San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-07-17
CHAPTER XXXYH.
TIE BEGINNING OF THE END.

THE BEGINNING OF THE END.
1t was the supreme moment of my life;
and standing there before my darling, dazed
and jOyfully bewIderrd, with her beautiful
face turned, radiant with love. on mine, well
might have echoed the ecStatic cry of the
lover of lovers:
.'If il were now to de
"Twcrc now to be most happy; for fear,
My soul hath her content so absolute,
That not another comfort like to this
Succeeds in unknown fate!
But the words which were bliss to me were
gall and wOrmw God to the soul of George
Redruth. Livid with pain, he looked at her
who uttered them; then CHANGING round at
the wild groups surrounding It's, lie said:
"YOu must be mad to speak like that Ire
lawney, word with you. There shall be
an end to this once and forever; come apart,
and let us speak tOgether!'
lie walked short distance along the cliffs,
l following, with Madeline by nv side.
When we were out of earshOt of any soul
there, he turned and faced us. His self-con-
troll was now remarkable; a stranger, look
ing at him, aud observing his manner, would
never have gathered that he was prey to
the actitest suffering Of mortified pride and
passion.
II might have guessed this from the frs"
he said, IN a low voice. "YOu, Trelawney,
always hated me-and, God knows, l return
ell the compliment 1 can see now why you
saved my life. To crush and humiliate me
before my cousin, over whose mind you have
obtained some malign influence"
looked at him, but made no reply. He
continued, with apparent calmness, address
ing Madeline:
Il am TO understand, then, that our engage
ment is at an end?'
Yes" she answered
VERY well. You know as well as 1 what
that means to me-run, perhaps disgrace;
but am not going to whine over the ineyita-
Bile. TrelawDey, / congratulate you" he
added, with curious smile; you have won
the game"
He turned as if to go, but Madeline, with
an impulsiye cry, interposed
George, do not talk like thatp she cried.
''There is chance yet of retrieving the past
and if you will do so, shall still be your
friend. IL was not fated that | should ever
be your wife; only one woman living has
right to that title, and TO your atonement.
Let me go to her! Let me tell her that you
will make amendsp'
cOldly. "Of whom are you speaking?"
"Of Annie Pendragon, the poor girl whose
heart you have nearly brokenI You see l
know everything. George-for my sake"
"How Kind you are, how solicitous for my
moral welfarei 1t is very good of you ac-
knowledge, to offer to provide me with a
helpmate, but must politely decline your
kind offices. Annie Pendragon is nothing to
/ q Sha 10
Take carep cried. utter one word
against her, at your peril. do not ask you
now to acknowledge her-it is too late for
that; and even IL II could be, think she is
better as she is, than she could ever become
more closely united TO man like you. But
she is sacred, and forbid you even to utter
Der name"
'YOu mistake my meaning" he returned,
still retaining his lf-possessiOn. "All was
going TO say was that we are not equals.
deeply regret what has occurred-I acknowl-
edge my own folly-my own guilt, IL you
like it better; but from this time forth we
are nothing to each other"
George. Georgep cried my darling in de-
spair. "Have you no hearth
II suppose SO; but blame yourself, II II Is
somewhat leaden on the present occasion. l
am not used TO humiliation, you see, and
though take my punishment as calmly as
possible, l still feel it,"
could have strangled him, he was so ut
terly cOldblOOded.
''If there is Justice" l cried, God will
punish you'll You have not only wrecked
one life, but you have destroyed two others.
Do you know that my uncle, God help him
confessed with his last breath that he had
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