The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1886-06-25
can do will be nothing to the pain Of leaving

you"
"Of leaving me J"
''Have not told you that love your"
'Ah, but this love! 1t does not last.
You will soon forget. But II can never
forget The horror-the terror-the dis
grace"
"And do you think shall forget ?" Here
ward looks down into her eyes with strange
SMILE
II hope you will 1t is the best thing I
can hope for you.
"Do not hope or desire it for me. do
not wish to forget. Nothing can take these
memory of them can never go away. I
would rather die than forget them"
''Ah, you will forget You loved some
| body before now"
Hereward does not think it necessary to
refute this accusation. He answers it by q
smile only. For in all their trouble they
can still smile.
"You must forget me. There is nothing
else-nothing else. ;"
81 know that. I know there is nothing
else but will keep what have. I shall
not forget you till my dying day."
Lady Gladys looks at him almost like one
in n dream, dazed, bewildered.
81 think my heart is broken" she says,
moving away Hereward comes forward and
opens the door for her. Then he holds out
his hand
sForgive me-" he pleads.
81 have nothing to forgive" she answers,
putting her hand in his. He holds in o de-
termined clasp. -.
Remember that I only live to serve you. I"
he says, and STOPPING, he kisses her hand
two or three times. Then she goes away.
It is impossible to say what struggle goes
| on in Lady Gladys Pallisers mind for the
next two or three hours. It is dark strug-
Gle. to Judge from her death-white face. It
| is the hardest struggle that she could have
been called upon to endure of that there
can be no doubt Pride against-what
Pride and the love she has for parent and for
brother, and tue remembrance of the shame,
the ignominy, the disgrace of the affair were
| it known-all these have entered the lists
against one solitary adversary. But he can
cope with them oil. One by one he van
| cuisines every foe, one by one he clears the
arena of them oil.
Lady Gladys leaves the room again Just as
the luncheon-bell rings. She is obliged to
| go through that meal, to listen to the chat
| ter of EVE and Miss Middleton and her cou-
sin, and she guesses, though she has not yet
been told, the happy understanding between
them. Hereward does not appear In answer
| to the bell. The Fraulein remarks on his
absence and Miss Middleton shakes her head.
Doctor Jones has been away from home for
day or two, and is not expected home for
as many more. Lady Gladys thinks lunch
con will never come to an end. She does
not announce the breaking-of of her en-
gagement she does not waste a thought
upon the four people present. She only
thinks of one who is absent. OF one who Is
suffering for her and through her, while
these are oil SO happy.
After luncheon, the two guests betake
themselves to the red drawing-room and to
supposed-contemplati of portfolio
of Venetian photographs. Miss Middleton
conscientiously lays them before Blount one
by one but she knows very well that his
gaze is never once removed from her face.
Yet, if they are both enjoying themselves,
what does it matter?
Lady Gladys opens the library door, goes
in, and closes it after her. Hereward is sit
ting with his elbows on the table and his
head on his hands He lifts his head at the
sound of her approach. He does not look
unhappy; he even welcomes her with a
smile. She has never known before how he
could SMILE
DO you wonder what has brought me
back p"
II am too glad to wonder"
81 have come to tell you that cannot ac-
cept your sacrifice"
"You must tell me why"
because cannot-I cannot have you
suffer"
81 do not suffer-"
"But do"
"You!"
'Yes. suffer because you suffer"
''You need not suffer Dearest cannot
you comprehend that it is sweet to me to be
able to suffer for your"
She looks looks at him, Mt the fires in his
eyes, at the smile on his lips.
"But it is bitter to me. l would rather
bear anything now than that you should suf-
fer any further disgrace"
"Why have you changed your mind? Is
it out of PITY"
'No, rot pity"
"What them"
For all answer she rests one hand on the
table, and, STOPPING, puts the other on his
shoulder. He turns his face up to hers with
swift flush on his cheeks with q sudden
light in his eyes.
Gladys, do you love mop"
81 do"
Then these two, between whom rolls u gulf
that is impossible, forget for one moment
the deep dark waters that divide them, for
get the long lives that lie before them dur
ing which they must walk apart-forget fierce
fate, forget the tears that wet their cheeks,
forget everything but the one fact that they
love each other.