The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1888-02-04

W ihSs DuC oS ih6 90 thC olIOllS ulCs
in silence.
The faith that had lived In her
heart for this man was breaking as
break the gossamers of the spiders,
weaving in the storm +; but she gave
no cry, made no sound, only stood
heart-sick and soul.wounded, on the
very edge of the shadows.
''If Inez heard you say that l
think she would set you free! said
Beatrice.
And lnez, with sudden hardly
drawn breath crossing her whitened
lips. advanced till she stood beside
them.
"You are right, my cousin," she
said unwaveringly. II have heard,
and set him free-free of all things
save the reproach | must ever feel
for an acted lie. Here, Roy ?'
She drew off and extended towards
him the ring with which he had
plighted her.
He, startled, shamed, shrinking
under the steady scornful gaze of her
dark blue eyes, with his arms fallen
from about her cousin, and his face
crimson with hot, traitor hood, felt
the old spell fall over his heart once
more and the new one pass from it.
"Inez. he said pleadingIy. "listen
| will -"
But she Enclosed her fingers, and
the ring fell at her feet. She turned
and passed again into the shadows.
Beatrice laid her hand on his arm
and smiled in his face.
"YOu are now free, Roy" she said
softly. "Are you not glad ?" He
looked down at the fair face that had
so charmed him, and it suddenly lost
all beauty for him.
"You want me to answer hon.
estIy?"
"Why, of cOurseW
"Then"-he spoke through shut
teeth-"then, Beatrice, no. am not
glad! | would give oil 1 own to
have all things as they were before
your coming between Inez and N.Y.
self. Now you understand, and now
will you care to wear the ring she
cast back to me ?n
A hot color lived transiently in the
pretty face. then died ; a look of pain
was followed by flaming wrath in
the blue eyes.
4 No!n rang ont her angsy silver
tones ; no, Roy Alton! False to her,
and false as well to me !"
And she left him standing, Won
dering at his own sensations. feeling
dull pain at his heart for the broken
troth, although an hour before he
had wished it broken.
Fate sometimes grants a prayer, in
very scorn of man.
X n
Five years later, Inpz Claire, still
UNIV edeed, although Beatrice had for
years been the wife of a man old
enough to be her father, but wealthy,
Inez Claire entered city hospital by
merest chance.
The nurses were gliding from couch
to couch, silent, gentle, soothing,
now laying soft cool hands IN flush
ed cheek, now touching with silent
fingers bandage, now moulding a
draught to fevered lips.
Inez followed one whose voice and
touch seemed to calm and heal, as
she went among the sufferers and
this one paused at last, and stood long
gazing on the wan, worn face of a
man which lay still on his pillow.
Such a white cold face-such thin
blOOdless face. Inez felt her own
pulses pause as she looked on it; then
d low agonized cry broke from her
and she darted forward and caught
the nurses arm.
us he dead? Oh, tell me that he
is not dead-my love, my love !"
The nurse took her hand gently
and laid finger on her own lips.
"He is slseping," she said softly
: "they sleep so after long fever. All
his eyes unclose! Back, my deal
lady, do not let him see you, lest i
may excite him, and he is so weak,
But his lids were lifted, his eye
were fastened on the face of Inez, ant
: with an effort he put out thin veal
| hand.
"Inez," he whispered, "Inez. will
, you stay beside me for a little while
1t will be but little while, for an
r dying. But stay, Inez, because-be
, cause, dear, 1 haye seen no woman
/ like you in all the years since tina
May night, and my-my-heart ha
n ached for you-beyond my telling.
u was weak, false, but-but-"
d "Hush." faltered Inez, bendin
;, over him until her lips almost touch
ed his cheek, 'speak no more, Roy
n T will stay and you shall not die fC