Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1899-06-22
CHAPTER xyIrT-aContinued)

uldtnbbu > STINT
''Hush!' she interrupted. and in her
voice rang sudden i%innness. Il will
not listen to another wordl'
Then. her tone. sinking to its usual
low gentleness. she added:
'Yau will stay to breakfast with
NEE
II cannot stay and obey your COM
mand for silence" he replied. Meth
or can | stay to look upon the woman
who mocks me with Florence yane's
senblance. l bid you farewell, Mad
anne Florence. Henceforth l will in
dict upon you neither my presence nor
my prayers"
.'You will o breakfasts | am sor.
ny"
This was her sole response. lie babe
hei adleu and left her; but, as the vel
Get hangings of the door closed behind
him, a faint. low cry smote his ear.
An instant he paused, tempted to re-
turn.
But wherefore? he would gain but
another stab!
He went on down the stairs and out
into the street. Singularly. his steps
turned In the same direction as had
Dameroff's on the preceding night.
almost unconscious of whittier they
we're leading him, he found himself be-
side the marble lions guarding as senti-
nels the entrance to the superb apart
ments occupied by Mr.. Leonard, the
wealthy American.
The thought of Beatrice came 20 him
with sudden, refreshing fancy. She. at
least, wore no mask. She would not
probe his hurts with questions; and yet
the touch or friendship might send him
~niomentary forgetfulness of his pain.
Five minutes before he had o re-
membercd her existence. Now he was
all %eagerness to see her.
Happily, she was at home. lie paced
up and down the apartment into which
lie servant ushered him, with an impa-
thence almost petulant.
When she entered. her face showing
her gladncss in meeting him. he
caught both her hands. Then some
thing blurred her from his sight.
1t was a mist OF tears. His suffer
lngs was stronger than his manhood.
He turned his head quickly, to conceal
his weakness, but she already had de-
tected il.
The smile faded from her lips. the
gladness vanished. Her cheep paled,
and a great pity crept into her brown
eyes. as she remembered what lie had
told her of his erranG here, and read in
his grief that his second wooing had
met with nc happier ending than the
/ FIRST.
She drew him TO a sofa and seated
\ herself on n low chair beside him.
Harry. dear old friend" she snid.
Y it was so sweet in you TO come 70 me-"
Thus. with her woman's tact, she let
him know there was no need OF words
for her to read and understand the
\ story.
"My Godr' he answered. uncon-
~sciously. pressing the little fingers he
held IN his until they achcd with pnip.
why was ii not you whom | loved.
Bcatrice-you, whom | might have
taught to love me in return. and who
is SO well worthy all that a man might
givef'
'srhe girl smiled YEARLY. remember
Ing her wv heart-pang. and echoed:
why, indced?'
They had known each other from
Il childhood. What more natural thar
that placid, calm affection should have
merged into loves stronger current.
safe would have been their anchorage
then-secure their harbor.
But when did love make n weapon OF
expediency? Would ii not seem as
though Cupid We're fondcr OF storm
n than sunshine, and laughed as. one by
one. the boats which he had launched
dashed themselves 10 pieces upon the
rolck. leaving 10 fioat upon their cruel
waves only his name painted upon their
prov:
Sweet to n man WHO suffers is a wo-
maa's sympathy: and though Ark
wright had heart 10 speak 10 word con
cerning himself. his weakness had now
mastered him.
The tears-the first he had shed since
/. early boyho0d-were dried. hut he felt
fthat he must make TO Beatrice some
: Explanation OF their cause.
, Its not just as you suppose. Be-
he said, gulping back an ugly hump In
mis- throat. II think | could bear any
+ disappointment OF that sort like a man
4 told You l had come here TO find the
woman l had lost. Well, / found \
, beautiful piece OF marble. which had
her eyes, and nose. and mouth. with
: skin like human skin. and breath like
i human breath. A Ia Beatrice,
with a frozen heart. \ woman whose
Asomanhood Is dead.'
ha A groan. bitter and deep. burst from
llim MS he finished speaking. Infinite
compassion was written In Beatrice
4 Leonard's face.
Don't say dead. Harry" She muir
Anured. gently. 'She must have sur,
\ Rered from bitter cold ere her heart
roze. and TIE sharp, cutting blast has
T ulIed her womanhood into the slumbel
d which feigns death, maybe; but true
!, Womanhood knows no death"
He caught her hands again and drew
ii hem to his lips. He stood SO sorely In
leed OF just the comfort that she Of
{ fEered him. The n hope she thus
i }aeld out TO him 20 cling to as one
Wings to the rock which is to ave him
" from utter shipwreck.
W God bless you for these words!' he
aid, ~servently. IF l could but save
= Ger from herself. I would be content
u accept all my own misery"
"Who Is she, Harry-may | ask? Do
4 know herr"
h II think not. Here in st. Petersburg
hey call her Madame Florence"
eMadAme FlOrencef"