The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1897-11-19
CHAPTER xNII


Victorian stood looking at the words on
the headstone in a dreamy forgetfulness,
llstless, tired, physically and mentally.
Would he ever find her whom he sought
would he ever?
In the impatience of his temper, in the
intensity of all his feelings, it seemed to
MN as If he had been looking for her
Tor ages, had exhausted every mode of
search ond 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. I am 20.
ing tomarch."
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 moment or so,
till an approaching footstep startled him
| from that trance of fear.
lie turned and saw tall, slim figure
drawing near, that black-robed, girlish
form which he had seen so often in the
corridors at Lashmar, and summed ap-
pretending an indefinable danger, the
peril of his peace of mind, which was ever
disturbed by that presence.
he had looked for her among the dead
and had found her living, lovely as when
she had last looked upon him in her pride
| and anger.
She bowed gravely, startled for an in
stant 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
have desired nothing on this earth so
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 unlindness in all the years that
have gone over us since my brothers 8
death. My excuse for my conduct that
night is that l was mad with jealousy,
my excuse for years of unllindness is that
l have been the slave of caste. I have
tried not to love you and love you more
passionately than ever l thought to love
any living woman, were she peeress or
princess. All my pride of birth, all my
greed Of gain, are flung to the winds.
love you, Stella, and live only to love you.
Say, sweet, at least, am l forgiven?'
She had turned giddy with the sudden
ness of this surprise, fainting under the
shock of an unspeakable happiness. Her
eyelds dropped, and there were flashes of
light across her eyeballs, and rushing
sound in her head. Her cheek lay CHASTITY
white against her lovers shoulder, as he
caught her to his breast and just saved
her from falling.
''My beloved, say am forgiven. Say
that l may hope"
Her pale lips tried to answer but were
too tremulous for speech. There was a
pause, and then the heavy eyelds were
slowly lifted, as with painful effort, a
soul coming back to life and conscious
ness, and the large, dark eyes looked up
at him.
Il have hated myself so 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. eve have both strug-
gled, and we have both been beaten by
fate, which is stronger than either of U.S.
My beloved, am ineffably happy; there
Is 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 as daugh-
ter. She, too, has tried to shut her heart
against you, but suspect that she, too
loves you. She knows everything, dear.
est, knows that you are to be my wife, if
1 can win you"
"Will she not be angry with you fol-
such choice?" asked Stella.
''No, she bore it like lamb. Don't
you know that her strong point is com
mon sense, and 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 al
the castle in time for afternoon tea. be.
leve her ladyship will be delighted She
began to find out your value directly you
were gone"
Go be continued)
Very Fine Writing.