Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1898-10-28

ing The gate Of a citadel. though her
lips said la n tone richer than wine.
swecter than rirsic. Kiss me frsk'"
There was n long pause Yeldbcm
sat biaukly staring nt tho Goals. and 4
gazcd i1tcntly into the rdsts Ct nicotine
that curiCd upward 20 tie coiling.
There ere some kkacs," be said
presently, ''tbat aie worth the whole
sum Ct human pleasure. P%lensurel
Faushi a rotten word-belonging 70
thoss who only half live"
Tie handed q cigarette mechanically
aud lit it.
I'VE had gone through most Of the
dresses when We came to some fine azure
drapcly incrusted with Japanese gold.
" II was niue. she said, and was
worn hy a woman | hated. She borrow
ed it enc night after coming over in the
rain
Yet you hated her?' l asked, talk
ing my cue from the curl Of her lip.
Mot then. In those days l thought
men were truo-George truest Of all
aud women good.
81 looked down at the gold storks on
the heavy eastern silk, aud said, And
when did you change your opinion?'
"'When hung away this gown, and
determined it should never touch me.
II rose to put my arm around her,
to break the ekein Of unpleasant asso-
Citations, LU she moved away, ard said
in a hard, almost defiant voice:
There IS one more, iell me its tale
If you can. aud II not
"she paused whilo l took the fine
lace and lawn into my fingers. Itseemed
a summer drces, scarcely crushed. In
front, however, aud on tho sleeve was
a splash Of dull red brown.
'Paint?' | suggested, or blood. An
accident rerhaps?' aud in questioning l
met her eyes.
Don't, don'tP l cried, don't
spcakl l flung myself lack in tho chair
and covered my sacc to avoid the sight
Of he.s-ihe expression Of horror that
was staring from it.
L will, | must speak. Yes, Llood;
his blood. Ohv she exclaimed, stand
ing in front Of me in that CassanGralike
attitude | Lad noticed before. i can
see it now. George had gene to the
country-so he had seid-and |, 10 pass
the time, dincd with an uncle at Big.
MAIDS. You know the room-the thou
sand lights aud loaded tables, the chinll
Of glass and glow Of silyer-the gay
and brilliant company that is always
there? We dined, and were leaving aft
erward for the opera. Ny uncle passed
out lrst and | was about to follow him,
when, at a little table, 1 saw George
and her; George looking down, down
into her eyes with n hot red flush in bis
cheeks and n lifted wincglass in his
hand. / don't know what happened;
burst between them, flung tho glass
from his fingers, and then
~ thought she must scream, bat only
a gasp escaped her. She looked at some
thing en- tho ground and added in an
awcd, strangely intense voice, He was
dead
"Tho tone compelled me to her side
a torrent Of agony seemed frozen at hei
lips.
'Listenv she cried, etill STANDING
rigid, though tie thrilling tone Of hel
voice confessed her emotion. Tho yer
dict of acquittal was merely a doom #
perpetual remorse. A life for q life
was cried to RIO from even the daybreaI
t chirping of tho birds.
"'Oh, Aubrey, be merciful-spar,
me all you can, for / am Ike n pilgrim
who faiDts il sight Of tho great road.
know now tnat it is net tho pulse o
l Ito, but the color and the scent Of it
that makes ones sacrifice. i believ
that every guilty soul must have hi
moment of high opportunity, Of expia
tion, aud this is mine. You are brave
you ere great, you are generous. Shal
you tempt me-and stay, or will 20
save me-Gnd go?'"
Poor Yeidh6m's voice broke to
hoarse whisper, and l Laird a sympathei
o io hand upon his knee.
And you, Aubrey, You wentg"
81 am here, " be answered, with
l groan that IA more pitifEl than tear.
e Condensed From Black and White.