People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1895-01-24

OQ, OOu! UlQ II mean lldls SbOOu
for a minute paralyzed; my heart a.
most ceased beating, the blood ran cold
in my veins, my limbs trembled. Could
it mean that?
Quick as thought l went to Lady
Latimer's room. There was nothing
unusual at first sight, but when l
opened the wardrobe door, / saw the
blue velvet and pearls hastily thrust
aside. / knew knew she had gone
away with him, and had chosen the
night because they imagined during
the excitement they would not be
missed. Two o'clock, at the corner of
the road! | knew the turning well; a
great oak-tree stood there; we had
often rested under its shade. Should
/ have time to reach it and to save
her? Quick as thought, | took a cloak
and hat from her wardrobe. / did not
stop to think; knew, in the confusion
no one would notice me or miss me. l
few down the great staircase, across
the entrance hall, meeting no one;
then reached the hall door, and stood
outside, trying for one moment to think
which was the nearest way. If |
could only reach the corner of the
road before the carriage started, Twas
all right. should save her, even if l
lost my life in doing it. If the car
riage was gone, then eternal shame
and disgrace to the beautiful woman l
loved. The moon was shining, but
not very brightly, and the stars were
out; the snow cleaned white and hard
on the ground, the tall trees, with
their bare branches, stood like giants.
| looked neither to the right nor the
left; | ran for dear life, praying
heaven, even as | ran, to save her
save her from eternal shame and woe.
On, past the shining laurels and the
tall frs; on, past the frozen lake, past
the lime-trees, past the hOlly-bushes
cleaning crimson, past the tall larches
through which the winter wind moaned
and walled; Fastening, despairing, cry
ing to heaven to help me to save her;
and then-oh, God he praised and
thanked!-I saw them. They had not
reached the park gates, and she was
saved; for he should not take her away
unless he killed me first; l would cling
to her-save her in some way. They
were walking quickly, but the next
moment was with them, by her side.
| cried out her name, flung my arms
around her. "My darling, you must
not, you shall not go!"
and then l stood for one
moment breathless. Which should l
speak to? What should | say?
81 know" | cried at last. The
carriage is waiting at the turn OF the
road, and you-Oh, Colonel North,
gentleman and soldier-you want to
take her away with you to eternal
shame and eternal remorse! You
shall mott"
"What, in heavens name, brings
you here, Audrey Lovel?" cried Col
onel North.
And | answered, Heaven itself, to
save her from ruin and death. You
shall not take her away; we are close
to the lodge gates, and if you try to
pass them and take her with you, |
Will raise such an alarm that you will
be Overtaken in five minutes, and she
shall be dragged from you by force.
Gentleman and soldier! Do you know
that you are a coward and thief in
stealing another mans wife,"
He drew back. | went on:
The wife OF an old man, powerless
to avenge himself-a man who has
trusted you, whose bread you have
eaten, under whose roof you have
found hospitable shelter. And you
repay him by stealing his wife! Why
did you not steal that which he values
less-his gold or his jewels? Oh,
shame-bitter, endless shame on you!"
And it seemed to me that the wind
took up the words and re-echoed them
among the trees, "shame-bitter, end
less shame!" l turned to the trem-
bling girl.
"Come back with me, my darling. "
said, "come back. 1t is only a bad,
evil, black dream; come back with me;
no one shall know"
She hesitated, she half chung to him.
| saw him throw his arm around her,
and saw defiance in his face.
Lady Latimer," l said, "do you
know where those gates lead? Look
at them, and know the road leading
from them is the path to hell" A
low moan came from her lips.
Think" said; lit is not Just now.
while the glamour of love lies on you;
it is not the present, it is the lon o
years of the future, when the glamour
will fall from your eyes, and you will
remember nothing but the wickedness
of your sin. Wicked love never lasts
I long, and the love of a man who
would brand you with endless shame
is wicked, weak and cruel. Think of
the long years of shame and sorrow
and endless remorse! Come back
with mo, darlingm
"You mean well, Miss Lowell" said
Colonel North, "but if you have any
heart in your breast, you will not ask
her to 90 back. / maintain that she
is not married-marriage means a
union of hearts, it means two souls
made one"