Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1897-12-30

loved and regretted by the working
classes Of the city.
by their works ye shall know them"
This was the epitaph which Hubert.
Lord Lashmar, had caused to be engraved
on the republicans hcadstone.
CHAPTER XIV.
Victorian stood looking at the words on
the headstone in dreamy forgetfulness,
listless, tired, physically and mentally.
Would he ever find her whom he sought
would he ever?
In the impotence Of his temper, in the
intensity of all his feelings, it seemed to
him as il he had been looking for her
for ages, had exhausted every mode Of
search and must needs despair. He had
driven her from him and she had gone.
''You told me to march," she had said to
him, recalling his speech Of the past. "You
need not tell me that this time. am 60.
ing to march"
And she had marched, into infinite
space, whittier he knew not: and he stood
here in this place of graves, stood DESC
late and lonely among the dead, and de-
SPARED Of ever seeing her face again. He
stood with fixed eyes for a moment or so,
till an approaching footstep startled him
from that trance Of fear.
He turned and saw a tall, slim figure
drawing near, that black-robed, girlish
form which he had seen 50 often in the
corridors at Lashmar, and Stunned, ap-
pretending an indefnable danger, the
peril Of his peace Of mind, which was ever
disturbed by that presence.
Ho had lonkod For hor n p,op1 <ho dood
and had found her living, lovely as when
she had last looked upon him in her pride
and anger.
slant, but composed herself instantly with
wondrous self-command and would have
passed him, but he stopped her.
Stella" he said, holding out his hand.
Lord Lashmar?" interrogatively and
without accepting the offered hand.
Stella, will you not forgive me? have
been seeking for you ever since that night.
I have desired nothing on this earth 80
much as your forgiveness. Will you not
forgive me? Will you not shake hands
with me? BY your fathers grave?'
That plea was irresistible. She gave
him her hand without word. 1t was the
first time their hands had ever met His
grasp frightened upon the little hand and
he drew her nearer to him, she shrinking
all the while, looking at him with fright
ened eyes, half angry, half wondering.
They were alone in the place of graves
alone amidst the populace OF the dead, no
one within sight or earshot.
"Stella, have but one plea for pardon,
but one excuse for my brutality the other
night, for my coldness, my neglect, my
absolute unkindness in all the years that
have gone over us since my brothers
death. My excuse for my conduct that
night is that l was mad with jealousy,
my excuse for years of unkindness is that
have been the slave Of caste. I have
tried not to love you and love you more
than ever I thought to love
any living woman, were she peeress or
princess. All my pride of birth, ali my
greed OF gain, are flung to the winds. l
love you, Stella, and live only to love you.
Say, sweet, ut least, am forgiven?"
She had turned giddy with the sudden
ness Of this surprise, fainting under the
shock Of an unspeakable happiness. Her
eyelids dropped, and there were flashes of
light across her cyeballs, and rushing
sound in her head. Her cheek lay CHASTITY
caught her to his breast and Just saved
her from falling.
my beloved, say I am forgiven. Say
that may hope"
Her pale lips tried to answer, but were
too tremulous for speech. There was
pause, and then the heavy eyelids were
slowly lifted, as with painful effort, q
soul coming back to life and conscious
ness, and the large, dark eyes looked up
at him.
Il have hated myself 80 bitterly for
loving you," she faltered: II have scorned
myself for loving the man who despised
me-"
"Ah, then, we are both content" he
said, kissing her. I'VE have both strug-
gled, and we have both been beaten BY
fate, which IL stronger than either of us.
My beloved, am ineffably happy; there
IL not in this world a man more deeply
blessed. And now come back to the castle
and comfort my mother, who has been
pining for you, and be to her a. daugh-
ter. She, too, has tried to shut her heart
against you, but I suspect that she, too.
loves you. She knows everything, dear
est, knows that you are to be my wife. II
I can win you" !
'Will she not be angry with you for
such a choice7' asked Stella.
mo, she bore It like q lamb. Don't
you know that her strong point 10 COM
mon sense, ard sensible people always
submit quietly to the inevitable. Come
dearest, we can get fly somewhere out.
side the cemetery, and drive to the hotel
where I left my phaeton. We shall be at
the castle in time for afternoon tea. be-
lieve her ladyship will be delighted. She
began to find out your value directly you
were gone"
CTo be continued.)
vy>~~ ns,no U~sAs--