The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1895-12-26

to you, :" she said carcssingly.
Sho sang without effort, blending the
most weird, sweet harmonics into one en-
trancing whole. These were tho words of
her last song, intensified by all tho Won
drous power of her languorous fascination
etrung up to its highest point:
My will is gone to sleep. dear.
And only YOU can wake it,
My heart is in your keep, dear,
To hold, or drop, or break it.
One day hold most dear. sweet
The clay when first met you;
Ono thing to mes most clear, sweet
never can forget you.
Daylight without your eyes, dear,
For me all brightness misses;
And most in life prize, dear,
Tho memory of your kisses.
Sho touched his arm softly as sho ceased
would you not care to have ono YOU
loved sing you that?"
lilo started suddenly and looked down
at tho littlo hand Tutoring fcminincly on
his coat slcovc
"How can you asll?' no said in n dazcd,
wondering tone. You sing divinely."
Then you nro IL man, after all" sho
murmurcd, half mischicvously, land your
heart is not made of granite"
His eyes met hers; then slowly, very
slowly, her lids dropped and she felt his
arm trcmblo beneath her light touch
Shall walcn you from sleep, Don?''
Tho words wcro whispered rather than
spoken, and tho delicate white fingers
frightened their grasp little; tho lovely
face, with its pouting lips, drew so near
that but an inch or two separated it from
his coat sleeve. Poor Desmond, whom
women had always "passcd by" found
himself against his will looking Mt tho
Circc who had put forth all her wilcs in
This ipir lnr
he had been proof against them for so long.
Her eyes fascinated him, but still he hest
tatcd, and tho woman, bent OH conquest
sang again very softly the two lines of tho
song:
One day hold most dear sweet.
Tho day when first met you.
Tho touch of her hand on his shoulder
reused Desmond to his senses. Ho sprnnp
up and hastily drew back several steps.
There was crash, and the little table
under the lamp fell to tho ground with n
sound of breaking porcelain. He had
brushed against it.
For one minute with stcrnly set fca-
lures, Desmond stood looking Mt tho wom-
an, his friends wife, who had nearly
caused him to break his trust. Her owes
were angry, but us the expression in his
grow worry sad and searching she covered
and flushed holly.
He stopped, picking up the table and tho
fragments of Temples portrait.
BrokenP' looking mt them for a long
moment. "But the face is untouched
Thank God for that You will allow me
to got 1t repaired for you, Mrs. TcmplcP
You shall have 1t i'll II day or two
framed"
She did not answer and he put tho
pieces into his poclictbook carefully, then
f,t, FOL n, Ia,
ncr and held out his hand
Good night Mrs. Temple"
The quiet courtesy disarmcd her. Any
rcproach or protest would have impcllcd
her To further attempts. The victory of
tho man over himsclf-and hcr-the ma
turo that would, she knew, bear no malice
cherish no petty minded remembrance of
nor reriidy or weakness, proved the last
straw. As much to her own surprise MS
his, she broke into IL violent fit of CRYING.
tho strength of her sobs shaking her from
head to foot
When she got stcadicr Desmond put "A
hand on her right shoulder
Don't be distressed, he said kindly.
Iehpio placed you in my care and no
man shall hurt you while live. l am
glad 1 can still meet him when ho re-
turns
How base you must think me! How
you will dcspsc mc!' sho said, hiding
her face, womnnlilc caring moro for his
opinion than her own failing.
Wait and sec. We arc going to forget
everything except that Temple is my best
friend and you, his wife whom he loves
So well, aro.going to mako him in tho fu-
turc, as you have i'll the past, the happicst
of men"
He looked her full in tho face, AID she
never knew what it cost him to do it so
indiifcrently. "Wo arc only human. after
oil. Temptation comes to every one. But"
no spoke softly and leaned forward, 'you
won't yield again? Will you promise mo."
Il swear that. And 1 pray that you
may have good woman's love, ono day
woman worthy of you
lie pressed her hands warmly, said
Good night" and left her.
Gladys says you wcrc like brother to
nor. Since my return sho has been an
angel to INC, and she looks lovclicr than
ever. Did you SEQ her every day."
II think SO. -
Did you notice how Tollemncho was
snubbcd Yesterday"
Temple laughed happily and shook
hands with Desmond, apropos of nothing
CONDENSED From ST. Pauls.