Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1892-03-25
CHAPTER XXXVII.
rLIE REGINNING OLE THE END.

TIE BEGINNING OF THE END.
1t was the supreme moment Of my life;
and standing there before my darling daZed
and joyfuliy bewildered, with her beautiful
face turned. radiant with love, on mine well
might | have echoed the ecstatic cry Of the
lover of lovers:
''Tf il were now to die,
"Twere now to be most happy; for I fear,
MY soul hath her content 50 absolute,
That not another comfort like to this
Succeeds in unknown fate"
But the words which were bliss TO me were
gall and NORWOOD to the soul of George
Rpdrulh. Liyd with pain, he looked at her
Who uttered them: then glancmg round ut
the wild groups surrounding us, he said:
You must BE- mad to speak like that. Ire
lawney. word With YOU. There shall be
an end to this once and forever; come apart,
| and let us speak togetherW
lie walked a short distance along the cliffs,
I following, with Madeline by my side
:, len We were out of earshot Of any sOul
there. he turned and faced Us. His self-con-
troll WAS now remarkable; stranger look
inG at him. and observing his manner would
nrver have gathered that he was prey 10
the acutest suffering of mortified pride and
passion.
Il might have guessed this from the first
always hated me-and, God knows, L return
ed the compliment. l can see now why you
saved my life, To crush and huuillate me
before my cousin, over whose mind You have
/ obtained some InaIign influence"
looked at him. but made 40 reply. He
continued, with apparent caImnesS, address
! iA- Madeline:
Il am TO understand then, that our engage
! uent is at an euo?'
Yes" she answered
Very well. You know as we'll as what
that means to me-ruin, perhaps disgrace;
nut | am not going to whine over the mevita-
| bic. Treawnel l congratulate YOU" he
added With a curious smile; you have won
tie game"
He turned as if 70 go, but Madeline, with
| an impulsiye cry, interposed.
George do not talk like thatr' she cried.
| There is a chance Vet of retrieving the past,
! and ii you will do So | shall still be your
friend. 1t was not fated that L should ever
| be your wife; only one woman living has
! right TO that title, and to your atoneAent,
| Let me 60 to her! Let me tell her that you
! will make amendS!'
! Il fail to understand you" he answered,
| coldly. "Of whom are you speaking"
''0f Annie PendTagOn, the poor girl whose
| heart You have nearly brokenI \ GU see l
! know everything. GeOrge-for my sake"
/ How kind you are, how Solicitous for my
| moral welfare! 1t is very good of you. | ac-
| knowledge, to offer to provide me with
! helpmate, but l must politely decline your
| kind offices. Annie Pendragon is nothing to
| me. l am gentleman, l believe; she is"
Take carer' l cried. Utter one word
| against her, at your peril. do not ask you
| now to acknowledge her-it is too late for
| that; and even if it could be, l think she is
| better as she is, than she could ever become,
| more closely united TO a man like you. But
! she is sacred, and forbid you even to utter
| her name"
| You mistake my meaning" he returned,
/ still retaining his self-possesslon. "All l was
/, going 10 say was that we are not equals. L
deeply regret what has occurred-I acknowl-
edge my own folly-my own guilt if you
| like it better; but from this time forth we
| are nothing TO each other.
George. Georger' cried my darling in de
| spair Have you no hearth
II suppose 50; but blame YOURSELF If it is