Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1895-02-02
CHAPTER xXxvII.

THE BEGINNING OF THE END.
1t was the supreme moment OF my life;
and standing there before my darling, dazed
and j~oyfully bewildered, with her beautiful
face turned, radiant with love, on mine, well
might l have echoed the ecsiatic cry Of the
lover of lovers:
III it were now to die.
'"Twere now 10 be most happy; for I fear,
My soul hath her content so absolute,
That not another comfort like TO this
Succeeds In unknown fntc!"
But the words which were bliss to me were
gall and NORWOOD TO the soul Of George
Redruth. Livid with pain, he looked at her
who uttered them; then glancing round at
the wild groups surrounding us, he said:
'You must be mad to speak like that. Ire
iawBey. Il word with you. There shall be
an end TO this once aud forever; come apart,
and let us speak together..'
lie walked a short distance along the cliffs.
I following, with Madeline by my side.
When WI were out OF earshOt Of any soul
there, he turned and faced us. His ~self-con.
troll was now remarkable; a stranger, look
Ing at him, and obs 'ng his manner, would
never have gathered that he was q prev 10
the acutest suffering OF mortified pride and
passion.
II might have guessed tnis from the first"
he said, III a low voice. "You, Trelawney,
always hated me-and, God knows, | return
ed the compliment. can see now why you
saved my life. To crush and humiliate me
before my cousin, over whose mine you have
obtained some malign influence
looked at him, but made no reply. He
continued, with apparent caimness, address
ing Madeline:
Il am to understand, then, that our engage
ment is at an end?'
Yes" she answered.
Very well. You know as we'll as / what
that means to me-ruin, perhaps disgrace;
but ! am not going to whine over the ineyita-
BILE. Trelawney, | congratulate you," he
added, with a curious smile: you have Won
the game"
He turned as II to 60, bit Madeline, with
al impulsiye cry, ~interposed.
George, do not talk like thatv' she cried.
''There is a chance yet of retrieving the past,
and IL you will do so, | shall still be your
friend. IL was not fated that 1 should ever
be your wife; only one woman living has q
right to that title. and to your atonement
Let the go to her. Let me tell her that you
will make amends
u u w hit''tiHtttih Nths ht Hii0NtANtf
coldiy. "Of whom are you speaking?
''Of Annie Pendrigon, the poor girl whose
heart you have nearly broken! You see /
know everything. George-for my sake"
How kind you are, how SOLICITORS for my
moral welfare. II is very good OF you, | &C.
knowledge, 10 offer 10 provide me with a
helpmaie, but | must politely decline your
kind offices. Annie Pendragon Is nothing to
..A IN. Al eANIan.On 4 kaIfaNa. Gtn t. ~
Take carer' | cried. Utter one word
against her, at your peril. l do not ask you
now 10 acknowledge her-it Is too late for
that; and even II it could be, l think she is
better rs she Is, than SIZE could ever become,
more closely united TO a man like you. But
she Is sacred, and | forbid you even to utter
her name
lyon mistake my meaning" he returned,
still retaining his self-posseSslon. "Aii | was
going to say was that we are not equals. L
deeply regret what has occurred-I acknowl-
edgc my own foiiy-my OWL guilt, IL you
like 1t better; but from this time forth we
are nothing to each other"
George, George" cried my darling in de-
SPAR. Have you no hearth
IL suppose so; but blame yourself, II it is
somewhat ieaden on the present occasion. 1
am not used 10 humiliation. you see, and
though l take my punishment rs calmly as
possible, | still feel it."
1 could have strangled him, he was 30 ut
terry coldblooded.
III there is Justice cried, God will
punish you! You have not only wrecked
one life, but you have destroyed two Others.
Do You know that my uncle, God help himi
confessed with his last breath that he had
killed your accomplish, the man Johnson
That mans death. rs well as John Pen
dragons lies at your door,
He started In surprise but conquered him
self in a moment.
Il had my suspicious" he said; but l was
silent, for his daughters sake! ! fail to see,
however, that ] am responsible for the mad
act of a murderer
you are the murderer, not H., cried.
Nonsense p he answered; and still mas
tering himself. he walked away.
turned and looked at Madeline. She was
gazing after him, with a face pale as death.
Madeline" | said, do not think | am
fallen so low as to presume upon the hasty
words you spoke just % / know that,
when this sOrrowful day Is over, you will
forget them-you must forget them, In duty
TO yourself. 1t will be happiness enough for
Inc to know that, when l most needed il, l
had your sympathy; that IL | had been other
than ! am, 1 might have had your love. And
nov. shall w say good-bye"
l held out my hand TO her; she gazed at
me as IL in wonder.
Then you did not understand she said,
gently. 'Or perhaps-yon did understand,
and l was mistaken in thinking that you
cared for me-so muchy'
Care for you," repeated, p~assionately.
Ever since 4 can remember, my heart, my
whole life, has been yours. 1t Is not hatl
My love. strong as Ii Is, and ever has been, Is
not precious enough to purchase yours. DO
not think that | am SO lost, so selfish, as to
think that the distance between us can be
bridged over by -FOUR heavenly pity. l an a
poor man; you are q rich lady. know what
that means; l have known 1t from the be
ginning"
As l spoke, my heart was so stirred that I
had to turn my face aside, To hide the gather
ing tears. But she crept close to NE, and l
felt the soft touch of her hand upon my afft.
II do not blame you for thinking that
she said. "A little while ago, / thought so
too; but Hugh, dear-inay l call you so?-
God has opened my eyes. l think l always
loved you; but never so much As to-day"
Don't speak Of it! II can't be! oh,
Madeline, let us say farewellv'
Hugh, dear Hugh, listen! You must list
en-! All, do not BE- unkindr'
"Unkind-to lony' / murmured. God
knows l would die for yoay'
"Had you died down In the mine, l should
still have been faithful TO yon; ! should new
or have loved another man. May | tell You
the whole TRUTH will, and you will under
stand. When ! saw you going 10 your death
going, In your great goodness and noble
courage, to save your enemy's life at the
peril Of your OWL knew for the first time
that gil my heart was yours. I did not deter
you, out l prayed 10 God for you, and as I
prayed, ! sworc before my God that, II He
restored you To ms l would lay my heart
bare to You, aud ask YOU to make me your
wife. God was good; you came back. rs
from the grave. And now; will you turn
away from mey VIII you refuse me the one
thing remaining that can make life sweet
and sacred to me--your forgiveness, and
your lover
1t wa too much. The spell OF the old pas
sion came upon me as, sobblng and trem-
bling, ! took my darling to my heart.
Thus Il came 10 pass that !, Hugh Trelaw-
nsy. Y i'an Of the people, became the accept