The Saint Paul globe., 1899-02-12

Haunting his defeat in his face if he saw that
lother man who mad what he desired.
ana Gerald, guessing 1t her feeling, had
let her come without question to keep this
last tryst with the who had lost her
She was little early and, leaning against
the smooth white trunk, she tried to realize
how things had changed for her since last she
had stood there.
1t seemed very strange to see Rathclare
once more, under such different conditions
With Gerald by her side, even her fathers
coldness and Indifference had lost nearly all
their power to hurt her, and she could feel a
Wistful pity and sympathy for the love that
passing out of his life, had left him but dead
ashes, it were:
=, All, how different life was going to be for
Gerald and herself
And with that, she drifted off into happy
Ilove-musings, forgetful even of what she
waiting for, until a, sound of quick footsteps
made her start, and, looking up, she saw
Roderic coming towards her
he was almost bceathless with the haste
ne mad made, and &. sudden terror came upon
her when she saw the 10y shining in his face.
L was out: 1 have only just had your
message, or L would have come earlier,' he
painted, catching her hands in his. ''Oh, my
love, my darling, queen of my life, jewel of
my heart, you have come back to me at last!
An, Sheila agra, and how [ have wearied for
you all these long days; but now you have
come, and will never let you go again.
| Sheila was gazing at him aghast.
The rapture in his face was too terrible,
Knowing what she had to tell him.
She She made vain effort to free her hands.
stop. stop!" she cried, wildly Don't
you know, don't you understand? I have
only come back to keep my promise"
Yes yes, dear L understand" he an
swered. gently. you have come back, at
last, to tell me that there is one else
that there never will be, and that you are
ready to lay your dear hand in mine for
ever
"Oh, no, MOI" she cried, desperately. "oh.
Roddy, dear, dear Roddy, forgive me; but
hoyro h-n1y to11
you that there is someone else-that 1 am
going to be married, that
But the words failed on her lips, for she
could not take her eyes from the handsome
face, which seemed changing and aging,
after a CHASTITY fashion, before her very gaze
He dropped her hands, now, and staggered
back few PAGES, as if he had received an
actual blow, putting his hands to his head in
a dizzy way.
There is someone else? You are going to
be married?" he muttered, duly, looking at
her in a strange, wild fashion; and then,
suddenly he fell to the EARTH lying face
downward, his strong fingers plucking fierce
ly at the grass, as if in extremity of anguish
Sheila locked at him an instant in horror
and then dropping to her knees, laid her
| hand softly on his shoulder
"Roddy, dear. don't don't take it like that"
she implored II am sorry, very sorry. I
: could not help it, indeedoI could not
He raised his head and looked at her, with
a face she could hardly recognize, so hag-
gard and drawn it.
| "Ah, Sheila, Sheila for Gods sake have a
little mercy on me- If I lose you, there is
nothing left for in all the world. No other
man could ever love you as I do. 1t has
grown with me till it fills all my heart, and
to pluck it out would kill me. To other men
there are other women to me you are the
lonly one. Don't you see that in taking away
yourself you take away my very life too?
lSheila, Sheila, 1 cannot-cannot give you
lup!"
The passion and pleading in his voice were
beyond all words, and the girl looked at him,
shaken and trembling, her very lips white.
oh, Roddy, my poor dear Roddy, what
lean [ say to you?' she said pitifuly. 81 know
now that, even If there had been no one else
[ could never have married you. L know
what love is and how cruel I must seem to
you; but indeed, it is not my fault. 1t is
something stronger than 1 am. Oh, my poor
boy, forgive me!'' and she broke into agitat-
ed tears.
Roderic knet up, and laying gentle hand
on her shoulder tried to soothe her. as he
had so often done in their childish days, over
some little trouble.
"Ah, then, hush, acushla'- ma -chree I
never used to make my darling cry he said
with a strange faint smile Let my last
memory of you at least be pleasant one
Sheila, dearest, it is the last thing I shall
ever ask of you; come out on the old lake
with me. as you have so often done before
"Oh, will come, of course, L WILL said
she, readily, glad TO do anything, however
small, he asked Of her. and rising from the
withered grass, Roderic went slowly down to
the old boat-house, and busted himself with
the boat.
sheila had followed him, and watched him
in silence.
What words could pass between them now?
Once she did glance wonderingly a the sky
and asked whether he did not fear a storm;
but he answered: 'Oh, we shall be safe
enough before it breaks and she said no
more.