Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1889-01-31

TO don for a little stroll with her caller,
stood Natalie, gazing with all the intensity
of her dark eyes upon this strange proceed
ing on the part of her hitherto cheerfulco
par.ion.
Her face, strangely pallid and perplexed,
expressed a most curious mixture Of grief,
reproach and commiseration--grief over his
apparent distress, reproach toward herself
at not having hitherto appreciated the mag
nitude of his worriment, and toward him at
not having confded in her; and commisera-
lion that desired to cxpend itself in active
4nd immediate assistance.
Hut permeating all, above all, and far out
snaaing ALL was that look which no strong,
trGs woman ever gives, or even can give, to
more than one man in her life time.
Fairfax saw ard recognized il. In o
momert the control over his feelings and
countonance was lost, He had been taken at
unawares in all points. The warm blood
surged IA torrents over his face. His eyes
showed Enthusiastically the emotion that his
will had so long concealed. An instant
more and he would have rushed forward
arr decided his fate, then and there. Well
for his hopes had he done so. But some
thing, he knew not what-how he cursed
his luck afterward restrained him His
head hung down in shame He was over
whelmingly conscience-stricken, and his
previous flush was exchanged for q deadly
pallor. When their eyes had met, each I'M
derstood the other Each knew that each
loved and was loved; and each that the
other knew it, too.
The fatal moment had come to Natalie,
and she awokc to dnd herself woman.
The scales were torn from her eyes, and
her supposed friendship confronted her in
all its true and soulstirring proportions.
The fatal moment also had come to her
lover. What he had worked for, schemed
for, sinned for, and dreamed about was his,
an in measure that alarmed him. Never
had success perched so long on any man s
banners; never fortune more favored any
mans plans. And yet, just as the prize
was actually thrust into his hands, he re-
fused TO take it.
The despicable meanness Of his low trick
cry, treachery. deceit and villainy appeared
in so violent contrast with the nobleness
simplicity and purity Of this guileless
creature that his now thoroughly awakened
sense of honor positively forbade his taking
advantage of the opportunity fortune had
flung at his feet.
As TO Fairfax, so to Natalie, with the
revelation Of her love, had come an accom-
p6uymS TeNoihs tou- put OF u ldT~utuefeub
character.
When she pushed aside the curtain, she
paused, not only because surprised at the
sudden transformation in her friend but
because his bent head, worried and woefully
sad face and his figure, with the hands
clasped behind the back, reminded her
forcibly of some event or person that she
felt convinced had entered into some Of her
recent experiences
She had no time to remember what or who
it was; for her interest and distress as to
Fairfaxis sorrowful demeanor drove all
other thoughts from her mind. When, how.
ever, he glanced up and shat great wave Of
color had crossed his face, the resemblance
again struck her so forcibly that she put
her hand TO her forehead with the words:
did dream It'll Where have seen him
beforei Surely, have-seen--ah, remeln-
Der, now The old chateau, the Marchioness
and the ball that evening"
Like a fash, the scene appeared before
her, with the clearness of inspiration Again
she saw Lydia at the foot Of the staircase.
the young American standing dejectedly be-
side her, his head bent down, listening to
her conversation; again she saw his look Of
surprise and flush of embarrassment, when
he caught sight of her, as she came slowly
down the steps with the old Marquis
A horrible suspicion arose in her mind
Could this apparently innocent, noble-heart-
ed fellow whom, for the first time, she now
realized she loved have been playing fast
and loose with heri Acting the role of u
hypocrites II could not, must not BIO true.
Yet, sick at heart, faint under the burden
of the suspicion, she stepped forward, with
the eagerness of despair that knows the
hour of doom is at hand, but seeks to fiatter
Itself into belief to the contrary. Clasp
ing her hands and gazing earnestly into his
face, she exclaimed;
''You are not Mons. Fairfax whom l saw
at the ball that evenings Oh say that you
are not the man who has done this. Tell
me that you are what believed you-hon-
orable, tfuel'
Fairfax slowly lifted up his head All the
light was gone out of his eyes; shame and
seif-conviction had taken its place. Quietly
he replied:
81 can not lie to YOU
She sank back into chair and put her
hands before her face 20 conceal her tears
and look of bitter Disappointment and re-
preach; and with such ineffable sadness
that Fairfax was completely overwhelmed
With remorse. She said between the SOB: