Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1897-09-03

rose Very early next morning and
went out. But cvcM the fresh. sweet,
misty arr could not cool the fever i'll my
veins.
When 1 reached the villa grounds 1
WAS still! far from being as calm as l
wished TO be. the subtle sense of asso-
cia;ion hung about the place. Wherever
] mo.cd o. looked. | seemed to see Joan
as ] had been used to sec her. Every
bush was like Il -hostly figure: every
pain "a landmark OF some scene or word.
When "a, last ] turned Il corner. and came
face Ii face with Joan herself. l could
hardly believe it was reality. She wore a
white dress. and had Il little lace handker-
chief tied under her chin. AS she saw me
she started. Perhaps the morning light
showed lis tho changes that time had
wrought. MS the previous night had failed
40 do.
She came up to me and put out her
hand.
"Darb. is not we'll" she said. hurried
~; "Stc seems TO have taken IL chill. l
have just sent IL man for tho doctor. She
has fallen asleep now, but l don't like
her looks
Il was afraid she would he ill.," an
swrrel. as | turned round and walked
beside her to the house. Did She tell you
about coming 10 my room last night"
Me-" she exclaimed in wonder. ITO
your room! What tor:"
"Sabc evidently thinks" said. 'that we
are not quite on good tcrms-you and L
and she wished 10 help me Ia Il better
understanding; so She came 10 me with
your journal, and begged me to read it,"
with my Journal she cried. her face
growing suddenly scarlet. 'Oh. she had
M r;.,i,-shc should not have done that.
1t was very wrong of her"
"Do not asitate YOURSELF" ! said coldly.
"ioh surely do not suppose ! would read
one word of it without your knowledge"
She stopped and looked mp i'll my face.
"you-havc not!' she said TREMENDOUSLY.
o course not" l answered. "Your
confidence is sacred. i should never think
of violating it,"
\ strange little smile came to her lips.
~ might have known" she said. II
might have trusted; you are SO different
to Others"
II hope" 1 said. that any one who
knows tho meaning of honor would be-
have in Il similar manner l will give
You back your book ii you will come TO my
room
"Nery we'll" she said. softly. IL fol
lowed me across the vesiibulc.
went in and took her journal from
the drawer where l had placed it. She
stood on the threshold and watched me.
! came up to her and placed the boob in
her haiids. As | did so she turned very
pale, then looked up i'll my face.
II ought To lave 10 secrets from you.'
she sand slowly. ".And l ion't know why
I should mind our reading this. There
is nothing wrong-only-only it is very
foolish"
"My dear" l said gravely. 81 have no
wish to learn anything about you that
your own lips cannot tell me. Some day.
perhaps. You will understand me better
than you have yet done. But l am con-
tent to wait"
She put her hand to her head with that
touch of pcrpleNity.
$50 wait..' She said slowly: THAT is
very hard. l know l ought to nave told
you long ago. only | think was afraid.
But | am not afraid now"
drew her into the room and closed the
door
'Joan." l said quietly. tell mo the en-
tire truth. Between us there should he
nothing to conceal or to avoid. Is there
nothing You remenlbcr:'
Her hands ncrvously claspcd and I'M
clnspcl the fastening of the book she held.
'It is all-hcrc," she saia SANITY; "only
L have not dared to look since l recov-
cred"
The color wavercd in her check: her
eyes met mine slowly, in questioning ap-
peal.
'lf you would read it for me-" she said.
and held the book toward lie. | saw her
hand trcmblc. took it and held it IN my
own.
"Arc you quite sure" l asked. "that
you mean this? DO you think there is
anything here you would rather 1 did not
read! You say YOU cannot remember;
yon may have written things down that
were meant only for your eyes"
She shook her head. She looked at inc
with the trust and simplicity of a child.
~ will never deceive you again." she
said. when You know me as l am, YOU
may act as You Please. 1t is all there,
think: all except that time when my men,
Dry failc!'. Perhaps" she added sorrow
fully, you may hate mc-or despise me.
There may be things written down there
that l never meant any one to know; but
you are so good. IL do not think YOU
will be hard on me. am sorry l did MOI
trust you from the first"
"And so am l. heaven knows!" an
swcred below my breath.
~ will give you iii the day to read it,
she went on presently. ''I'hen tonight
! will meet you in the garden-where-
where l told YOU ! would he yonr wife
dive years ago. DO sou remember:"
Yes" l answered g~raveiy. II will be
there"
How l lived out that day 1 hardly
KNOW. l shut myself up with that book,
and devoured its pages with hungry eyes.
every detail a, liat young. brave life was
now before me-its tenderness. its wreck
I'd hopes. it's broken faith. its struggles
with temptation, its long hidden sorrow,
it's gradual awakening to a new happiness
and the awful daath-blow that my OWL
hand had struck at that happiness.
"If l had but known!" laid to my
aching heart. "Oh, il 1 hrl tut kuown!'