-day 33 years Of age. What a
little, frail thing you are, and yet you
hold III these little hands Il strong mans
destiny. Speak to me, Lowell Tell me
that My wife is here before mol'
In that moment my coquetry took
wings and fled away, and in its stead
came u dull realization of what had
d me.
strove to draw my hands from his.
AS we'll might have tried to dislodge
stone imbedded for centuries in the
mountain side. My self-possesson for
sook me. III my fright blundercd out
the worst possible thing 1 could have
id.
Il cannot do that. cannot be tho
wife OF two men! thought you knew
was engaged.'
a look OF steely, icy contempt flashed
into his eyes. He wrung my fingers an
instant until cried out with pain,
then threw them from me and folded
his arms across his breast.
"You dare tell me this" he said in
low, concentrated tones. Answer INC
one question. What mean, pitilul mo-
tiye has made you do this thing?'
II did not know you were in earnest"
replied, remembering as l spoke how
hard had tried to make him think 50
though never, III my innermost
thoughts to this eXtent-uS the Great
Father is my judge, to blast his nature,
OF to bring about his mouth the white
lines Of agony now drawn there.
81 thought moment ago." he an
swered then, very slowly, THAT in my
life l had no other prayer to make to
heaven, make one now, and that is
that may live to see you suffer through
your love as. you bave dealt suffering
10 me through life.'
His words seemed like curse. They
filled the room, and oppressed my very
soul with a nameleSs dread and haunt
ing presclence OF the future.
Shivcring, L buried my face in my
hands. When l had lifted it | was
alone. Colonel Lake had left me.
when Roger comes home will tell
him about it," whispered to myself.
But somehow, when three months
later Roger came home | had SO much
else to think Of in the busy preparations
for my marriage, and my sky was 50
blue, that could not bear to risk upon
it Il single cloud.
The colonel's words were idle now.
AS though amy misery could grow out
Of the deep heart-love Roger and felt
Ior each otherl How small, how un-
worthy of him and Of myself, had been
my idle coquetries of the past. Never
mind, had all my future to atone.
Then came my wedding day, when
the outer world gave mo its smiling
benison, in bright sunshine and balmy
breezes.
was Rogers now--his very own
and could have delied the universe, IN
my exquisite happiness.
Six months later my husband entered
our little sitting room, one morning,