Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1890-08-28
FOR LOVES SWEET SAKE.

lUii. lOEL " WILL Onnli
A wild, wild. night, the wind blowing
hurricane, the sea rising in its fury
below the cliffs, and Diane Leigh. with
her face pressed close against the win
dow-pane, shuddcred as the thunder
rent the air and the lightning's vivid
flash showed the white-capped waves
tapping the top of the rocks in their
wrath.
Il cannot stay here" she cried at
last. Il must 90 down to the beach.
i may be no help, but l can be no him
derance.n
She lifted heavy scarf as she spoke.
but, as she wrapped it around her, an
other flash of lightning ilumined the
heavens, and she saw her father and
brother coming toward the cottage,
bearing the senseless form of a man
between them.
at is one of the visitors that was at
the hall last year, Diane, and most
likely this year, too" her brother said;
1.-THE one Miss Vernon is to marry
Ralston st. Clair. Another row-boat
went to pieces on the rocks-one man
rescued out of that party as we'll, and
they are bringing him here, think. 1t
is the nearest place"
At distance Diane Leigh had seen
Ralston st. Clair before, without moro
than n passing thought; but as sho
glanced at his Greek-gOd face, pallid
now in what might be death, strange
thrill passed through her heart-a fore
runner, perhaps, of the love that was
l., Chnl IS
the bitter pain fate doomed that love
to be TO her.
Three hours later, Ralston's hand
some eyes opened to rest onto him at
least-the loveliest face earth ever held
"A proud, dark face, with slumberous
ewes of deepest brown; low, broad
brow; over which the nut-brown hair
clustered in tiny rings; skin like
olive satin, with pomegranate bloom
on the rounded cheeks and curvlnS
lips.
'Am | dreaming?" he murmured,
closing his eyes again; then, after
moments silence; II remember now"
he said. The yacht struck on the
cliffs, the storm overwhelmed us so
suddenly. My God! it was terrible!
''Hush!' Diane said. Thank God
you are saved yourself. They-they
are at rest"
Yes, his life was saved, his and the
strangers, over whom her father and
brother were still bending.
The next day the stranger had fully
recovered; but RaI,ton had been dashed
on the rocks, and almost two weeks
elapsed before he was out of danger.
The stranger, Frank Denver, had
taken up his abode at the cottage.
Il am only n wanderer,' he said.
land am willing to pay my way. /
like this place. Let me stay till the
rowing notion comes on me again"
And to this James Leigh had agreed
Two weeks is not very long. but il
was long enough for Diane Leigh's pas
sionate young heart to learn the bitter
sweet lesson of love-love for Ralston
st. Clair, the promised husband of
Elaine Vernon.
How the truth of her own madness
and folly came to her Diane could
never tell; only the words of Elizabeth
Barret Browning's poem seemed to
ring in her ears:
How do love thee? Lot me count tho
WAYS.
J love thee to the depth, and breadth. and
. height
ny soul can reach.
| love thee freely as men strive for right.
! love thee purely as they turn from praise
love thee with the breath, smiles, tears
pr al my life, and flood choOse-I shall
But love thee better after death"
The day of his departure drew near,
and few days before it Elaine Vernon
came down to the cottage.
Ralston was out of danger, though
his arm was still in a sling, his hand
some face still wearing the pallor of
his illness.
He and Diane were down on the
beach when Elaine came toward them.
She was beauty, this Elaine YER
non, dainty, blue-eyed girl, with eyes
of cerulean blue. hair of the palest ba-
by-gold, and skin of ivory fairness.
do you ever intend to come back to
us, Ralston?' she laughed, "or is con-
Valescing here so pleasant''-laying her
hand lightly on his arm, the cerulean
eyes turning toward Diane as she
spoke.
At the same moment Diane and Raj
ston's eyes met, and DANES dropped
suddenly. All. heaven! was she mad,
or dreaming, or what had she read in
the fateful moment when heart had
spoken to heart, breaking down all
barriers.
While Elaine stood there, the half
mockiug light in her eyes, the half
hooking smile on her lips, Frank Dem
Yer turned the cIIn, then stopped short,
his handsome eyes fixed on Elaine's
fair face.
All the color had faded from his
own, and the look on it was not good
to see.
Found! found" he murmured, 81
knew | would find YOU, you Yellow
haired traitress, and my time has
come"
He did not go toward them, but
stood watching Elaine, who laughed
aud talked, utterly unconscious Of the
dark, passionate eyes watching her SO
intently.
That evening Diane and Ralston
were down on the beach together.
Few words had passed between them
since that fateful glance, when heart
spoke to heart, and soul to soul.
Ralston broke the silence.
81 asked you to come down, Diane"
he said. ii have story to tell you,
and question TO ask.
Years ago, Diane, there were two
friends, bosom friends; one had a
daughter. the other son, who grew
up TO girlhood and manhood as inti-
mate friends. The father of the girl
was supposed to be wealthy; he was
the owner apparently, of stately
home, and lived luxuriously, but the
fact was, all his property was heavily
mortgaged TO the father of the young
man.
The young mans father died, and
by the terms of his fathers will. he was
compelled to make the girl his wife, or
lose the wealth his father died pos
sessed of. The terms of the will were;
~ give and bequeath all i die possessed OF
20 my sou, ON coEditlon he makes the daugh-
Ter OF Clark Nern' n his wife. 1T he refuses TO
comply with these terms ] leave him s.: the
rcmaiIEier of all my possessions TO be divided
among my nearest of I'm.
diane, the young man was heart
free at the time. and the girl was fair