Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1898-12-22

| "N"Au coule 10 doubt the
horror OF the present moment. But II
caught bin and held him then with 9
mlsnty strength. The primitive erea.
.ure comes out when It Is dashed with
the whip Of real pain; all the bars OF
custom and convention cannot restrain
IT, lie forgot the honor Of his sane
moments. He snatched away the
hands and dragged her to him, and
turned her face up again to his.
Why did you do 1t. Cicely?" he re-
peated.
She clinched her teeth and steadied
her voice, and then she told him.
But you were utterly wrong" he
said. He was dazed to have been so
misunderstood. and he offered no ex-
PLANTATION. But she did not need one
now. She had seen the full measure
OF her folly.
II know" she answered, IT was
wrong, and-I am punished" She
threw her arms about his neck and
sobbed, and he held her close 1t was
only for little time. Then she drew
away and her arms fell at her sides.
1T cannot be helped" she said, and
she turned and went away.
There was no change in Raymond,
either then or as the years went on. He
was good officer and good man and
unembittered. But Cicely Granville
changed. Tho world lo YES nothing bet
ter than to find an explanation for
what has mystified 1t. IT does not
trouble to verify its belief. ut Is
plain" 1t said now, why Cicely Mar
HIT married Granville. Raymond was
not the man to have allowed her to In
dulge her propensities."
The propensities were toward flirta-
lions that scandalized that conserva-
tive and respectable institution. the
army. Even the men of the regiment
resented that 1t should be given fame
through Mrs. Granville. And the wo-
men feared and hated her, but they
also admired. Popular superstition to
the contrary notwithstanding, most
women see the charms of q rival. En-
Wy Is as keen-sighted as love is blind.
And the clever ones admit them.
Being Isolated from the small circle
OF feminine wit, Mrs. Granville added
to her attractions much masculine
clear-sightedness and wide range Of
interests. She was as good to talk to
as to look upon. She spoke with the
tongue Of wisdom that was more
not less-than womanly, and she sang
with the voice Of a siren, and men fell
down before her and worshiped her,
and, throwing the cloak of their in
fatuation over the clay feet OF their
IDOL, came finally TO forget them and
believe 1t all spotless alabaster. They
held her up to wives and daughters and
sisters whom they would have dis
owned for following in hor path. And
they ruined the peace u ehOlr lir-or
OF their homes fo' her-all, too, with
out the hope Of even a capricious fancy
for reward. She brought them low
and laughed at them. but they still had
faith, as had her husband, though the
heavens should fall. She was known
to the borders of the service, and be-
yond, as a creature of no heart who
had caused disaster and even death
and had shown neither remorse nor
pity.
Yet when she was free once more,
Raymond went to her. His old faith
was unmoved.ft was better sort of
faith than any other she had inspired.
Years had gone since she had seen him.
She sat once again before the fire-this
time In her fathers home. And Ray
mond stood looking down at her. The
face, above the black dress of her
mourning, was as saintllke as of old,
and seemed as young and unsecured.
The long, gray eyes were as placid,
but more deep. He did not ask now
why she had done these things. Per
haps he knew. But he said to her, as
though the time had never been:
"Cicely, do you love me still?"
And the sweet lips parted to say the
words that they had never framed
save for him: II love you STILL"
He reached out his hand and took
hers. She tried to draw 1t away.
But you do not want me-nowY
she said.
He held her fast and answered: ri
want you now. AAoie was 10 uoupt
in his Arm voice.
you do not know" she tried to tell
him.
Yes, ! know" he said; "and yet
and yet want the Cicely who was my
honest little playmate years ago; who
was my trusted love in the past; who
will be my faithful wife in the time
to come. For old sake's sake, I want
her, dear"
She laid her tired head upon his
shoulder and closed her tear-filled eyes.
And for old sake's sake" she said.
you shall have INSTRUMENTATION
Overton, In the Argonaut.