Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-07-01

with gatp when she saw what a terrt- | hle change was produced in him already | by that question.
 She had sprung the gipsys mine upon | him unawares, and to all appearances it was working in Q way that would speed l fly bring out the truth, though to her 1t might be death-warrant.
 Roger" she cried, despairingly, ''for | the love of mercy, speak, Do you not | see thatI am almost dying, darling? Oh, | say that it is not so tell me it was base 1 calumny, and will believe you ;yes, be- | lieve you against all the world. Speak, l my Roger; tell me it Is not true"
 The struggle in his mind was terrible, l for he knew that if he denied all knowl- edge of Nora Warner. she would believe ehim as she would an angel from Heaven.
 Think, then, what a temptation it was to the man. Would it not be for the best in the end if he denied 1t? 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
  most foul act. Better wrenching pain in the start than the slow, consuming agony of years.
 Roger Darrel was but a man, with many faults common to the best of us. but his soul was above such ignominy then and there. With a 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 I could deny it. would give ten years of my life to wipe out the blot upon the Darrel name. I have bowed my head beneath the shame that came with Nora Warner for years, and had come to look upon myself as 8 misanthrope when I met you, and loved you"
 "Then it is true?" she asked, her soul apparently in her eyes.
 "God help me; yes, it is true"
 She uttered a low. piteous 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, l 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 1t was evident that her | senses had wellnigh 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 so 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 l whom he loved. The skeleton of the | past had disclosed itself, and stalked out from it's place of concealment to l bring with its bony hand the stamp of unutterable woe.
 | Only for 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 a 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.
 'tHow dare you take me in your arms, Roger Darrel, after acknowledging such a thing to me! How dare you, say: Are you not content with breaking my heart, that you must needs think to write my name with shame? Oh, Roger" and she broke down in sobs. 1 He would have come to her again, but she motioned him away imperiously. Do not touch me, Roger; will not allow 1t. Remember that hereafter we 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 1t. You love me even as love you. Nay, will say it in spite of you. Why, then, should this terrible specter of the past haunt us? Let the dead past bury it's dead; we live for the present and the future. Once more, Carol, my one and only love, will you come to mo? For Heavens sake, do not turn away so coldly; you will kill me!'' Roger" she was calm now, appar- ently, though Heaven only knew the state her poor lacerated heart was in. "Roger, you are wild when you insult me in that way, but 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 we must part"
 "Part3" he cried, with anguish in his voice. Is it, then, so absolute? Oh, Carol. my love, my life, arc you to be lost to me forever? Am I to live on in the future-not even tho aimless life of the past, but one full of regrets, of pain so intense that death itself would be @ mercy? Do you doom mo to this living grave, beloved?"