Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1899-06-29

memories sway me tonight? and why
among them, does the thought Of your
boyish worship linger, until it asks at
my hands its recompense? What must
that recompense be? For once I will
be frank with you. Its recompense
must be to tear the mask from the
heart you thought might beat for you.
You shudder as you look, for the heart
is frozen on which your eyes rest, and
frozen hearts, Carlo, cannot beat in
loves measure. never loved you; you
We're for me but the plaything swore
beside a grave (whose, matters not to
make all men in my hands. saw the
girl to whom you We're engaged you
remember the night, do you not?-how
long ago it seemed. Her face told me
that she was young. and pure and ill.,
nocent. AS l was once.
II knew that you were weak. Why
should l spare YOU. When,. in alluring
you, l saved her. perhaps, from such Il
fate as mine: SO l let you drift with
the current. and the current snappeu
the feeble ties which bound you to
her. and instead led YOU to my feet.
you amused me, and liked you-lilled
you too we'll, Carlo, to let your young
blood spill itself for me and feel no
pans: but even then l told myself that
l was blameless-that men had died
before for women. and life was not so
sweet that l should plead it's boon for
YOU.
But, Carlo. the day that you ana
the prince We're to fight. an angel came
to me to intercede for you. The wo-
man you had wrongcd and outraged
sought me out, and demanded at my
hands your life. You do not deserve to
know this-do not deserve to know
how we'll she still loves you-but you
shall not say the life l spared to you
WAS barren through my act.
She is proud, and you may not east
ly win her back; but such hearts are
gold and worth the struggle. You must
not let her know that l betrayed the
secret of her intercession. l do it only
to prove her loyalty. and to tell you
why l demanded at the princes hands
your life.
"To-morrow is to make me his wife.
| may never see you again, but some
times remember that she who marred
the fair web of your happiness also
tried to cement the broken threads.
The day which unites you to Beatrice
Leonard shall know wins me your
pardon. Adieu! "F."
SO the strange note ended. The pa
per futtered downward to the floor. 1t
lay there UNDECIDED. \ mist was be-
fore Damerotf's eyes, choking in his
throat.
Beatrice did not hate him then:
Merciful heaven! she must still love
him. What had he done to deserve
from heaven such a boon?
Proud! Yes, better than the woman
who had penned the assurance, he
knew her pride; but, standing there,
he registered solemn VOW that his pa
thence should be as untiring as his re-
ward would be great.
Madame Florence's letter had done
lis work. The spell was broken, the
madness scattered. the infatuation
powerless. Beatrice alone usurped his
thoughts. his heart. His allegiance
could WAIVER never again.
Through the dark clouds which had
shadowed him one CLEAN of sunshine
broke. He swore it should widen into
perfect day. or scatter in the darkness
of perpetual night.
Two hours later he sought admit
lance to Beatrice's presence. The SER
want looked his surprise when he asked
If his young mistress was at home, but
meekly received his card to hand it to
her.
She grew very White when she re-
ceved it. She had been i'll since the
day Of the duel. 1t was the first day
She had been sitting up.
For moment strength and courage
failed. She was tempted to deny her
self; but, lest he should attribute it to
her weakness, she rose and. Vent down
to meet him.
Entering the room, she paused lit
tie beyond the door and sank into a
chair, waving him to resume the seat
from which he had risen.
You are surprised to see me-" he
said, and his voice was low and brok-
en-.
She glanced toward him with indif-
fercnt ease. Who could have fancied
that she had so lately pleaded for his
life as the one boon crayed on earth?
Some grave reason must have
brought you" she answered, coldly.
But. even as she spoke the words he
had crossed the dividing space between
them and flung himself at her feet.
Grave. indeed. Beatrice!' he muir
INJURED, hotly, impetuously. II have
NoA1c W pledu W you itS 1OSL sous pray
at heavens gate-as the man who, af-
ter long blindness, knows that his eyes
are opened-of one who having lost
reason, has it again restored to him.
have no right here, save the right of a
great sorrow and a great penitence! l
have no hope save the hope that wo-
manly pity may once more waken wo-
manly love. Beatrice, I was in the
wiles and meshes Of a sorceress. Do
not forever condemn me that my honor
was the price Of her enchantment."
He felt that she trembled, and he
lifted his young face on which was
written all the ardor Of his prayer; but
the voice with which she answered
him was cold and firm.
Had dreamt this your errand,"
she replied, 81 would have spared you
ana myself it's pain. Tomorrow the
woman Of whom you spoke weds an
otter. Would You prove to her that
the game at which she played was
equal, since you, too, return to her to
whom once your faith was pledged?
am sorry Lieutenant bancroft, that I