Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1899-09-28

Suppose that harm follows my for
giyeness-w are better enemies than
friends, Lord Chandos.'
1--WE will never be enemies, and no
harm can come except that | shall be
happier for 1t. Say you will forgive
me, Leone. See, | ask your pardon on
my knees. For Heavens sake, for my
great loves sake, say you forgive mel"
He knelt before her hImbly as a
child, he bowed his handsome head I'M
I'll his face rested on her knees; he
sobbed aloud in his sorrow and his
deep regret. She stood uncertain. Her
clear reason and common sense told
her that 1t would be better il She would
refuse him pardon, and that they
should part for all time; but love and
pity pleaded, and OF course love and
and pity won. She laid her head on
the dark head Of the man whom she
had once believed her husband; her
beautiful face quivered with emotion.
81 forgive YOU" she said, freely,
frankly, fully, as ! hope Heaven will
forgive me all my sins. Nay, you must
not kiss me, not even my hand.
Your kisses belong to some one else
now--not to me. I forgive you, but we
must part again. Come what may
VIC must part, we must not meet
again"
81 can never part with you," he
said in a hoarse voice. "You have
been life of my life, heart Of my heart
too long for that.
She held up her hand with a superb
gesture of warning ana silence.
"Hush, Lord Chandos," she said; 'if
you speak to me in that strain, l shall
never see you again. Remember you
have a wife, you must not be false to
two women-keep true to one. Neither
your kisses nor your loving words be-
long to me now"
II will not offend YOU" he said
sadly.
She leaned her Beautiful arms on the
table, her white hands under her chin,
looking steadily at him
II have forgiven YOU" she said, mus
ingly, 81, who have sworn such terrible
oaths, such bitter revenge, | have
ended by forgiving you, after the fash
ion of the most milk-and- water type Of
women | have forgiven you, and
Heaven knows how / tried to hate
you, and / have tried to take yleasure
in the thoughts of my vengeance"
you have had your vengeance on
me- Leone, in love that has never left
me, and the memories which have
haunted me. You swore vengeance
against my mother, but you will foreso
that"
A slow smile came over her face and
died away again.
Lord Chandos," she said, "you will
not be my debtor in generosity. You
have asked me to pardon you; | have
done so. Grant me one favor In re-
turn-tell me who influenced you to
fosake me?"
He looked puzzled.
II hardly know, Leone, I can hardly
tell you"
ut was not the lady whom you have
married" she continued, "of that I am
sure. Who was it?"
81 think If any one influenced me 1t
must have been my mother" he said,
gently; "she was always violently OPP
posed to It,"
The beautiful lips paled and trem-
bled.
II thought 1t was your mother" she
said, gravely. mo, I shall not forego
my vengeance against her, although |
know not when | may gain It,"
"You will forget all that" he said.
"You are too noble to care for ven
geance."
II am not noble" she replied. "All
that was best and noble in me died on
tho day you forsook me. And now,
Lord Chandos. listen to me. Words OF
peace and pardon have passed between
us II has raised heavy funeral pail
from my life; it has, perhaps, raised a
BLACK cloud from yours. Lord Chandos,
we must not meet again"
You cannot be SO cruel, Leone,
Having found you, how can l lose you
again."
You must; 1t is Imperative
BAT, Leone, why should wo not be !
friends?" he said, gently
She laughed a hard scornful laugh |
that struck him In the face like the
sting OF u sharp blade.
"Fricnds?" she repeated. Gould we
who have been welded lovers ever be
friends? You do not know what words
mean II you think that"
He stood before her with stern,
white face.
Leone" he cried ARE you really |
going to be cruel enough to send me
away out of your life again who have
been mad with JOY ct finding your"
"If were cruel" she said, slowly, |
now I would take my vengeance. l
should say as you once left me so now
| leave you. but am not cruel, and
that Is my reason. My reason Is
good and pure one: we could never re-
main friends; we love each other too