The Monmouth inquirer., 1898-09-01

from me-"
You mean this?'' he said sudden
rush of relief overcoming the anger he
had felt few moments ago. 1t
means so much to me, Gretchen; 1t Is
as though my life hung on your 81
lence."
Il should not break my word to
you" she replied, her voice very low.
Il have given you the promise, Frank.
You no longer have an remembrance
between you and your expecta tions"
He caught her in his arms and COW
cred her face with kisses.
This secret will save me from ruinf'
he exclaimed, scarcely needing the sac
rifice she was making for his sake.
You could not have shown a greater
proof of your love than by freeing me
from this ENHANCEMENT
'Entanglement! She echoed, her
voice trembling now that he had ac-
cepted her sacrifice; "our marriage
Frank My love! my love! you will
not leave me altogether? You will let
me see you sometimes. and when these
years OF secrecy are over, when it will
be no loss to take wife to your home,
you will go through the marriage GER
emony with me again?"
He strained her in his arms, his lips
not against Ter soft CHEEK.
s'It will be easy to deceive them a
second time he said, feeling like a
man who had been rescued from the
brink Of some horrible abyss Il shall
marry my own wife, my true-hearted
Gretchen-my first and only lover
He could speak now of love, and feel
every word he uttered
She no longer stood In his way, the
cffIp1hf flO- black fa his faf.tIxtla
She had pointed out the path by
which he could escape from his diff
Guilty, and his resentful passions were
tempered by gratitude and love.
Love? Was it not sacrilege to call
such changeful sentiment as he pos
sessed by that sacred name2
Gretchen did not put this question,
even to herself
The words Of love he breathed in her
ear brought joy to her heart.
Once more he was the Frank she had
loved so dearly--the husband for whose
sake she would have laid down her
life.
IF you will only love me, and be true
to me, | will keep silent forever she
said, clasping her arms round his neck,
and letting her head rest ON his breast.
Call me wife again, sweetheart and
say you will be true to me. 1T is all l
ask, my love, my husbandr'
True till death" he murmured, seal
ing the words with passionate kisses.
You have made me happier than / can
tell, Gretchen; [ feel as if | could lay
all my life down in gratitude at your
feet
She smiled, content. Yet was he not
still worshipping "the Golden Idol''
Was not this outburst of tenderness
born of the thought that, in a measure,
she had set him free?
The depth of her own love blinded
heb to his failings.
She had consented to relinquish her
claim upon him as his wife. to stand
aloof, while he usurped The fortune
that could never legally be his.
And this was the man with whom
she had cost her lot for whom she was
ready to bear any torture save the loss
of his love.
Frank walked back to the house with
her, her hand held in his clasp, ten
der word every now and then falling
from his lips.
He had promised to meet her again
at the end Of ten days. and Gretchen
was already looking forward with
hope to the appointed time.
Il would meet you every day, if /
dared" he said. his voice lowered to a
whisper, so that no sound should pen
etrate to the windows: but now, the
risk would be greater than it was be-
fore4and all our future depends ON Sc
crecy.'
You will think of me- Frank? 1t
is the only happiness l have-to know
you love mer'
My darling! / do love you, and dear
ly. | cannot bear to leave you like
this. You must have d wretched time
with that man. This house reminds
me of a tomb.''
ut has often seemed like one to me-"
she answered, glancing up at the dark
outline of the walls; .but it is con-
yenient hiding place, and, were it
twenty times as dull, | should not
mind"
II thought it would only be for
months he said, struck with a pang
of remOrse, as he pictured her self-im-
posed exile. Must it be for years,
my poor Gretchen! How harshly fate
has dealt with us! At every step we
have been crossed-and now there is
this last terrible ordeal"
Not terrible, so long as we can go
on loving each other" she murmureu,
uTunS neF lace IOr MS parllng KISS.
Goodnight, Frank, darling, good
night, my lover
He drew her against his heart, and
kissed her lips.
Then gently releasing her he let her
go from him into the unlighted mouse.
1T is hard for me to have to give
her up like this" he thought; mot to
see her, for years, except by stealth.
But it is for the best. The time will
come when l shall be able to acknowl-
ledge her as my wife--when I shall be
able to share wealth with her"
He broke off in his meditations.
For the first time the knowledge of
how he could gain that wealth brought
to him a sense of misgiving.
What if his scheme should be dis
covered!
What if shame and dishonor should
be his reward?