The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1889-03-23
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as she should never love another, and that
so she must love him alwa's.
She was half iainting as she reeled away
from the spot. The iustle OF her garments
along the frs, the sound Of her footsteps
upon the turf pust have startled Leonard.
She saw him spring to'the open easement
and peer out into the moonless and starless
night. She could hear his sharp aud easi
ing breath as he stepped from tue window
to the lawn and fastened to overlake her.
"What brought you here, Kate? What
fatality guided yon to the library window
at such a timer" he asked, IN voice Of
agony.
She could not answer; she was utterly
unnerved, aud tears of weakness were
streaming over her fair face,
II would have kept il from on; II could
[ would have spared you the Knowledge
which must poison your life," he continued.
"How could YOU have done it Lem: ?
how could you?" she managed to say,
through her tears.
Leonard stopped and regarded her earn
sstlY. Was it possible she coad eN pect
hiiu of such sin? Was her h.,;ci ief
for him? Was 1t possible that he was the
one she lovedp
But in that awful moment she did not
attempt to conceal her feelings; her whole
heart was in her eyes and voice.
Kate, my poor child, this shock has
been too much for you" be said, as he put
| one arm protectinglY about her tremulous
form. And / see you have been mistaken
| about many things. / have never had a
| really hard word with my uncle in my life.
We have had some unpleasant scenes on
| account of Rufus, however; | have always
| tried to shield Rufus, because 1 thought you
cared for him. And it was he who quar-
| relied with my uncle little while ago
Kate shuddered. She understood now
| why Rufus Carrisford had been so strangely
| agtated, and why he had hidden her an
eternal farewell.
''They had struggle to-night,'' Leon
ard resumed. "My uncle fell, and in fall
| ing his head struck against the sharp corn
er of the marble mantle. The injury is not
serious, although no was badly stunned,
and must suffer from the loss OF blood. A
| physician arrived moment before l came
out here TO Won. 1t was anxiety for you,
1
| tracted me-"
| Kate listened with tho look Of one Just
awakened from a terrible dream. mur-
muir of thaDkfulness trembled from her
white lips.
"And 1 repaid your noble anxiety by
| judging you most cruelty" Kate returned,
in bitterest self-repToach.
mot so" he returned quickly, and with
| deep tenderness. "You repaid me bY let
| ting me for once look into your heart, my
precious one-by letting ME read there a
| truth which half humans me for very JOY"
And then he took her, happy and unre-
| sisting into his arms and kissed the lovely
| forehead, the tear,wet eyes, the quivering
mouth.
He took her home, his promised bride,
and then returned to his uncle.
| Old Mr. Carrisford was rapidly recover
ing from his terrible fail; and he declared
himself quite strong enough to attend a
| grand wedding whenever the young people
| should appoins the happy day."
| And there is no use in your interceding
any more for Rufus" he said, firml,, to
Leonard. "The only crediLabie thing he
has ever done in his whole life was his fall
ing in love with Katie. have done with
him. and | shall alter the will made in
his favor before am a day older"
| II was nlS threat 10 alter the VIII WINCH
caused the disastrous quarrel that evening
And there was no doubt, when young
Carrisford left the library, that he believed
his uncle dead or dying. He left the place
that night, and he never returned.
Kate has long been one Of the happiest
of loved and loving wives; but she never
recalls that evening without shudder.
Hut how near she had been to the fatal
brink of a lifelong mistake and lifelong
misery, Leonard Fairfax never knew.