Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1897-11-18

than half way.
But Dudley was too much in love to
despise or mistrust her for this. He APP
piled for two-months' leave and spent
every available moment of it with her.
Ms. Graves, in her quality of school
chum of his mothers and an old friend
of himself, warned him. Esther has
done this same thing before, James.
Take care. She is as beautiful as Cleo
patra, and there are many who say she
is as bad-at heart. Make love to her,
if you choose, Caesar, but let your wife
be woman who is above suspicion"
Dudley never spoke to her again. And
he continued his fanatical cult of his
goddess.
His leave came to an end, and he went
back to Apache. He who had been
light 1nocker and philosopher of life,
saw the bottom drop out of his universe
when he had to go from her. Shewrote
to him twice day, for time, then
once day, then once week, and finally
the mail orderly handed him a letter
from Esther that was almost a YER
batim copy of the one he had sent to her
six years before, even to the closing
phrase. "In time you will drink of the
waters of Lethe aud will forget me as
utterly as deserve to be forgotten
A light of memory broke, harsh and
crude, through the rosy clouds that had
enwrapped him. But he said to him
self that justice had been melted out to
him, stern and untempered. And he
made no appeal.
Something more than twelvemonth
later, Esther Gorschkov sat at dinner
beside the man whom she was then
playing fast and loose, who would not
be warned by the fate of the many
whose bodies were strewn upon the
shores where this Cythera had trod.
"You promised, you know" he said
to her, chat you would answer my ques-
ton tonight"
"What question:"
Don't banter, please. am in
earnest"
"You appear to be. And every
body can see it, too. Go on and eat,
and look as though you were discussing
the dynamite gun or something"
81 will do whatever you choose, If you
will tell me if yeu will marry me-"
ooh! is that what you mean? L
couldn't remember whether it was you
or Mr.. Clayton who had asked me. May
be it was both of you. But can't see
why you should bother about that sort
of thing at dinner. Why don't you wait
until the dance. 1t would be so much
better form. Fancy saying mo- to a
a man and then putting piece of harm
less little lamb i'll ones mouth"
care you going to say MOP"
Gracious! but we are insistent. How
should know what am going to say?
Go on and eat, and stop hanging on my
words, or won't answer you at all. 1t
is so fearfully conspicuous"
Even in his suspense, the man could
not but return. "Whence this new
found dislike to being conspicuous"
Miss Gorschkov smiled slowly and
started to answer, but a voice from
across the table stopped her.
"What is it, Capt. Lawrence? she
asked.
Have you heard Of Lieut.. Dudley's
death?"
mo. Is he dead?"
"He died at Apache week ago"
I'm so sorry; but, frankly, don't
think a dinner-table the place for fu-
neral notices." she rebuked him. He
! disliled her, and she saw the purpose OF
his announcement. Her dead-white
skin could turn no whittier, and her smil-
ing red lips were painted.
"Cold-hearted devil" the captain NUT
tered, as she turned back to the man at
her side.
$50 you want me to marry you? l
will. But I want you to understand
Why. 1t is because L have Just been
4old that the only man have ever loved
or ever will love is dead. Do you want
ne-hnowing that?"
"Even knowing that-yes."
every WE'LL"
She spoke across the table again.
aCapt. Lawrence, do you happen to
know how Mr.. Dudley died? We might
as we'll have the coroner's verdict. since
you have given us the other notices"
Gle died of drink" he told her, mer-
cilessly.
81 never knew that he drank"
'Hc never did until he went back
from here year ago. He took to i:
furiously after that, and would have
been dismissed if he had not died, prob
ably. Can you account for it?"
Miss Gorschkov smiled. Perhaps he
fancied he was quaffng the waters OF
Tethe," she said.-San francisco Ar
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