Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1893-06-08
A BROKEN COMPACT.

They paced slowly along together
these two by the dull gray water thai
rose sullenlY up almost to their feet.
The mans eyes, which were bent or
tho face of the woman who walked al
hi. side, had both passion and despair
in them. She, for her part, directed
her gaze upon the heaying mass of mur'
XIV water and remained silent.
AS by natural impulse they stopped
and stood facing each other. 1t was
dusk, and they were quite alone. The
woman spoke:
1t IS foolish Of you to love me so.
she said.
Folly Yes. he replied graspiug her
hand in his own. Folly! Yes, some
would so call it.
What do I care for oplnions-save
my knowledge that to you l owe my
supremest JOY Of my whole life? The
mere knowledge that, you love me, that
you are mine in soul aAd spirit compen.
sates me for all the wretchedness that
our love entails. -
Before loYed you existed. You
have taught me what it is to live. One
hour Of your companionship is worth u
century of existence without, It. While
you permit me to worship you, l am
content even though our lot is 80 bitter.
The woman smiled. and her sweet.
childish face flushed slightly at his
words. She released one of the tiny
jsweled hands and gently caressed his
cheek with it.
I love you,' she said softly, 'better
than my riches, think-than honor,
or even life ITSELF
A minute Of silence. during which the
man s features worked strangely. Then
he drew her closely to him and spoke
hoarsely-6ercely. You say you love
me better than life. Do you mean what
you say?'
I DO. she answered, making no effort
to repeal the fcyerish kisses with which
he accompanied the words, but why do
you look at me 80 strangely
Listen, my love. my deity he went
on passionately, 'ifyou loye as I do. you
know that life without love is worthless.
Yet in loving me you risk honor, posi-.
tion and peace. There is peril for our
selves aud others in every moment that
we spend together. For you am will.
ing to end it all. In you l have my
heaven. I desire to die before it crum-
bles away before my eyes. Darling let
US die together
lie felt the slender form, so perfect
in its outlines, shudder in his strong
embrace.
She made no answer for awhile. She
seemed stunned by the awful PROPOSE.
ton. But her face flushed again. Her
strongest emotion was the womanly one
Of pride In being loved so we'll.
'Imposslblc.' she whispered at last
nesting even closer to him. If we
should die together, what would the
world say: But, oh. it would be sweet
to die now-this way.
Listen moment, he replied. We
will not die tonight Let us take our
farewell of the heaven We have known.
But tomorrow night, at moment We
may fix upon, we will die-you in your
home, l in mine.
In that way no one will suspect.
We shall be separated, 1t is true, but
our souls will take flight at the same in
slant. In that supreme moment We shall
know the elimination of our Joy. Do
you consent?
Silence again, broken only by the
dismal ripple Of the little waves on the
beach. The woman gazed with swim
ming eyes INTO the face of the man and
received from tho passionate glance
something Of his ghastly project. then
shrank half coming into his
arms again. murmuring, / CONSENT
And 80 l am to die tonight she
museu. -.
1t was within half hour OF midnight
aad the tall lamp, with its orange hued
shade, burned brightly before the tall
mirror.
Her white gown, caught at the waist
bv a beit of gold. studded with tuquroise