The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1897-06-18

uptursd engagement with keen erul.
tation, and a suppressed look Of tri-
umph was on Allen Fauo's face when
next ho saw the woman ho had deter
mined 10 win for his own.
"You did splendidly, Marion" ne
said 20 her 'Hayo not told you FROM
the first how selfish ho was, even In
his love, that be neYer appreciated you7
But now, darling, that You are free 20
be won and to WOO, viii you not let
me prove that a man may be generous?
/ could have given you up 20 any other
II l thought your happiness was nt
stake, but not 10 one / read aowell"
Hush. Allen hushl 10 seems 10 me
Dissertation 10 listen 10 such words. If
he were selfish. then Is such selGshncss
glorious. You call It splendid 20 show
man who has placed his whole noble
heart at n woman's feet how frivolous,
worldly and beneath him is TINT for
which ho sues. / have thrown away
the highest prize liie's lottery will ever
offer me. Ihaye listened 70 the subtle
words which have FIRST borne seeds Of
distrust-but now that an is over, and
/ have with my own hand plucked the
unblossomcd fruit, I can at least do
him justice. and tell you my heart is
his, his only, though he may never
know it,"
Baflled only for the moment, Allen
determined 10 let time work its cure,
and sooner or later achieve the end on
which his mind was bent
It was a great benefit. The opera
house was crowded, and many turned
ere the curtain raised to look at the last
newcomers, who had just entered their
box. None who looked on that fair
young girl dreamed that she bore be-
meath that outward show a heart sad
dened and weary, to which were ever
added the pangs Of remorse. Allen
Fame is by her side tonight, hopeful,
eXultant rs Of old. For six months he
has played his role without faltering.
Soon he must meet his reward. The
curtain rises and falls to rise again.
The house is enthusiastic. Flowers
fall like rain upon the stage. But when
the evening is but half over and the
strains Of the lovely songstress seem to
rise sweeter and clearer every mo-
ment, atongue Of flame leaps out from
behind the scenes The song dies on
her lips, tumult gives place to raptur-
Gus silence, and on the air is borne the
cry Of ''Firel"
Men act like madmen, women faint
and are trampled to death by the crowd.
Pale but silent, Marion turns to the
man at her side. He is no longer there.
Save her he could not, but for himself
lay one desperate chance, which he
seized as a drowning man a straw. She
was alone-alone and helpless, deserted
by him who had told her of that others
selfshness.
"Keep calm, Marion. Our only
hope lies in decided action without ex-
element I will save you or die with
you," whispered a voice in her ear,
and turning she saw the man who had
fought his way not to life and air, but
to her side to bear her with him into
safety or share her peril.
81 am not worthy, Nelson. Save
yourself, and when You think of me,
remember that my folly was for the
moment, that I have met its just re-
ward, for I loved you through it all. "
"Hush, darling, hush-eyen though
your words nerve me to fresh courage.
Marion, viii it be my wife with whom
I live or die?"
"Your wife, if you will take her, Mel
son. Happier to meet death at your
side than live apart from you"
But death was not to have his prey.
And, though Nelson bears on his hand
some brow a cruel scar, in his wife's
loving eyes it is new beauty, since it
ever tells her of the noble struggle
which gave her life and happiness-a
life which met its rich fulfillment when
crowned by Nelson Ellis's love. The