The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1897-07-31
CHAPTER xyIII-Continuea.


door and hearing no sound, fancied he
must still he sleeping. But two hours
later, when the loneliness and silence
became oppressive. and the desire 10
see and talk to him could no longer be
resisted, she put aside the book she
had va.nly tried to read, and, going to
his room; tapped upon the door.
! There was no answer, and she
knocked more loudly. Still TO answer.
Becoming frightened, she tried the
door, It. opened to reveal an empty
room. Brian was gone. She stood tor
o second motionless, trying to realize
this fact, and then without word or
cry she went to her own room.
i He was gone; that was ALL 1t was
easy to say it, Why should she mind |
so much2 Hal he really been home? |
Perhaps she had only dreamed, that
Bert:e had talked with her, or that she |
hal heard Brian's voice. Maybe If she
should rub her eyes very hard she
would awaken presently to find herself
back at Elmwool, and these last Two
months horrible dream.
"We should never despair except In
the face of positive defeat" Wilson had
once said to her. Wasn't this positive
defeat? Could she see hope beyond it?
Was the long, hard struggle and the
bitter travail of spirit through which
she had passed to avail her nothing!
All, heaven would be more kind.
This thought brought certain nope
and trust with it. And she could thlnK
+. quite calmly Of the hopes and longlngs
which had filed her heart when she
married Brian; of the unfulfilled dreams
and ambitions which had become part
of her life, and her vague ideas OF those
wife duties and attentions which were
to win him back from a life Of indo-
Ience to a position high and honored
before the world. They had been in
vain. All in vain.
She tried to put aside the overpower-
ing regret this knowledge brought her:
She would forget it. She would SIT
here no longer. The window was open
and she was cold and chilled. Besides
she heard-what? A step. Yes,
step, and, thank GOD, she recog-
nized it.
Without q seconds hesitation she
left the room, and when Brian entered
the hall outside he found her standing
like an apparition in the dim, uncertain
moonlight.
He started back, but it was too late
10 avoid her. Yet even in that moment
of supreme agony he saw that her
white. panied face held no anger, no
reproach, only the unutterable sadness
of one who has hoped so much and been
disappointed.
"You!" he said, motioning her from
him with a hand whose trembling he
yainly endeavored to control. 1ou,'
What pen could describe the shame, the
misery and despair that simple WORD
held.
Have YOU come to add the last dree
TO NV cup OF bitternessi" he continuet
rather huskily. "Ah, you turn your fac'
away. / am beneath even your notice
WHY did come home to-night2"
"Bccause You still have little feelin;
for me-" she answered, in voice tina
was full of tears. Il can't bea1 to-
much"
.Some little feeling for her." he re
Elected. "My God, have I shown niue
feeling for here Yet touched nothln
o-day-nothing since this morning.
"Why did you go out?" she asked
leaning rather heavily against the door
though she was conscious OF much relle
at his assurance.
"To forget, Margaret, to forget mysel
Ito forget you. Here every memof
haunted me. / must have died had
staid in that room one hour longer.
nave WdikeQ anu WdihCus
weary. but my m,n1 is active. 1t Is
living furnace of bitter agony. 1t tol
lures me. Icannot escape
From your better nature. No, Brlal
Thank God, you cannot escape FRO
your better nature. 1t is the thought
the man you might be which torture
YOU. Oh, Brian, Brian! Where is yo'
promise2"
He laughed unsteadily. A meaning
less laugh which Jared upon her.
aYou see. it is worse than useless
he returned, recklessly. "Fm too wort
less to waste one thought upon. l ha
broken YOUR heart and ruined your Ill
Berthe says. Why don't you hate N
Why don't you strike me as sta
here villain and coward.
sAh, no." she cried, raising her ma
to her face Not that weak ana uni'
tunate, but with heavens help ma
He crasped the door for support. I
rentleness unnerved him. Sonten
would have found him stronger.
aWhat can say, Margaret he ask
looking in her face with pitiful helpie
ness. what can 1 say. Your trus'
heaven for me. Can l find any exc'
after that. Yet / struggled. IL
could know how hard. -,
aBut YOU took nothing tonight.
questioned, soft light stealing INTO
eyes. .a4;on
sNo, nothing; but the temptation 1,
never more terrible. When l recai
these last two days thought l sho
On mad. / remembered that had a9
broken my solemn promise. AK
overwhelmed you with shame ana
row. Notwithstanding all your kindn
and all your sympathy. The We
criminal on earth never felt gres
misery and degradation, | was s
YOU would never trust me again.
that YOU would dread to look upon
face. / could see no hope. And W
i went.into that accursed place !.
seemed SO happy, The wine was y
to bring forgetfulness, to drown
misery. 1t was before my eyes ~
to my hand. Yet / did not drink.
thought of you, like the last straw
drowning man, held me back. pus
It from me. Though / saw HEAVIER
its depths and hell in my own m
Then Wilson came ant r.
he could 90 no farther. emotion 0
povarsd him, Marguerite own