The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1894-04-26

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past And for another moment abe
chung to him.
mo. 70. We win BE- happy JET" be
But the words were hushed upon his
lips. In some occult way the truth was
revealed to him. He knew that all the
faces he had looked upon were those OF
the dead. He too was dead. and Vir-
ginia. Life and earth were gone forever.
Repentance was vain, redemption Inn
possible, parting, shame and despair
eternal.
In the sudden blackness that swept
down like the shadow cast by mon
strous wing Virginia's body slipped from
his longing arms. and he was alone.
Tho cry that broke from his humili-
ated soul sent the vision whirling. and
he awoke, conscious Of bursting heart
and a quiyering body bathed in cold
dews. He made an effort to rise. and a.
he did 90 felt hand upon his shoulder.
heard voice speaking his name.
What elses" he cried, flinging back
his head, his eyes flashing o maddened
defiance and clouded with blood. What
else2 Oh, Godr'
Mr.. Plunket's commonplace face was
close to him.
Murray, you must be i'll. You've been
dreaming-crying out as II some one
were hurting you. Wake up. Don't
stare SO, man. Wake mp"
Staring. trembling, his tongue thick,
Tom sprang up. The sense of utter loss.
the tragedy Of virginias last kiss. were
still with him. He looked around, star
tied, dumb. Yonder in the crimson circle
cast by the lamp stood Delatole smiling.
Just beyond him were the gaunt form
and lonely eyes of Felix Dawson Both
were waiting.
my dear Murray, am here under
protest" said Plunket, wringing his fat
hands in loose, soft, helpless way as he
stood with his head on one side. This
mans story is absurd-now be quiet.
don't get angry, but--but--he says your
last play was one he sent you and which
you - er er - er appropriated. He
hasn't shadow of proof. How could
hef Why, it's preposterous! As IL I
wouldn't know your style anywherei I
poohpoohed him. but Mr.. Delatols per-
suaded me to let him face you with his
story. That is all, my dear Murray;
that Is ALL"
Tom regarded him vacantly while he
spoke. He started blindly forward and
paused midway in the room. leaning
upon q chair.
He was not dreaming still? No; these
were men, not shades. This was his ia
miliar Virginia was not far away.
All was not over. The living moment
was still his. Considerations so i'm
portant but little while ago were lost
sight Of; his tortured sensibilities over
leaped them all in maddening thirst to
redeem himself in his own eyes while he
could, to purge the soilure from his soul,
90 that never--oh, never-might he
really know that sense OF awful. final
condemnation revealed TO him In o
dream.
"Speak up. Murray. Throw the lie
In his teeth" cried Plunket.
A pallor suddenly struck Toms face
from brow to chin; q pale smile came
and went upon his lips. Wretched and
wild though his face was, there was
something Of inexplicable triumph in
that smile-a light above a wreck.
He looked straight at Plunket:
1.-The liei MOI The lie was mine. Do
you hear? The horrid, damnable Lie
was mine. The play was his. Istole 1t.
I called 1t In the Name Of the Gar.
and when he came to me wouldn't give
IL up. wouldn't do 1t. But now-oh.
take it--and with 1t remove the curse
that has followed mer'
A groan of agony came with the words.
His eyes looked past the amazed and
startled group to the open doorway.
Was yirginia's gray, drawn face ~ he
had seen it in his dream still before his
fancy7 He looked again. Then he saw
she was really upon the threshold, her
eyes mirroring the pity and horror her
trembling lips could notspeak. She had
heard all.