Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-07-08
PREFERRED BY PATEL
BY EMMA S. soUTHwoRTH.
Copyright 1888. by Laird < Lee.

BY EMMA s. SOUTHWORTH.
 Copyright 1888. by Laird Lea.
 ''What do you mean, Roger?"
 Mora Warner is deadw he replied, slowly.
 The girl gave start, and an cxclama- tion fell from her lips.
 Impossible !" she cried.
 ''Not so, dearest. Read that letter, and you will see that what I have told you was the truth. Nora Warner, poor girl, has found rest. The letter was de- layed in finding it's destination, and some kind fate directed 1t into my hands. Read"
 This was what she read in the great, coarse scrawl of a man who had been scholar once. perhaps but never good penman:
 ''Mr. Roger Darrel:
 SIR-The young woman whom you committed to my care, Nora Warner, made her escape from the asylum a week since, and drowned herself in the river We havc this day succeeded in finding the body, which, though badly mutilated by the fishes. has been identified by arti- cles of clothing as that of your unfortu- nate wife. It shall wait for you two days, and at the termination of that period, should you not come, will have the body inferred. With deep- est sympathy for your great loss, sub- scribe myself, your humble servant,
 "TIMoTHY GRIM, M. D.
 ''Elysium 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, M. D.. may on ordinary occasions be keen man, but fate has made a football with him, or else this letter has been purposely de- layed so that any deception he may have intended could be carried out. One thing is sure: Nora Warner was in the flesh for days after this letter was writ ten. I have seen and conversed with her face to face."
 "Alive and here! What can she want, poor girl; 7; but why need I ask? If that be so, then all is gloom again where I had caught glimpse of dawn, and the darkness will be all the darker and the pain more bitter because of it. Oh, Carol, am I to go from you forever? Something seems to tell me that if we part now 1t will be never to meet again.
 Have you ever sounded the depth of that terrible word7 Think of the days, weeks. months, years that must pass, and yet will remain but a sad memory in your mind. am brave man, and have faced the cannon's mouth without finching, but there are times when it seems to mo dare not face the great future stretching out before me without you beside me. have led a 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 it 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 go?'
 He had caught her in his arms now, and she could not have resisted even had such been her desire.
 His eyes wore glued upon her face, full of the passionate fire of the absorb Ing love that possessed his soul, and she trembled under the look, knowing her weakness now that love had such power over her heart but she summoned up her courage and resolutely shut out the alluring scene that came before her. That was @ 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 can command my life. but it can never cause me to forget that am Rich mond. As the dearest friend have on earth, look to you, but more than that you cannot. must not be, while sha lives. My answer is-Heaven help us both-ga!" He nerved himself to meet it like map, but 1t was a terrible blow.
 "Cdrol, 1t tmay be you are right, though am too blinded by love and sorrow to comprehend 1t. In the future shall be to you a friend in time of need. shall come and see You here, but never again as your lover. Then, If there is any rela- tive to whom you would like to go, will take you there. I hear Mrs. Randall coming. Trust in her, for she ie true friend. And now farewell, my love, my life. Farewell. farewell"
 Papttng, she struggled from his fierce embrace. He stood there looking at her while he grew calm and icy cold. Then, turning, he took his hat and left the old mill.
 She sank back with clasped hands and fearful eyes.
 "Give me strength, oh Father in Heaven. for tho light of my life goes out Atth him
 CHAPTER XIV.
 ''aB IS MY FATHER l"
 n HEN Mrs. Ran-