The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1890-02-21
CHATTER NvII.
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The servant Mary looked a little sur
prised as she ushered the savior IF
Kenneth into the drawing-room.
My mistress is in her boudoir, sir"
she said, rather stiffly, 'Ill tell her you
wish to see her: but she gave orders
that she wouldn't see no one
She retired and went upstairs, return
ing in a moment or two.
My mistress cannot see you, sir"
she said; ''she amt we'll"
''She must and will see me- Philip
said, quietly, and went out into the
hall.
The girl threw herself in his way in
some alarm.
"You can't see her, SIR she cried
"You mustn't go up. Who ! your"
stand aside, girl and Philip put
his hand OF her shoulder and swung her
with gentle force out of his way, speak
ing sternly; 81 am in 10 mood to be
trifled with. [ am Philip St. John"
lie did not wait to see the effect of
his words, but sprang lightly up the
stairs, and paused, uncertain, with
wildly throbbing heart.
The door before him was a little
open, and yet in this last moment when
the next few seconds might give him
back again the short-lived JOY of the
past, a trembling fell on his spirit, a
great fear.
What if with stern accusing eyes she
met him? What if she yielded not the
pardon he had so relentlessly withheld?
Would she if she loved him? Surely
no.
But he could never long linger in sus-
pense. If the next moment must dash
the cup of joy from his lips, why. let it
come and hp rOOll meet If.
He softly opened the door and en-
tered.
She was kneeling down by the couch,
her face bent down on her hands, her
bright hair streaming like a mantle
about her, every line of the dropping
figure eloquently speaking of the utter
despair and sorrow that made her daily
life a burden; but she heard the step,
the closing of the door, and with a cry
bounded to her feet, finging back the
tresses from her forehead, looking at
him like some wild, hunted creature.
Impulsively he sprang forward.
stretching out his hands to her, but
stopped abruptly. ~,
1t seemed then to come over him with
an overwhelming force how the wrong
he had done her stood between them yet
forbade a nearer approach-and with
L lbl StttiNlJH lCN NlSlSh Ilp CAi Nv iic
head low with a deep humility, folding
his arms tightly over his breast, striv-
ing to suppress the bitter remorseful
agony that trembled in the lalf-whis-
pered words:
you asked pardon and mercy of me
once, Erica, with tears and prayers.
turned from your prayers, | spurned
your anguish
The sweet voice failed, faltered, stop,
ped. He bowed his head yet lower: his
lips could frame no more.
1t seemed as though the girl scarcely
understood his words, or that vaguely
as through a dim dream, they fell OF
her senses. She knew that Philip stooc
before her. That was his voice speak
ing to her. What was it he said? Par
don. mercy!" Was he come to forgive
then?
Phillip" She put her handso out dir
lilly, tremblingly, and sank down on ne
knees before him. "Philip, you vii
not leave me again; you will hav'
mercy?'
He bent I'VE her. lifting her to hi!
breast. wrapping her close in his arms
bowling his forehead down to hers.
My darling. my hearts life i
said, with trembling passion, tres
here, my own wife: forgiveness is no
%mine-yours only. Oh, Erica, Erica
what atonement shall | make for til
past? | have no more love to give.
know all now, my darling. Hush, husl
child: these tears are my punishment.
Erica was weeping convulsivcly i
Philips arms, drawing long rackin
sobs that seemed torn up from the root
of her heart. She was conscious tina
/ Philips clasp held her; that his voic
was speaking those sweet gentle words
his lips were pressing her brow wit
such passionate calesses. Nh. 1t wa
but a dream. Such idle, beautif>
, dreams she had had. and woke TO sue
fresh bitterness that she feared slee
now. lie tried at first to soothe he
but the loving touch only seemed to il
crease her emotion: and then he hel
her silently to his heart. waiting, viii
pering at last in bitter pain:
/, My heart, these tears are my L,
, proach. They tell me all / have mac
i you suffer. Tell me. darling, tell m
whisper you forgive me-
r "OlI. no, no." She strove and in pa
+ succeeded in stemming the tide tn;
would have its way till then. 1T is
WHO have need of forgiveness. But
$ is not real; only dream. Philip, Pill
! oh. hold me close; don't let me wake
She chung to him almost Iranticall
and only his tender touch and vol,
: soothed her back to something lii
l quiet. She had not comprehcnded y
L why he had come. or that his SO eomii
r implied a knowledge of the whole pas
She had no distinct thought; nothil
but a sense of being once more sl
$ rounded as with loving protection. 81
e scarcely knew whether this was realii
yet.
And he watched her with an almo
t trembling anxiety as she lifted h