Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1899-02-23
HER ONLY SIN
BY =
BERTHA NJ. CLAY.


!
answer yourself"
| She stood quite silent before him.
her white face dropping from the sun
shine, her hands clasped in mortal
| pain. Was there any chance. any
loop-hole of escape? Could anything
absolve her from her solemn vow?
| No, there could be no release 1t was
| for Katherine's sake for her fathers
memory-the same urgent reasons that
had influenced her before existed now.
Were she to be induced to break her
vow, Katherine would suffer tenfold
She would keep it,
Must we part, Veronica" he said;
I'VE who have loved each other with
so great love, must we part?"
Unless you can trust me and let
me keep silent" she renlied. a.-a
II cannot trust you; l can only say
goodbye. Goodbye, Veronica. You
have broken the heart of the man who
has loved you as few have ever
loved, FAREWELL"
He did not touch her hand, or kiss her
face, or stop to utter one more word.
Perhaps if he had done so, his strength
would have failed him. He left her
standing there in the sunshine with
the bitterness of death hanging over
her.
He at once went in search of Lady
Brandon. He found her in the pretty
morning-room alone. She cried out
when she saw his pale, set face.
What is the matter, Sir Marc? What
is wrong?' Veronica and l have had
some unpleasant words. We have had
quarrel that can never be healed,
and we have parted forever"
Lady Brandon held up her hands in
dismay.
Can it be possible, Sir Marc, that
you have parted with Veronica? Why.
it will break her heart! 1t must not
be. Let me go to her; let me talk to
her. If she has offended you, she will,
| am sure, be very sorry; let me so to
her. | know how she loves you, my
poor Veronica
1T is quite impossible" he said,
hurriedly. This quarrel can never be
healed; even if Veronica wished it, !
could not"
you are angry, Sir Mare, asserted
Lady Brandon; and when your anger
subsidies, you will be sorry for this.
81 shall regret it all my life he
said; mo one knows that better than
| do. There will never dawn an
other happy day for me- Lady Bran
don, am lost a ruined man"
you will think better of it," she
told him How could you quarrel wi,
Veronica? l know no one like her;
she is so good, so tender of heart, Sc
true, so loval."
mo more!" he cried, shuddering. 81
can hear no more!"
you must hear me-" Lady Brandon
persisted II cannot have Veronica
sacrificed to a mere fit of temper"
ut is worse than that" he declared
Have you thought what the world
will say, Sir Marc? Her wedding
dress is ordered-the trousseau is pre-
pared. Everything is being put in a
state of readiness for the wedding
What am | to say"
"There is nothing to say" he replied
gloomily, except that Veronica has
dismissed me. l will take all the
blame, all the shame, all the dis
grace. But, Lady Brandon, there is
one thing / should like to ask you.
Do not talk to her about our disagree
ment Do not ask her any questions
| That which we have Quarrelled about
lies between us a dead secret Promise
me that you will not ask her any
questions it will only distress her
and do no good"
But, Sir Marc, will you not trust
me and tell me something, at least?"
NO" he replied "You have been
very kind to me, Lady Brandon; let me
say goodbye to you, and thank you
heartily for all your goodness to me-
you will surely stay and see Kathe-
rine?" cried Lady Brandon.
NO. Tell her that | had not the
courage to stay and see her, but that
hoped she would be kind to Veronica.
Then Lady Brandon broke down and
wept passionate tears.
you will break Veronicas heart,
she cried; you should not leave her"
Heaven bless you for a kind
/ hearted, generous woman," he said.
bending down to kiss her hand. Il
wish all women were like you. | shall
90 at once. You will see that all be-
/ longing to me is sent after me, Lady
/ Brandon
But she only sobhed that he should
not leave Veronica
Go to her" he said and Lady
Brandon while you comfort her, do
not speak to her Of me. The next
moment he was gone
I She was almost too bewildered 70
/ know how to act.
Il would give much to know what
/ the quarrel has been about. she said
to herself but | suppose / shall
never learn" And then she went TO
Yeronica's room.
The unhappy girl had fallen where
I her lover had left her. and lay like
Z "a u -