The state republican. (Jefferson City, Mo.) 1871-1896, 1895-05-23

ulu Wnat SHOULD sne say or dor
She could not tell him that love was
dead. Would 1t be true7
No-no-no-a thousand times no.
She would still give up her life for
Clement Dunraven's happiness IL he
would only remain true to Lady
Gertrude, and let her biie in peace,
Happy, ignorant Lady Gertrude;
how she envied her, her perfect
in Sir Clement. How she would
never forget in her daily prayers to
ask that this faith in him might
never be extinguished.
And while these thoughts were
passing in her %perturbed brain, Sir
Clement was coming nearer and
nearer to the cottage.
He had already passed through the
garden gate, and was standing by
the porch, but Lisbeth did not move
from her place by the window until
Nurse Green, who had heard the
click of the opening gate, asked who
had come in.
Lisbeth answered shortly:
"Sir Clement Dunraven.n
son! | am SO glad; run down
quickly, lass, and get tidings of Lady
Gertrude; it seems DER long since
we heard"
"Please keep Lisa then; Sir Glenn
ent does not care for children EXCEPT
the little heir"
There was a bitterness in the tone
of the last words, which Nurse Green
would not have failed to notice had
she been a cleverer woman.
Lisbeth laid Lisa ON the bed where
the old woman was lying, aud Went
slowly down to receive Sir Clement.
"Ah, Lisbeth," he said, assuming
a %cheeriness he did not feel. "Lady
Gertrude insisted on my coming
through the mud to inquire after
YOU"
Lisbeth rayed night and day that
he might keep true to Lady Gertrude,
nevertheless 1t Jared upon her that
it should be necessary for him to
frame an excuse about coming to see
her.
She did not reply, but opened the
parlor door, thus tactily inviting
him TO enter.
He felt somewhat taken aback by
her manner. Was she always going
to be frigid with him now, as she
had been while the suspense about
that terrible trial hung over them?
"You do not look happy, Lisbeth,
l expected to see you bright-now!''
"Can I ever be bright again, Sil
Clement? I am surprised that yor
should expect it."-
"Don't call me Sir Clement, Lis
beth; am ! not Away Glen to your.
circumstances lave parted us
1t is best that the distance SHOULD
not be reduced
"Lisbeth! If you are going to fai
me what will my life be worth?
shall V be able to endure it,"
"You have Lady Gertrude; sh'
loves you dearly; and oh, Clement
il you have any honor left be true t.
her,
"You need not remind me of m,
duty to Lady Gertrude. / love he
too well to be unkind. l Marie
her, as you know, wholly to pleas
my uncle, but her gentleness, he
trust, her devotion have won for he
a prominent place in my heart
Still, believe me, Lisbeth, Lady Ger
trude is not you, She can never b
to me what you have been-wi
never be-"
A smile passed for a moment owe
Lisbeth's face. What woman, nobl
and heroic though she may be, doe
not fell gratifed at hearing that, !
spite of separation, she still retaine
the first place in the heart of th
man she has once madly loved. Sh
would be than human if she die
The next moment, however, he
pleasure was mingled with distrus
He would not come to her unless b
wanted help. But she did not ar
!, swer the appeal ungraciously. St
l still loved him too we'll to woun
} him if she could help it, still 81
3 allowed him to see that she under
stood.
81 will never wholly desert yo'
Clement" she replied almost SO
a EMMY. "Whatever there Is wants
: to be done that l can do you ms
9 trust me, for your W sake--ar
g Lady Gertrude's."
9 "Always Lady Gertrude'sl
8 seems strange, but it Is / instead
you who am jealous of Lady Ge,
trudel"
"Yet you placed her between us
"Come, come, Lisbeth; do not
us talk of her at all. Let us lea
her out of the question. Promise
n be true to mt in the future, as "
@ have been in the past, and whatev
befalls to be my firm friend"
8 "Such a promise from me is u
worthily asked" she said. 81 ha'
# been true to you in desperate nee
o and, knowing it as you do, Cleme
Dunrayen. you have no right