Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1889-08-29
.swhat do YOU mean. Rooer?r


mora Warner Is deadi" he replied
slowly.
The girl gave a start, and an oxclama
ton fell from her lips.
impossible :" she cried.
mot so, dearest. Read that letter
and you will see that what | have told
you was the truth. Nora Warner, poor
girl, has found rest. The letter was de
layed in finding its destination, and some
kind fate directed it into my hands
Read"
This was what she read in the
great coarse scrawl OF man who
had been scholar once. perhaps but
never good penman:
Mr. Roger Darrell:
SIR-The young woman whom you
committed TO my care, Nora Warner,
made her escape from the asylum week
since, and drowned herself in the river.
We have this day succeeded in finding
the body. which, though badly mutilated
by the fishes. has been identified by arti-
eies OF clothing as that of your unfortu-
nate wife. II shall wait for you two
days, andsat the termination Of that
period should you not come. l
will have the body inferred. With deep
est sympathy for your great loss. sub
scribe myself, your humble servant,
Timothy GRIM, NJ. d.
"EIysium House, on the Potomac"
She read this through and then handed
it back TO him with look of pain on her
face.
This Timothy Grim, NJ. d.. may on
ordinary occasions be a keen man, but
fate has made football with him, or
else this letter has been purposely de-
layod so that any deception he may have
Intended could be carried out. One
lining Is sure: Nora Warner was in the
flesh for days after this letter was writ
ten. / have seen and conversed with her
face to face.
Alive and here What can she want,
poor girl but why need / ask? If that
be so. then all is gloom again where /
had caught a glimpse of dawn. and the
darkness will be all the darker and the
pain more bitter because of it. Oh.
Carol. am ! TO go from you forever
Something seems to tell me that II we
part now il will be never TO meet again.
Have you ever sounded the depth Of
that terrible word? Think of the days.
weeks. months, years that must pass.
and vet will remain but sad memory
in your mind. am brave man. and
have faced the cannon's mouth without
hinching, but there are times when IL
seems to me dare not face the great
future stretching out before me without
you beside me. / have led lonely life
in the past, and yet never have / will
ingly wronged man or woman. My heart
has often ached for its mate and in you
il found rest. One word from you will
decide all. and may God give you wisdom
to decide and me strength to bear. Tell
me, beloved is it life or death; shall
stay-or goY"
He had caught her in his arms now.
and she could not have resisted even
had such been her desire.
His eyes were glued upon her face.
full of the passionate fire OF the absorb |
ing love that possessed his soul, and she |
under the look, knowing her I
now that love had such a |
power over her heart but she summoned |
up her courage and resolutely shut out |
the alluring scene that came before her. |
That was a period, brief In regard TO
the seconds composing it, but seemingly |
hours in duration when there was taken
into calculation the intense anguish that
wrung their hearts and minds.
Roger, there is but one answer Love
Fan command my life, but 1t can never
cause me TO forget that ] am a Rich
mond. As the dearest friend | have on !,
Earth. look to you, but more than that
you cannot, must not be. while she
ives. Nv answer Heaven help us
Doth-gol"
He nerved himself to meet it like
nan, but it was a terrible blow.
Carol, It may be you are right, though
am too blinded by love and sorrow to
II. In the future 1 shall be
% you a friend in time Of need. / shall
,ome and see you here, but never again
IS your lover. Then, il there - any rela-
i've to whom you would like to go, will
AXE you there. l hear Mrs. Randall
coming Trust in her, for she is true
riend. And now farewell, my love. my
life. Farewell, farewell"
Painting, she struggled from his fierce
He stood there looking at her
while he grew calm and icy cold. Then,
nrning, he took his hat and left the old
aill.
She sank back with clasped hands and
earful eyes.
"Give me strength, oh Father in
Heaven, for the light Of my life goes out
nth him."
CHAPTER XIV.
aarrr Il. ~ N. .urr..r.