Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1899-06-22
CHArTER xyIII-eConunued)

manhood's sake
Hush she interrupted, and in her
voice rang sudden firmness. Il VIII
not listen to another word
Then, her tone, sinking TO its usual
low g~entleness. she added:
You will stay to breakfast with
niegv
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 Vane's
semblance. l bid you farewell, Mad
anne Florence. Henceforth ! Will In
dict upon you neither my presence nor
my prayers
you will not breakfast? / am sor
ry."
This was her sole response. lie babe
her adieu and left her: but, as the vel
Get hangings of the door closed behind
him, n faint. low cry smote his ear.
An instant he paused, tempted TO re-
turn.
But wherefore? lie 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
Dameroffs 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 to him
with sudden. refreshing fancy. She, at
least. wore no mask. She would not
probe his hurts with questions; and yet
the touch OF friendship might send him
momentary forgetfulness of his pain.
Five minutes before he had not re-
membered her existence. Now he was
all eagerncSs TO see her.
Happily, she "A at home. Tie paced
up and down the apartment into which
tic servant ushered him, with an impa-
tience almost petulant.
When she entered, her face showing
her gladncss In meeting him. he
caught beth Der hands. Then some
thing blurred her from his sight.
1t was a mist of tears. His suffer
Ings 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
ElduutSS tdJiSilEu. iitI ClltBp lliitA.
and n great pity crept into her brown
eyes, as she remembered what he had
told her OF his errand here, and read in
his grief that his second wooing had
met with no happier ending than the
first.
She drew him TO a sofa and seated
herself on a low chair beside him.
Harry. dear old friend" she said.
1T was SO sweet IN you to come to mc.'
Thus, with her woman's tact, she let
him know there was no need Of words
for her 60 read and understand the
story.
My Godr' he answered. uncon-
~sciously, pressing the little fingers he
held In his until they achcd with pain.
why was 1t not you whom | lovcd,
Bcatrice-you, whom i might have
taught to love me in return, and who
is so well worthy all that a man might
giveY'
''The girl smiled YEARLY. remember
Ing her own heart-pang. and echoed;
why, indeed"
They had known each other from
childhood. What more natural than
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 a weapon OF
e1pediency? Would 1t not seem al
though Cupid were fonder of storm
than sunshine, and laughed as. one By
one. the boats which he had Launched
dashed themselves TO pieces upon TIL
rolck, leaving TO float upon their crue
waves only his name painted upon thei
prov?
Sweet to n man who suffers is a VIC
mans sympathy; and though Ark
wright had heart to speak no word cor
corning himself. his weakness had noN
mastered him.
The tears-thc first he had shed sine
early boyhood-were dried, hut he fel
that he must make TO Beatrice som
explanation Of their aus
It's not just as You suppose. Be-
he said. gulping back an ugly lump !
his throat. II think | could bear an
disappointment Of that sort like n maj
/ told you l had come here TO find tn
woman l had lost. Well, i found
beautiful piece of marble. which In
her eyes. and nose, and mouth. wit
skin like human skin. and breath liz
human breath. A woman. Bcatric'
with a frozen heart. "A woman who's
womanliood Is deadi"
A groan. bitter and deep. burst frol
him as he finished speaking. Infinii
compassion was written in BcatriS
Leonard's face.
"Don't say dead. Harry" she mu
INJURED. gently. "She must have su
fered from bitter cold ere her hea
froze. and tie sharp, cutting blast hi
lulled her ~womanllood into the slumb'
which feigns death, maybe; but trl
womanhood knows no death"
He caught Ter hands again and DIRE
them to his lips. He stood SO soreIy
need Of just tho comfort that she o
fered him. The one hope she thu
held out to him 10 cling to as OF
clings to the rock which is to saw hi
from utter shipwreck.
"God bless you for these words!' !
said, fervently. IF 7 could but sa,
her from herself. / would be confer
to accept al! my own misery"
"Who is she, Harry-may l ask? /
know hery'
II think not. Here In st. Petersbul
they call her Madame Florence"
Madam EfornuaavrN