Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1883-08-24

Lournc. ii would be q mercy if Katlir
Dcnni;r Were mad
Eut EJhrlind. LcUlLr. with ONE
thrust of hcr hand. stayed the words
urcn IL" wom;,n'. lips.
This story is fal-c." She ricd.
bitter ;. y, false as are tie lirs
that frame il. Goyour wac, woman:
will listen to No more"
Katie nclmar's harsh laugh awokc
tie echoes.
~Falsc, is it, -hc demanded
False, Ia. ha. We shall see. Eihc
l:u3e Lourne. we shall see
She unclaSpcd a heavy locket from
about her neck. touched one of the
glittcring gers. and in thc shalOwy
moonlight Fihclinda baw the Lard
some face of Carolyn La Roy. For
second all was dark: the weight of
the whole earth seemed heaped in
one place. and that place upon her
heart. 1t would have been a mercy
could she have faiuted, but Heaven
had no mercy for her.
Il do not believe it yeti" she
gasped. after a moments silence.
Hive You no other, 10 stronger
proof?'
The tattered shawl which shielded
the woman from the chill of the au-
tumn night was thrown back, and
the girl saw the features Of Carolyn
La Roy ard this time upon the
faultlcss face Of kathe Denmar's
child.
Il have other proof the woman
said Letters by the hundred Here
are some. Take them Ethelinde
Lourne. they Will give truth to the
charge l have made. And now We
must part. feel, l hope you will do
me and mine justice. If you marry
this man you may be happy; that is.
if ho means what he says. But if
you find happiness with him, God
pity me.'
\ second later she had gone into
the darkness. and Ethelinde was
alone in her wild despair. She turned
about slowly, and went up the wide
marble STEPS into the gaily lighted
hall, where the music of the ballroom
was echoing softly. an1 then into the
utter darkness of her own room. She
sat down beside the closed window,
and leaned her head against the cold
panes And SO she sat through the
long night, and when morning came
it found her there still, her hands
clasped in the agony of despair, Der
face calm and peaceful as the face of
the dead
At ten o'clock Cardyn La Roy
came to learn his fate from her, and
she was ready to fight the first battle
of her life and fight it alone.
Il would not be your wife, Mr.. La
Roy" she said. IF you laid the
wealth of the world at my feet. Had
you pressed me for an answer last
night it would have been otherwise:
today it is as it is. A thousand
times no.
And why so sudden a changer"
because that night contained
twelve hours, and two of themw
spent with-Kathe Denmar and your
child"
He tottered like reed swept by
wintry gale, and Hooked his glittering
teeth to stay the curses that rose to
his lips.
Met her-met hsr!' he gasped.
NO. no; it is impossible-impossi-
ble.w
Nothing is impossible in this age,
Carolyn La Roy. She was here last
nights here to-day. [ searched
for and found her this morning and
brought her homo with me, in com
pany with minister, who now
awaits your earliest convenience.
Do not stare at me so blankiy; |
mean what l say. Before You leave
this house you must marry kathe
Denmar, and right the wrong you
have done her. Your child is dying
from exposure; it must not die with
out a name. Do you understand
me?"
Il will never marry herr he Missed
Never! never!"
Never! That is hard word,
Carolyn La Roy: but you shall do
one of two things either marry
Kathe Denmar or go from this house
a prisoner; for if you refuse to do
her justice you forfeit your freedom
for a time-your honor forever!"
After long pause Carolyn La Roy
chose the first course.
Il will marry her" he said.
Fifteen minutes later Kathe Den
mars lost honor was redeemed, as
far as mortal could redeem it, and to-
gether Carolyn La Roy and she
started out upon their LIES pathway
with but one bond in common be-
tween them-a tiny grave near
Ethelinde Pourne's home; and Ethe-
linde was left to bear the misery of
her hearts anguish. Poor Ethelinde.
Long years after, when the SHOWS
of many winters had swept across
the bright gold of her hair. Kathe
Denmar came back to her widow,
and together they live, watching and
waiting for the end to come. And
whose blessing shall be greater-the
woman, the sun of whose life rose in
such utter darkness and set ere it
had gained the zenith, or hers, the
sun of whose life set ere it had well
risen?