Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1897-07-15
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Inc hours waned, the sunset faded; the
rant, Chill wind came up from the sea.
ana swayed the leaves beyond my case
ment, and famed my face as I leant
there, longing for the dusk of nightfall as
never lover longed for his beloved.
went into the quiet night, humble and
weak, but glad at heart as never yet had
| been glad through many weary years Of
life.
She fell down on her knees beside me
when she came. l drew her to my heart.
| murmured every word of love and COM
fort I could think Of
Suddenly she moved and stirred. Her
eyes opened. l bent down and met their
gaze.
us it you, Ralph?" she said dreamily,
then sat up and leaned her head against
my shoulder. II have been asleep a long,
long time," she said, shut have had a
beautiful dream. l think you are sorry
for me. Will you try and love me a little
again? You did once, 1 know"
| saw the tears gather In her eyes, l
heard her voice culver and break in it's
soft appeal. My arms closed round her
with all the garnered passion and re-
morse of their starved and empty past.
"Love yolr' cried. ooh, my darling
my darling, there are no words to tel
how 1 love you When 1 think of how 1
have misjudged you, wronsed you, tried
you, hate myself for the folly and sus-
piciOn that have cost us both so much. l
i wonder you do not hate me, toov'
"Hate you!' she cried. you"
Then her head nestled back on my Shout
der; she trembled like leaf. I'll for
i sGt;" she whispered "H'vs you read
every word" said.
"And was l very wicked?"
1 could have laughed aloud in my tri-
umph and my joy.
Every" 1 said, "for not telling me at
once what was in your heart. I thought
it was Yorke."
Suddenly she drew herself away, and
hid her face in her hands.
"Oh!' she moaned, II remember now
remember now. 1t has all come back.
He was-he was murdered!'
''Murdered!'' l cried aghast. mo, no.
Joan, don't say that. 1t was an accident"
Tell me aN!' she cried wildly. Il can
never know happy moment till that mys-
terry is cleared up. You followed me, did
you not!'
EYES," 1 said. "But 1 think l missed
the way when l heard the shot that guild
ed me back"
"When you heard, the shot" she cried,
raising her CHASTITY face to mine. "You
were not there at the timer"
Certainly not" answered.
ooh, thank God!' she cried; ''thank
Godw and threw her arms round me with
burst of hysterical weeping.
For long l could not soothe her; for
long I could gather nothing from her in
coherent words; but at last the truth
dawned upon me. She feared that / had
taken vengeance into my own hands
that the long feud between Yorke and my
self had eliminated in this act of revenge
for the dishonor he had sought to cast
upon my life.
This shock it was that had acted so ter
ribly upon her feeble strength, and for a
time overthrown its mental balance And
now, for the first time, she learned the
truth, and, learning it, was like one mad
with joy and relief.
The revulsion of feeling was so strong,
it almost frightened me.
"Oh," she cried amidst wild sobs, "you
have been so good-so good-so good!
You must never leave me again! Indeed
indeed l will try to be all you wish. l
will never hold thought back from your
knowledge. Only trust me again-take
me back to your heart-for, oh, my hus
band, I love you SO! All these years l
have loved you, and you would not believe,
it, though tried to show it you. There
is nothing I would not do for you to make
you happy or give you peace. would die
for you this moment if"
NO" l interrupted, "for that would
be foolish. Joan. You shall do better
you shall live for me-"
From this very hour" she said solemn
ly.
I bent and kissed the qu;vering lips.
"From this very hour" answered.