Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1897-06-16

hold. If your life is mine, it belongs not
to the world. If it is the worlds, then
in it | have no claim. | offer you. dar-
ling, all have. / ask of you only your
self, but | ask it as a free boon and one
which is placed willingly in my keeping
You must decide, Marion, for yourself.
[ had hoped your decision long since If
revocable, but once more L place the
choice in your hands,"
You say you ask of me only myself.
Is it not all 1 have to give? cannot
give up the world to lead the life of a
recluse, even though you so seIfshly
make the demand. One would suppose
was a child to be dictated to at will.
1t has all been mistake, Mr.. Ellis, and
our eyes have been opened in time to
redeem an otherwise fatal error. We
part as friends, / hope?'
"Friends? Who has been at work?
Whose hands may I thank for having
laid this network Of worldliness and sus-
picion in the mind of a girl who, a few
short months ago. harbored no such
thought! You could not trust me, then,
with your beauty. You feared l would
guard it beyond the reach of other eyes
True, l might have held it as a sacred
shrine, but its bloom, it's radiance would
have been undimmed till death robbed
me of both. You give me up. then? SO
be 1T. 60 back to your world! Glory
in it; reVel in it and teach men the
lesson you have given me, that the
the faIser the heart. Good evening,
Miss Reynolds" and with a low bow
Nelson Ellis went out from the light
into the shadow.
Marion stood as in stupor She had
spoken her own thoughts for the first
time, for the first time experienced the
feeling which so long had ranked. How
cold, how heartless and worldly it had
sounded even to her ears What was
the selfshness of which she had accused
her lover but the reflex of her own?
Had the world really grown so dear to
in the first flush of Wifehood by a huS-
bands side? How inviting the picture
had been? She had not dreamed Nelson
would SO accept her at her word, and
wOrdless despair was in the beautiful
eyes as the hot tears welled up and
dropped one by one, faster and faster,
until she buried her head in her hands
and sobbed as child.
But there was one who heard Of the
ruptured engagement with keen eXulta-
ton, and a suppressed look of triumph
was on Allen Fane's face when next he
saw the woman he had determined to
''You did splendidly, Marion" he said
to her. ''Have [ not told you from
the first how selfish he was, even in his
love, that he never appreciated you! But
now, darling, that you are free to be
won and | to WOO, will you not let me
prove that a man may be generous? I
could have given you up to any other
if / thought your happiness was at stake,
but not to one l read so WE'LL
flush, Allen, hush! 1t seems to me
dissertation to listen to such words. If
glorious. You call it splendid to show a
man who has placed his whole noble
heart at a woman's feet how frivolous,
worldly and beneath him is that for
which he sues. / have thrown away the
highest prize life's lottery will ever of
fer me. [ have listened to the subtle
words which have first borne seeds of dis
trust-but now that all is over and |
have with my own hand plucked the I'M
blOssomed fruit, I can at least do him
justice and tell you my heart is his, his
only, though he may never know it."
Baff1ed only for the moment, Allen de-
termined to let time work its cure, and
sooner or later achieve the end on which
his mind was bent.
1t 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 q heart sad
dened and weary, to which were added
the pangs of remorse. Allen Fame is
by her side tonight, hopeful, exultant as
of old. For six months he has played his
role without faltering. Soon he must
meet his reward. The curtain rises and
astic. Flowers fall like rain upon the
stage. But when the evening is but half
over and the strains of the lovely song
stress seem to rise sWeeter and clearer
every moment, tongue of fame leaps
out from behind the scenes. The song
dies on her lips, tumult gives place to
rapturous silence and on the air is borne
the cry of "Firev'
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
Selfishness.
''Keep calm, Marion. Our only hope
lies III decisive action without excite
ment. [ will save you or die with you"
whispered 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.
II am not worthy, Nelson. Save your
self and when you think of me remem-
Der that my folly was for the moment
that have met its just reward, for |
loved you through it ALL
"Hush, darling, hush-even though
your words nerve me to fresh courage
Marion, will it be my wife with whom [
live or die?'
''Your wife, if you will take her, Nell
son. Happier to meet death at your side
than live apart from you
But death was not to have its 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 fulfllment when crowned by Mel
son Ellis love.-New York Ledger.
A Beautiful Cretan Custom.
One of the curious Cretan customs