The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1889-10-04

"What do you mean, Roger?"

"Nora Warner Is deadw he replied
slowly.
The girl gave start, and an oxclama-
tion fell from her lips.
Impossible! !" she cried.
"Not so, dearest. Read that letter,
and you will sec 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 it 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 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 tho river.
We have this day succeeded in finding
the body, which, though badly mutilated
by the fishes. has been identified by arti-
clos of clothing as that of your unfortu-
nate wife. 1t shall wait for you two
days, and at the termination of that
PERIOD should you not come, I
will have the body inferred. With deep
est sympathy for your great loss. I SUBJ
scribe myself, your humble servant,
''TIMoTHY GRIM, M. D.
"Elysium House, on the Potomac"
She read this through and then handed
1t back to him with look of pain on her
face.
"This Timothy Grim, M. D.. may on
np6inoru nnoocfnnd ho 1yoar h,,+
fate has made 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. 1have seen and conversed with her
face to face"
"Alive and here! What can she want,
poor girl; but why need 1 ask? If that
be SO, then all is gloom again where I
had caught a glimpse of dawn. and the
darkness will be all the darker and the
pain moro bittcr because Of 1t. Oh,
Carol, am l to go from you forever?
Something seems to tell me that If we
part now it will be never to meet again.
'Have you ever sounded the depth of
that terrible word2 Think Of the days,
weeks. months, years that must pass,
and yet I 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 me l dare not face the great
future stretching out before me without
you beside me. have led lonely life
IN tho r., T 1,-iII
ingly wronged man or woman. My heart
has often ached Tor 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 1
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 were 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 O.
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
can command my life, but it can never
cause me to forget that I am q Rich
mond. AS the dearest friend I have on
earth, I look to you, but more than that
you cannot, must not be, while she
lives. My answer is-Heaven help US
both-go!"
He nerved himself to meet It like O
man, but it was terrible blow.
"Carol, 1t may be you are right, though
am too blinded by love and sorrow to
comprehend it. In the future 1 shall be
to you friend in time of need. shall
come and see you here, but never again
as your lover. Then, fthere is any rela-
tive to whom you would like to go, will
take you there. 1 hear Mrs. Randall
coming. Trust in her, for she ie O truo
friend. And now farewell, my love. my
life. Farewell, farewell"
Painting, she struggled from his ferco
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 the light Of my life goes out
with him I"