The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1893-06-23
CHAPTER XIV.

CHAPTER XIV.
Unorna drew one deep brenth when
she first heard her name fan with a
loving accent from the Wanderers
lips. Surely the bitterness OF despair
was past, since she was loved and not
called Beatrice.
Unorna scarcely knew that it had
not been she who had parted from
him so long ago. Yet she was play
ing a part. and In the semi-conscious-
ness Of her deep self-illusion it all
seemed a. real as a vision in a dream
60 often dreamed that 1t has become
| part Of the dreamer's life.
She had really loved him through
out all those years; she had really
sought him and mourned for him. and
longed for sight OF his face. they had
really parted and had really found
each other but q short hour since;
there vac 40 Beatrice but U%norna,
and NO Unorna but Beatrice, for they
were n and indivisible and inter-
changeable a. the glance OF a mans
two eyes that look on fair sight;
each sees alone the same-but seeing
together. the sight grows doubly fair:
And all the sadness. where is it
nowP" she asked. "And I'll the emp
illness Of that long time? ltnever was,
my love-it was yesterday we met.
W. parted yesterday. to meet to-day.
Say II was yesterday-the little word
Ear undo seven years."
ut seems like yesterday" he said.
Indeed, I can almost think so
now, for it was all night between.
But not quite dark as night is m
times. 1t was a night full OF stars
each star was a thought of you. that
burned softly and showed me where
heaven was. And darkest night they
say, means coming morning-so.
when the stars went out, | knew the
sun must rise"
"And why should it not lastp Is
there any reason In earth why we two
should psrtp II there isl will make
that reaso itself folly. and madness,
and Dear. do not speak Of
this not lasting. Die, you sayP Worse,
far worse: as much as eternal death is
worse than bodily dying. Last? Does
any n know what forever means, IL
we do notp Die VIC must, in these d.
ing bodies, Of ours, but part-ho.
Love has burned the cruel sense out
Of that word, and bleached its black
ness white. We wounded the devil,
parting. with one kiss, we killed him
with the next-this buries him-ah,
love. how sweet"
There vas neither resistance nor
the thought Of resisting. Their lips
met, and were withdrawn. only that
their eyes might drink again the
draught the lips had tasted.
Truth Or untruth, their love was
real, hers as much as his. She re-
membered only what her heart had
been without it.
He spoke tenderly, but with the
f~aintest echo Of sadness in his voice.
The mere suggestion that such
thoughts could have been zeal her
was enough to pain him. She was
silent, and again her head lay upon
his shoulder. 1t must be 80 easy
to be, faithful when life was but
n faith. In that chord, at least,
no note rang false.
Change in love-indifference to
you!' she cried, all at once, hiding
her lovely face in his breast and twin
ing her arms about his neck. mo,
no! l never meant that such things
could be-they are but empty words.
words n hears spoken lightly by lips
that never spoke the truth, by men
and women who never had such truth
to speak as you and l."
'.And as for old age! What is it
after all? A few gray hairs, q wrin-
kle here and there, a slower step,
perhaps a DINNER glance. That is
all it is-the quiet, sunny channel be-
tween the sea OF earthly Joy and the
ocean of heavenly happiness"
Yes" she said. 1T is better to
think of it so. Then we need think of
no other change"
There is no other possible" he
answered, gently pressing the
shoulder upon which his hand was
resting. 1--WE have not waited and
believed. and trusted and loved. for
seven years, to wake at last-face to
face as we are to-day-and to find that
W. have trusted vainly and loved two
shadows"
She said nothing. By merest chance
he had said words that had walked the
doubt again. so that it grew a little
and took a firmer hold in her unwill-
ing heart. ITO love a shadow" he
had said. S'To wake and to find self
not self at ALL"
But she knew it was only a doubt,
and had it been the truth. and had
Beatrice's foot been on the threshold.
she would not have been driven away
by fear. But the light had begun.
Speak to me. dear" she said, II
must hear your voice-it makes me
know hat it is all real.'
GLOW the minutes fy!' he ex-
claimed. smoothing her hair with his
band. ut seems to me that I was
but just speaking when you spoke"
'It seems so long" She
checked herself, wondering whether
an hour had passed or but a second.
fro BE Continued.