Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1886-03-19


yours Without question, without the hope
Of reward, it isyowS.N
Again she strove q interrupt him. He
checked her.
''LiSten l have moro, much more, 10
SAY. i have seen you again." his voice
changed 10 one Of supreme tenderness, Il
have held your hands. / have looked into
your face-the same sweet faca of my
dreams, Beatrice, all is changed with me-"
he kuelt beside her and took her hands. III
once wished 10 know ALL now say, tell
me nothing. What is the past 10 mel Hide
it away, forget 1t, Scorr it Our life begins
to-day. l love YOU BEND down snd tell
ME YOU will be my wife"
She forcibly drew her hands from his, COW
cred her eyes and sobhed.
"Ycu love me" be went or, passionatsly.
us it for my sake you will not do this thingi
Look at me-read in my eyes what my heart
desires-Snow that you have the power OF
making or marring a mans life. Beatrice!
Ny love, my only love, answer mel
Once more he tried TO take her hands. She
tore them away with cry Of anguish, and
her fearful eyes rested ON his troubled, up
turned face
Frank" she said, you ara killing me.
Spare me and let me speak"
He waited in anxious silence until her
sobs died away snd sustained speech was
possibility.
Frank, Frank" she said. You have
been miSled. You have heard but half the
truth. You love me, yet dare to think that
if what you have heard is true l would be
your wife. l cannot blame YOU for bsliev.
ing. have no right to blame. My actions
have helped that belief Yet in believing it,
you, Frank, have given me the sharpest
pain of all that have known"
Carruthers bent his head and prayed she
would forgive him.
Il have nothing 10 forgive. From whom
did you think l fled-from what dauseri
Frank, fed from the man who is my hus-
band-the man who more than five years
ago took advantage of girls folly, married
her and made her life a misery"
Carruthers rose from his knees His face
was white as a sheet He was the picture Of
despair. \ legion of Mrs. Millers would
not now have caused hope to throw up the
tinieSt shoot, Her husband! The room
seemed 10 swim around him.
When he recovered hiriSslf he saw Beatrice
with the tears falling down her cheeks. The
sight was bitter reproach 10 HIM How
had he kept his vow! Instead Of giving her
comfort and ali he was but adding TO her
came home to him. Instead of joy he felt
fresh misery when Beatrice's words told
him that her secret was not one of such
nature as he had been led to believe That
his first thought upon hearing the truth
should have been one of sorrow showed him
that he had reached depth Of SelfiShnesS
and degradation which no love could excuse
or condone. He bluShed for himself, and
for the sake of his manhood Strove until he
regained composure. There was a strange
calm on his face when, once moro he drew
near Beatrice
Tell me all" he said, i'll quiet voice.
"No don't fear for me- She glanccd at HIM
inQuiringly. Tell ma all can bear il. |
can help YOU
She told him all. Told him without self
excuse, without even exaggerating her hus-
bands sins against the world and against
her. She told him without claiming mercy
on account of what she had suffered; but
there was pathoS i'll her voice, an utter
hopelcsSness in her manner which told her
listener more than words could have toll
His heart ached as no thought of her, | is
blood boiled as he thought 81 the villain who
bad wrought this misery.
He heard her to the very end in silence
Throughout her tale she had not spoken of
first Carruthers guessed who he was ~
she finished speaking he turned his pale face
to her The mans name is Hervey,' lie
said.
YES. Do you know himf
II have seen him twice" As he spoke
CarrutherS involuntarily cieuched his hands
There was kind of savage satisfaction in
thinking under what conditions he last saw
the rogue He wished he had struck even
harder. He frowned, and his mouth grew
hard and stern. Beatrice saw the facial
change.
do You blame me too much 10 forgive
me, Frankf she asked, anxiously He
looked at her with eyes as soft and tender "a
a woman's.
Blame youi Who am to blame youi
What have | to forgive' You have all my
pity-all my sympathy. Again l offer you
such help as ! can give-such help as IA
brother can give a sister. You will take
this from me, Beatricci'
She placed her hand in his. Eyes, will
take it. 1t is more than / deserve. All,
me! why should my trouble enter into your
iifef'
His fingers frightened on hers His eyes
sought hers Beatrice" he said, 81 did
not live until knew you. You have right
thing must ask-something | must know.
You have told me much-will you tell me
allf'
II have told you all"
mo, not all. Beatrice, life promises to I've
but a sorry affair for me. Let me have such
cold consolation as it can give. Beatrice,
let me hear you say with your own lips that
had things been otherwise you could have
loved me--would have been my wife"
She met his eyes bravely. "Yes, Frank"
she said softly. II will say that. will say
more. | love you now. All, Frank, re-
proach me- blame me. when tell you that
although | knew it meant unhappiness for
you it was a sweet moment to me when first
l knew that You loved me-"
After this avowal there was silence for q
minute Then Carruthers leaned forward.
Beatrice, my love-" he said hoarsely, 'l;is3
me once. l only ask it oneen
She flushed to the roots Of her hair, vet
she made no resistance. Carrutbers drew
her to him and for the first, and, for all
he knew, the last time their lips met He
took, she gave, the one kiss. When 10 was
over Carru:hers released her from his EN-
brace and the two drew apart.
Here. no doubt, Mr.. Carru,hsrs will sink
immensely In public estesm. He acted "a
hero is never supposed to act, or at least In
fiction. He lost an opportunity. Every one
who has studied the nature of true love as
depicted by the modern passionate writers
and skilled analysist Of the human heart
must feel that Mr.. Carrutbers should have
then and there clasped Beatrice to his heart
and have sworn that love overruled every
thing. He should have followed that one
modest kiss by thousands He should have
said, What is the marriage tie when two
souls are in such ecstatic communion rs
yours and miner He should have said,
"There are other lands. Lands where no
one knows us, where life may he perpetual
dream Of love. Let us fly there and bs
blessed In the mad wbiri Of his passion such
scruples as she, for appearance sake. urged
should have been swept away, and, married
or unmarried. he should have borne her of,
his forever and ever, Yes, he lost such au
opportunity that his conduct must be apollo
gized for!
=: !yla;ipzzEIeE.