The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-03-04

ing unoer the uarlnR electr1C 11Snb
without the station. He knew no
such persons address. But the
stranger produced street and number.
A quarter of an hour later they
stopped before the small frame house.
Tell Mrs. Vanness gentleman
wishes to see her." He would not
give name or card. In the wild Quix-
otism of her present scheme of life
she might refuse to see him
The small maid vanished awe-struck
at this unwonted occurrence, and the
tall man waited. With mechanical
motion he touched letter in his vest
pocket 1t was signed .Lilith," and
it had been sent in answer to the one
that he had written on the night of
the terrible scene at the church of
SITS. Timothy and Cole.
Other letters he had written in
plenty, urging. appealing, pleading
his cause. This one only had brought
a reply. Her persistent silence had
only affirmed and confirmed what she
definite refusal.
But other things he had found
out since, things to him terrible
What could she mean, he asked of
himself regretfully, as he stood there,
what could she mean by throwing
away her youth, her bloom. the price
less treasures of her personality, in
this crazy scheme of trying to follow
up and to redeem the low creature
from whom she had for five years
been divorced. who never had any
claim upon her and who, in their
married life, had made this world a
hell for her? Bah! She was mad.
Much suffering had turned her brain.
He would teach her to see things
rightly, to brush away the eobwebs-
''Lilith!" BY her name he called
her. She had entered, and, seeing
him, had fallen back step, white as
the collar above the plain black dress
she wore. and clinging to a chair.
He came up to her and put out his
hand to touch her.
mo, no. she weakly painted.
"Why?" cried Carroll Merritt's
strong, inpassioned tones. "Why,
Lilith? You are shocked to see me?
All, my untamed bird, you see that
love has keen scent and can fud the
loved one at the worlds end! Did you
tuluk u CSCdp0 m0s OC6E
child, know all-all your past life,
your marriage to a man who ill used
you, dragged you in the dust, and
ended by disgracing you through his
connection with men who were tried
and convicted for financial misde-
meanor. know, and it is nothing to
me. 1 love YOU"
''Stop!' she exclaimed wildly,
throwing out her hands. ''You do
not know that I, too, was implicated
in that dreadful charge; that I, too,
was tried'-she shuddered and COW
cred her face.
''And acquitted know that also.
He had taken advantage of your ig-
norance and used you as blind. And
it was after that you went into an
other state and got separation. And
the lawyer who secured it was the
brother of the bishop who ca me that
day to the Eastern city to marry you
to Philip Runkle.
1.-THE bishop knew of that part of
your past. But he did not know, as
1 do. that personally, my white dar-
ling, your life has ever been blame
less; that"
sudden beautiful dignity, stood before
him.
mo, not blameless. For when /
had turned the leaf upon that dread
full past, and had gone where no one
knew of it, 1 played an odious COM
edy. l wished-'' her voice broke,
then she regained her self-composure;
'Oh! I wished to be happyl-And at
peace!-And I was struggling for my
bread, and Philip Runkle met me, and
thought me pretty, and offered me
marriage, and I continued to deceive
him and all his friends-I did not I'M
derstand the temptation! Did they
not think it heinous enough that he
should marry poor governess?
Had they known what the poor
governess had been through. how
could it ever be that he should marry
me? And that was not all my sin,
the sin of deception. sinned against
my heart" she drew herself up, and
her eyes looked with steady, starry
light into his. 81 sinned against you.
1 was engaged to Philip Runkle when
first met you, but / knew at once
that you loved me- though no word
was spoIxen-were you not Philip
Runkle's friend?-and Loved you. {"
"LilithI"
In an ecstasy he would have clasped
her.
"Nor' Quickly, firmly. she with
drew herself. 81 tell you-because
we part here and now. Oh, l loved
you truly-truly. But you were less
rich than Philip Runkle and 1 longed
SO for ease after the long fierce bat
tie. See how weak I was And, so,
leave me now. l have gone back in
spirit to my past. The man who was
once husband to me is not far from
here. He has sunk very low. He
needs friend The rest of my life
shall be dedicated to trying to help
him and such as him.
'By heaven, nor was the cry that
came from Carroll Merritt's lips, and