The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1892-02-12
SIDNEY Lorraine,
or, Tho Counts burden.
CHAPTER II. CONTINUED.


Ter voice was steady now. She had
brushed the tears away. Perhaps his
words had inspired her with faint
shadow Of hope, perhaps some remem-
brance had come to her Of the resolu-
tons she had formed whilst listening to
the bells ringing through the calm sum-
mer evening-resolution which in her
passionate pain and suffering she had
broken-that she would spare him as
much as might be any share of the
trouble which had fallen on her; he had
quite enough to bear himself, and he
was i'll. And over and over again had
not the doctor said that all worry and
anxiety, and above everything all excite
ment, was, if possible, to be avoidedp
And she knew it. AS she looked at him
now, and noted the little red flush on
his cheeks and the feverish brightness
of his eyes, she knew that twas through
her fault, her foolish emotion, that he
was suffering afresh. What was the
good in crying outp She was hurt, per-
haps, but, as they were circumstanCed,
there was nothing he could do, only feel
as a stab all her passionate words.
IL WISH" she began at length-but she
did not move her cheek away from the
hand against which it rested-"I wish
sometimes one could choose the mo-
ment of ones death; | think / should
say now, Tomorrow l shall be so UNI
happy, but now, at this moment-I have
forgotten that"
Forget it STILL" he answered; "and
Believe me, If / can make the future
EASY for YOU, | will"
Putting it into words has broken the
charm" she said. But you see for
yourself that my wisdom has come back.
Do not fear, am not going to make
you miserable any longer. am going"
Tightening little her clasp upon the
hand she held, ito say 'Good-night'-for
you promised you would not stay up
late"
ut is Goodbye" he replied quickly.
Il am going early tomorrow. No." as
she would have spoken, ut is better, far
batter. You know, / wished to godays
ago. | think" his voice faltering a lit
Ne, 81 would rather not say Goodbye
Il will not again break my resolu-
tion," she said. 81 will do whatever you
think best. l am not very brave, but l
can be obedient."
She stood up as she spoke, and, "See,"
she went on, II am trying to act as 1
speak. | am going at once. This is
Goodbye"
He was standing beside her on the
hearthrug, looking down into her troub-
led eyes, noting the slender hands clasp
ed above her beating heart, perhaps
recognizing the efforts she was making
to be calm, for his own eyes grew sad
der as he watched her.
But his voice was quiet and steady,
as, placing his hands upon her shout
ders, Sydney" he said, "try and trust
me. i'll live, / will come back; if | do
no, come back, will write. Doyou un-
derstandT
Eyes" 1t was a sigh, not a word
Her ewes did not drOop-they looked
steadily up into his. The tear-drops
we're all gone, There was faint rehec'
ton of his calmness and determination
about her grave mouth.
"Dear child" with one hand smooth
ing back the hair from her aching fore
head, 81 can say so little. You know
you understand. If you never see mt
again, you mul& be free, with no shad
ow between you and happy future"
"Ah, but you cannot do that" she in
terposed. "You may destroy my future
but you cannot take away my past
And / would not have it otherwise, dC
not think it. / shall always believe tina
you loved me-"
aYou canno, doubt. But" breaking
of, "you believe me; that is enough
You believe" speaking quickly, "that i
l could say all 1 wish to say, If coult
kiss away your tears, and bring bacl
smiles to your eyes and lips, there II
nothing would not sacriiice-nothinl
If it were only myself l had to thinl
of.
As he spoke, the color swept up in 1
scarlet flame to her cheeks, and the gray
eyes wavered away from those looking
into hers.
Goodbye" she said, softly; ~youl
love makes it easier"
Goodbye" he repeated.
She lifted her eyes once more to his
and then turned slowly away. But, hay
ing reached the doorway, she paused
and looked back.
He had thrown himself down in tho
big armchair where she had sat the
! GdIllBI Ddlb VI bllb CNOlllllB, Mo law hlNi
den in his arms outstretched on the
table beside 1.-THE whole attitude one
of such suffering and despair, that al.
most involuntarily she paused. And
after seconds hesitation, she came
back the few stops to his side.
"Esme," she said, low and timidly,
and, as he did not move or make any
reply, Goodbye is abitter, heartbreak-
ing word" she went on gently. docs
it comfort you to know that il you suf-
fer, so do l; that if you are heartbroken,
80 am II Does it comfort y0u-it must
to know that day and night | am pray.
ing God to keep you until we meet
againP
There was a moments silence; then
Esme Won Lindenheim felt her arm
about his neck, her soft kisses on hair
and forehead.
Goodbye" she faltered, and Good.
bye" he repeated, lifting his eyes, full
of tears, to hers; and then he knew that
If he did not regain his freedom he had
looked his last into the gray eyes he had
learnt to love, heard her say Goodbye"
for the last time.
CHATTER III.
"UND WAS DU EwIG LIEBsT, IsT EwIG
DEM"
Hayes in August. under clOudless
summer skies, roses and jasmine look
! = Il