The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1889-09-06
BY Fate
A Thrilling Virginia Romance.
BY EMMA S. SOUTHwORTH.

CI3APTER v Continu |.

tloNt yOI uStluSJ dil Ullc WuIIl pRCohI
my Roger; tell me 1t is not true"
The struggle in his mind was terrible,
for he knew that if he denied all knowl-
edge of Nora Warner, she would believe
him as she would an angel from Heaven.
Think, then, what temptation it was
to the man. Would it not be for the
best in the end if he denied it? She
would believe him then-but what of the
future?
When happiness had come to them,
might she not in some way learn the
truth, and then, denouncing his perfidy.
scorn, upbraid and loath the man who
had deceived her?
There was, indeed, stain upon his
name, and to link her to it would be o
most foul act. Better a wrenching pain
in the start than the slow, consuming
agony of years.
Roger Darrell was but man, with
many faults common to the best of US.
but his soul was above such ignominy
then and there. With stern hand he
put the temptation behind him and faced
the pain that almost overwhelmed
him.
"Carol, my love-" he groaned, pite-
ously, ''would to Heaven l could deny
it. would give ten years of my life to
wipe out the blot upon the Darrell name.
l have bowed my head beneath the
shame that came with Nora Warner for
years, and had come to look upon nyse'
as misanthrope when 1 met you, all
loved you"
''Thenit is true?" she asked, her soul
apparently in her eyes.
"God help me; yes, 1t Is truer'
She uttered low, pitcous moan at this
for never did the death sentence passed
by judge upon culprit in the prisoners
box, sound with more terrible force than
his words to her.
Roger thought she was about to fall,
and, regardless of all else, he sprang for
ward and caught her in his arms those
arms which Carol had so fondly believed
should while she lived, hold her against
the whole world.
She sank upon his shoulder, weak and
trembling, and it was evident that her
senses had well-nigh deserted her, for
she knew not what she did. He rained hot,
passionate kisses down upon her, and his
eyes were misty with unshed tears as he
gazed upon the white face Of her he loved
80 we'll.
Pain had come upon her, and through
him. Oh, bitter thought, when he would
have lain down his life to have saved her
one moments suffering. The blight was
upon his life, and it was fated to effect all
whom he loved. The skeleton of the
past had disclosed itself, and stalked
)ut from its place of concealment to
bring with its bony hand the stamp of
unutterable woe.
Only for IA minute did Carol remain
| thus in an almost senseless condition
Then her life seemed to drift back to her
Her eyes opened and she looked up at
Roger with such wan smile, that 1t
pierced his heart like knife.
| Suddenly arealization of the truth ap-
peared to flash into the girls mind. She
gave little spasmodic cry, and drew
| herself out of his arms with such abrupt
ness, that Roger could only stand there
and gaze upon her fondly and sadly.
Chow dare you take me in your arms,
Roger Darrell, after acknowledging such
thing to mel How dare you, l say?
Are you not content with breaking my
| heart, that you must needs think to
write my name with shame? Oh, Roger p
and she broke down in sobs.
He would have come to her again, but
she motioned him away imperiously
"Do not touch me, Roger; / will not
ollowit. Remember that hereafterwe can
be nothing to each other. Nora Warner
stands between us. Lost to US are all
dreams of happiness. We must face the
future bravely and fight the battle of life.
You must never even see me again."
Great heavens, Carol, you do not.
can not mean it. You love me even as l
love you, Nay, will say it in spite OF
you. Why, then, should this terrible
specter OF the past haunt us2 Let the
dead past bury its dead we live for the
present and the future. Once more,
Carol, my one and only love, will you
come to me? For Heavens sake, do not
turn away so coldly; you will kill me!
"Roger, she was cain now, appar-
emily, though Heaven only knew the
state her poor lacerated heart was in.
"Roger, you are wild when you insult me
in that way, but l forgive you, for do
not think you realize what you are say
ing. You were unwise to remain here, to
seek my love when you saw that was
beginning to care for you, but cannot
blame you for that. Here I'VE must
part"
"Part?" he cried, with anguish in his
voice. Is it, then, so absolute2 Oh,
Carol. my. love, my life, are you to be
lost to me forever? Am I to live ON in
the future-not even the aimless life OF
the past, but one full of regrets, of pain
so intense that death itself would be a
mercy? Do you doom me to this living
| grave, beloved?"
'You know not what you ask, Roger.
In the time to come you will see that my
course was the only right one. 1 bear
with you because of my love, and for the
reason that you are mad now. l could
hardly wait to see you. The very sec
onds seemed hours, and l thought |
should lose my Senses"
Where and from whom did YOU hear
about-Nora Warner?" he asked.
From a gypsy girl who seemed to
know you-Barbara Merriles."
barbara Merrilesp
He repeated the name after her, and
she knew not whether it was fear OF
hatred that made his voice vibrate like q
cord tensely strung.
"You do know her, then ?" she asked.
y have good reason to, Why, you