The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1886-08-19

GU KNOW, DeSlhs tne Otner, ana
then he breaks off; and unfolding the
scented sheet, scans the messages
within.
81 saw that before | came away"
went on his friend. "You know
love Nora Terrill; you know, too, she
is called a coquette. My faith in you
is firm, Sartoris, but how could l be-
lieve in her when she paled and flush
ed before my eyes, and refused to tell
me why she had written to you. Was
| too exaeting, to ask herr"
no" replies Sartoris, thoughtfully.
"Ifi it had been to any one but you
-Sartoris, you will show me the let
ter?"
The intensity of passion and plead
ing thrills his voice, and his hands are
trembling as he holds them out.
The other raises his calm blue eyes
to the glowing dark ones, and they
are filled with mingled annoyance
and regret.
"It is nothing; mere friendly mes
sage" he says lightly. ga commits
sion she forgot to tell me of when
l."
"You he!P cries Archer, and leap
ing forward, he clutches at the fatal
paper but Sartoris is quicker, and by
movement of his arm, the letter is
held above the light OF one of the ta-
pers and the next instant is a heap OF
ashes.
Mayo Archer is glaring at his friend
like a tiger at bay, but Sartoris turns
and in his pleasant, earnest way, lays
hand on his shoulder and looks
down into the passion-distorted face.
81 Iwould have spared you this" he
frankly. "Forget what is at worst a
woman's caprice, and win her if you
can-unless you can find happiness
without her!"
4 "Why did you destroy the letter?'
demands the other hoarsely.
The blue eyes meet hie wistfully,
and sad smile cnrves the. bearded
lips
at was for your sake" he answers.
The affair grieved Mayo Archer for
time, but the friendship with Sar-
toris remained firm indeed, when he
recovered from his disappointment,
he seemed to regard the blonde with
even deeper affection. But blow
had been dealt at his heart from
which he could not find recovery. He
had loved Nora Terrill, and now, even
though he believed her false, he could
love her still.
Two years later, Sartoris and Arch
er had been travelling together, and
while in Rome the former was strick-
en- with fever, and his friend attended
him as mother would her child.
Lower the patient sinks, and one
evening the physician pronounces
him past hope of recovery. He hears
the news with an unchanging face
but alone with Archer a while later,
he gives way to his despair.
II am not ready to die" he says.
"And life life-is SO beautiful. Yet
for the past two years / have carried
a secret chat made it almost burden
to me. Archer-"
The thin hand closes upon Mayo
Archer's arms and the blue eyes dark
en-.
"Hear my dying confession-I have
wronged you. Nora Terrill was nev-
er false-I was the false one, and you
call me friend. loved her, and
tried to win her from you; had l sue
ceeded, | would have set our friend
ship at naught. But she rejected me
with scorn, and yet, mad with desire
urged my cause. When / shook
hands with her at parting, left with
her note. 1t contained repetition
of all | had said to her, and as pas
sionate appeal. 1t was her answer
you saw-her answer | burned lest
you should learn my treachery and
defeat.
az will not betray you,' she wrote,
i pray you will live to forget what
you call love for me, and repent your
falsity to the noble man who calls you
friend
: at was to shield me and save the
friendship | had dishonored, she kept
, silentw
dying confession" he had said
but by strange fate, the physician's
words were set at variance by a slow
but complete recovery.
But at the moment danger was
past, they who had once been friends
$ parted-never to meet again.
Yet Elmer Sartoris did not repent
of his confession when he read of the
!. marriage Of Archer and sweet Nore
tTerrill.
5 The Champion knights Oi
Pythins Division.