The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1898-07-16
OWES VICTORY
BY BERTHA NJ. CLAY.

sohe mas suffered so mich, Vane, through
meal through me. Ii Isfiad but foregone
NY cruel vengeance. and when she came to
me with doubt in her heart II had but
. one word, the chances arc that by
lhiS time she would have been Lady Ayns-
ley, n l Should have been free to accom-.
pany you, my beloved; but I must suffer Tor
my sin. Ioughtto suffer, and l ought to
atone to herr
Your life, my darling" lie said, your
beautiful bright life, your love, your happi-
ness, will all be sacrificed
They must be. You see, Vane, she clings
TO mo in her sorrow. His na,ne-Aubrcy
Langton,s namc-ievcr passes her lips to
any one else but me. She talks of him the
night and the day %thlongh-it is the only
comfort she has; and then she likes me to be
with her, and s0othe her, and she tires SO.
soon OF any one else. / cannot leave her.
Vane-it would shorten her life, | am sure
He made no answer. She looked up at
him with fearful eyes.
Speak to me, iVanc. 1t Is hard, l know
but tell me that l am right
You are cruelty right" he replied. ..Oh,
my darling, 1t Is very hard! Yet ypn make
her a noble atonement for the wrong you
have done--a noble PREPARATION. My darling,
Is this how your vow OF vengeance has end.
ed-in the greatest sacrifice a woman could
make"
Your love has saved me- She said, II
ltly-"has shown me what is right and what
Is ~wrong-llas cleared the mist from my eyes,
But for that-oh, Vane, L hate to think what
l should have becn!'
Il wish it were possible to give up the APP
polntment,' he remarked, musingly.
E 81 t,,n,,lI ,,ot k,,,y~ -. a. yu.L.E nv :-t.
OF Lady st. Lawrcnce-low She has worked
for 1t. Remember, it is your only chance Of
ever being what she wishes to see you. You
must not give it up"
but how can l leave you, Panline:w
IF You remain in England, it will make
but little difference she said. II ca. never
leave Lady Darrell while she lives.''
"But, Pauline, it may be -four, or five, OF
six years before | return, and all that time /
shall never see YOU"
She wrung her hands, but no mum pass
ed her lips, save that it was her fault-all her
fault-the price of her sin.
"Vane," she said, ''you must not tell Lady
Darrell what you came to ask me. She must
know that you are here only to say goodbye.
l would rather keep her in ignorance; She
will be the happier for not knowing"
Was ever anything seen like that love and
that sorrow-the love of two noble souls. two
noble hearts. and the sorrow that parting
more bitter than death brought upon them!
Even Miss Hastings did not know until long
after Sir Vane was gone of the sacrifice Pau
line had made in the brave endeayOr to atone
for her sin.
She never forgot the agony Of that parting
how Sir Vane stood before them. pale,
worm, and sad, imprcSsing one thing on them
all-carc for his darling. Even to Lady Oar
rell, the frail, delicate invalid, whose feeble
stock of strength seemed to be derived from
Pauline, he gave many charges.
ut will be so long before | see her again.
he said; "but you will keep her safely fol
me-"
II almost WONDER" said Lady Darrell,
"why you do not ask Pauline to accompany
You, Sir Vane. For my own sake, l ain
most seliishly glad that you hase not done sc
~ should soon die without her"
They looked at each other, the two who
were giving up so much for her, but spoke nc
word.
Sir Nane was obliged to return to London
that same day. He spoke of seeing Pauline
again, but she ohjected-it would only be q
renewal of most bitter and hopeless sorrow.
So they babe each other farewell under the
lime-trees. The bitter yet sweet memory OF
1t lasted them for lifc.N
Miss Hastings understood somewhat of the
pain it would cause, butYwith her gentle con
sideration, she thought il best to leave Pau,
in search OF her, and found her under the
lines, weeping and moaning for the atone
ment she had made for her sin.
|.aI 81.