The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1886-10-09


ask presently.
l should like to hear her voice in
song. think | could judge her better
whether the object of her love was
living or dead.
al never sing any more," she says,
with slow smile. 81 think my voice
would break and die away if attempted
it. love vocal music, and-won't you
sing, Miss Reinalt?"
sing as requested, and the wonder
is that | do not break down myself, for
when | look at Dcnzil ! find his eyes
| fixed on Mrs. La Rue's face with such
passionate, despairing intensity that
with difficulty l suppress a cry of pain.
For in that look is disclosed emotion
of such intense depth and power as
never have been able to call forth.
In that look is his nature revealed
not calmly, coldly tender, as l have al
ways known him-but capable of joy or
pain to the very extreme of madness.
Whatever Laurie La Rue has been to
him know not. only know that my
own heart is on fire with doubt, torture
and fear.
All, Heavenl what is this cloud which
lies between us, pressing so heavily OH
| my heart? Why is it that l, who love
him so well, haYe not power to break in
any way the calm, courteous self-pos-
session of his nature?
l want to scream out in my mad,
yearning pain; l want to use some des-
perate extreme, lest | should 60 mad;
but, even as society people generally do,
l give no outward sign until am in
my own room-the door locked behind
me.
Then | sinl1-crushcd with hope
less apathy-on the floor beside the
window.sill, and hide my face upon my
arms.
try to picture my future as it will be
hopeless in any case, for if / marry
Denzil Harvey l shall do so with the
full conviction that his heart belongs to
another.
If do not marry him All, Heay-
en-, all the long weary years to come and
go! Not that-not that! Better to looE
on my own funeral.
: Without, the soft wind is sobbing
against the lattice of my window, ant
the white moonlight lies heavy Oh dewy
shrub and sleeping flower, with Gods
sky bending above. l step out anC
down the long garden path-ever
t through the rusting beech-gIovc, ant
2 down what fatality draws me there"-
c to the edge of the lake which glistens il
the moonlight.
| But evidently | am not the only on'
{ beside the lake tonight; and L am al
S most upon them before | recognize will
- a pang of wild, passionate pain the zig
/, ures of Denzil Harvey and Mrs. La Rue
+ and his voice, fraught with passion
e cold, sneering, mocking-as | have nev
er heard it come.
t Il could not sleep" he says. Il an
n even fool enough to have not yet for
o gotten. Unless saw you alone-unles
d | spoke with you'll felt that / shonl
a go mad. Does your power to mar IN
: happiness that much please you still
II Mrs. La Rue?"
To the mocking question she gives n
S reply, but | can see that her little hand
l. are loosely clasped before her-that he
r great dark eyes are thoughtfully iiXe
| on a spot far out where the moonligll
/, strikes the water.
Denzirs voice continues, changin
.e from a sneer to a wild, passionate rC
IS gret.
# "You were so sure of your power owe
me. Did you come here to make foo
of NE the second time, only to agai
throw me over for newer favorit'
:, Spare your pains-I am beyond you
=, power-engaged to a woman with
heart Miss Reinalt."
= Then she looks up suddenly, involur
tarily throwing out her hands with
gesture OF passionate pain.
B. "Don'tr' she pleads hoarsely. "Yo
" are cruel as the grave. Has no. m
ii life since then been atonement sulficieI
'S for my folly! l was false to you-I ma
ie ried Ronald La Rue, but-well, | woI
re der if any one is ever quite so happy {
III they think they might have been? Lii
T. ten. When | ana not here, judge n
~ lightly as you can. In moment {
II girlish folly and pique, for which II
woman has repented, l married hin
10 but l always loved YOU, Denzll. An
because loye you, go out of your Iii
~ forever"
The sudden gleam of two white NJ
VI lifted hands,, a gurgling splash, and IL
Go glimpse of lovely face above which Il
vi waters basined below the stone wa
u close eagerly; then mans hollo
10 groan, another leap, and am standiI
alone ON the bank of the lake, wOnde
n ing if il is not all nightmare.
"a But, thank Heaven, they rise to Il
surface actually lift the slim, uncOl
:" scious form from his arms with sob
"a ioy, which think must have killed q
the selfish love ir my heart; for bendir
o. above the still white form, beg DEM
to release me for my own sake, becau
'u | think il best. | do not deceive hin
~ however, for he looks searchingly in
n, my face and says:
,ii 'God bless you, dear, and forgive n
it shall be as You say. Yes, | love
~ and love her, Clarice, as | could ney
| love any one else. If she had died,
hy should go mad"
~ am ''old Miss Reinalt" now.
We Long ago they were married-Den7
by and Laurie; and IL was brave cnoug
hv thank heaven TO hide the pain II co
% me to be bridesmaid where ! shOu
90 have been bride; but pcrhaps-I do n
ng know-lhere is compensation sum lie
"a in tlRa Eunu lad0a hat he il HAMMER :