The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1896-07-25


the new Mrs. Gregstone's hair, and
there was not q man IN town but Of
fered g silent. little prayer Of gratitude
that he did not stand IN poor, harassed
Gregstone's relation to this fretful,
imperious woman. s#
Trains out Of E1mville were rare, so
that when the man and wife came back
from the graveyard at dusk, it was
found that they would have to wait
till the following morning before they
could leave again for their western
home. score Of Gregstone's old
friends and business associates called
upon him early that evening at the lit
tie hotel, but he sent word back to
them that Mrs. Gregstono had one Of
her terrible headaches and IS could
not leave her. RI
Poor fellow" they sighed, sympa-
thetically, and slipped back home, SO
that by 10 O'clock the whole town was
asleep, there in its little shadowy nest
on the hillside, with the moonlight
wasting its benign loneliness all un-
seen by the eyes Of men. s.
AS the last light on the square was
extinguished, Mrs. Gregstohe in the
little white cottage drew q great sigh
Of relief. She had felt the merciless
eyes OF her inquisitive toWnspeople
burn into her all day long, and the
strain had been so cruel that she felt a
few more hours of it would have found
her last bravery gone. But now It was
all over, no one was watching except
God Himself, and, in spite of all the
blame put upon her by man, Mrs.
Gregstone did not fear God. Catching
up wisp of a white shawl, she crept
silently out into her garden, where the
blossoms swung their worshiping cups
| in the soft summer-night breeze, like
fragrant censers swaying in silent
alteration before the throne Of the per-
feet night. From the long, straight
bed by the gate, where the naples
threw half the'path in still, black
shadow, there came the sweet breath
| Of her lilies, and she knelt among
them, bending her tear-wet face in
grateful love among their waxen petals
and dark, cool leaves. How long she
was there she did not know, but all at
once she heard her name spoken soft
ly, timidly, pleadingly, by some one
just beyond the low gate. At the sound
of that voice, that dear, precious
voice, that voice, than which there
was nothing in all the world for which
she hungered more that night, she
lifted her eyes and looked, straight up
into the beloved face of the man who
had voluntarily put her away and
taken another in her place.
The deep lines about his mouth, the
hopeless, haunted look in his eyes, the
silver of his hair, as he stood uncov-
cred in the moonlight, struck to her
heart with an icy terror. And yet
and yet, if she-the other one-had
been the cause of this
"Ellen?" he repeated, gently.
II am coming" was all she said,
as she.rose from her knees and started
toward him. Then, just as he touched
her outstretched hands she bethought
herself and locked her poor, cold fin
gers behind, as she cried:
''Why did you come here? It is not
right for either of u.s. ~
IT know it, and Ibid not mean to
when slipped away from-from her.
But when found myself on the old
street again T could not keep from one
mere glimpse of the dear little house.
I meant to pass on the other side, but
the odor of your ilies-the same sweet
lilies you used to love-drew me across
for one stolen, closer view, and-I did
not expect to see you. When I did, I
lost all courage, and here am
Still she stood, slender and pale, with
her nails biting into her quivering
palms. But she could not answer him,
although he saw all her soul lying open
and yearning in her sweet, sad eyes.
Ellen" he asked at last, 'you know
and I know that others would con-
denim us forever, but others need not
know what am going to ask. Will
you kiss me just once again, for the
last time and forever?"
Her heart stopped, then with a sud
! den start that sent the blood into her
cold, white cheeks, she sprung toward
him, and felt again the dear old pres
sure of his hands as he crumpled her
fingers between his palms Then he
bent toward her and kissed her, once,
twice, thrice, till she finally moaned
out:
| Don't; I beg of you, don't! Help
me to be brave. I have no right to
you, for you are-hers."
| II have other kisses for her, Ellen
cold, perfunctory kisses. where my
love never is. But to you goes all my
soul, now and forever more
Then he released her and she crept
back into her still, lonely, dark, little
house. But her face shone with a ra:
dance which never quite left it after.
ward and she sobbed softly to herself
IT know God will never forgive me
for shall never truly repent me Of it
But the knowledge that he loves me
even though she is his wife, will keel
me glad forever, in spite Of the awful
ness Of the sin there is in me-
Y1olY% Il.