Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1899-09-25
Continued.

had one moment in which to look
round the room-one moment in which
tn control the rapid beating of his
heart; then she turned suddenly, and
once more they were face to face.
All, to see the heaven of delight and
rapture that came over hers-the light
that came into her eyes; it was as
though her fcce was suddenly trans
figured: all the past in that one mo-
ment of rapture was forgoUCen, all the
treachery, the perfdy, the falsity.
She uttered one word, Lance" but
it was a cry of unutteraole delight.
Lance" she repeated, and then, with
all the light of heaven still shining in
her face, she hid her face on his breast
She did not remember; she only
knew that it was the face of her lost
lover. The same strong, tender arms
were cIasped round her, the same warm
kisses were on her face, the same pas
sionate, loving heart was beating near
her own. All, Heaven, how sweet that
one moment was. To die while it
lasted, never to leave the shelter OF
those dear arms again. She had waited
for him for years, and he had come at
last.
There were a few minutes of silent,
rapturous greeting, and then, sud
denly, she remembered, and sprung
from him with low cry.
GLOW dare your" she cried, 81 had
forgotten. How dare your"
Then the sight of the beloved face.
the dear eyes, the well-remembered
figure, took all the hot anger from her.
ooh, Lance, Lance, ought not to
speak to you or look at you, and yet
1 cannot help it. God help me, I can
not help it,"
He was down on his knees by her
side, clasping her hands, the folds of
her dress, crying to her to pardon him;
that he had no excuse to offer her; he
had been guilty beyond all guilt; that
neither in heaven nor on earth could
there be any pardon for him; that he
would have died a hundred deaths
rather than have lost her.
For some minutes it was mad
whirl of passion, love and regret. She
was the first to collect herself, to say
to him:
lord Chandos, you must not kneel
there; remember you have a wife at
home"
The words struck him like a sharp
sword. He rose and, drawing chair
for her, stood by her side.
''I am beside myself" he said, with
the pleasure of seeing you again. For
give me, Leone; I will not offend. Oh,
what can I say to you? How can I
look upon your face and live?"
'fYou were very cruel to me and very
treacherous," she said. "Your treach-
cry has spoiled my life. Oh, Lance,
how could you be so cruel to me when
I loved you so-how could your"
Tears that she had rerressed for
years rained down her face. All the
bitter grief that she had held in as
with an iron hand, all the pride SO long
triumphant, all the pain and anguish,
and the desolation, that had been in
check, rushed over her, as the tenn
pestuous waves of the sea rush over
the rocks and sands.
How could you, Lancer" she cried,
S,lInging her hands; chow could you?
You were cruel, though trusted you SO.
All, my love, my love, how could you -
The beautiful head fell forward in
the very abandonment of sorrow.
Great sobs shook the beautiful figure.
ooh, Lance, loved you so, believed
in you as I believed in Heaven. I
loved you and trusted you, you forsook
me and deceived me- Oh, my love, my
1ove!"
His face grew white and his strong
figure trembled under the pain of her
reproaches.
Leone" he said, gently, every word
of yours is a sword in my heart. Why
did do it? All me, why? I have no
word of excuse for myself, not one. I
might say that I was under woman's
influence, but that would not excuse
me. take the whole blame, the whole
sin upon myself. Can you ever for
give?"
She raised her face to his all wet
with tears.
''I ought not to forgive you,' she
said; 'T ought to drive you from my
presence; I ought to curse you with my
ruined life, but I cannot. Oh, if only
lay under the waters of the mill
stream, dead
The passion of her grief was terrible,
He forgot all and everything but her
the wife at home, the plighted vows,
honor, truth, loyalty-all and every
ting except the girl whom he had loved
with a mad love, and her grief. He
drew her to his breast, he kissed away
the shining tears; he kissed the
trembling lips.
LEONE, you will drive me mad.
Great God, what have I done? I real
ize it now; I had better have died"
and then the strength of the strong
man gave way, and he wept like
child. cit is no excuse" he said, "to
plead that I was young, foolish, and