The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1899-08-26

WEOIc tluu answer soon ultcr LuWIOfu'S
letter came. kept it to show aunt Con.
stance first, but when she did not return l
sent 1t. 1t had left the house hnlf I'M hour
when she came home, and told me Gerald
was dangerously i'll; she was asking me
what answer | had sent to Lawford, for
they had told her of his letter to me, when
your telegram came. Iseemed to you bnse
indeed; why should you not believe ever
this scathing shnme of me? Why, l lentit
further ~countenance when l came here. !
knew what aunt Constance wished, and
yet l came 1 was afraid to defy her in
words, 1t was the old horror Of being
charged with the truth; and she might
have spoken to you! All! anything-any-
thing but that, and then-then-Ia air keep
ing back nothing, Max, l am laying my
heart bare tQnHou-there was happiness,
through all tMecruel pain, in being with
you; but oh! your own heart will speak for
me, that I had no part or lot in the wretch.
ed scheme that brought me here! In this
at least l can prove my truth; Aston Law.
ford wrote to me n few days ago; asking
me again to be his wife. / tore his letter
into fragments, and flung them on the floor
that was my answer to him. Then aunt
Constance spoke to me plainly. / could
win you If l chose, she said; I would not do
that, and l would not marry Lawford. Nc
matter In what words; she babe me choose
between you and Lawford, or she would
wash her hands of me. l told her l would
give her my decision to-day, and TINT day
I wrote to uncle Will, and said l was com.
ing back to him. I told aunt Constance
to-day that l had made my choice. To
morrow I return to Wexford. Maxi" her
voice faltered and broke now, "Ihave been
wrong and foolish, but l vas young and
ignorant, and there was no one t o guide
and counsel me: but it was my love fox
you, not love of the world, that made me
seem false and mercenary. Iwronged you,
but it " rs in wronging myself first. Can
you believe me, Maxi"
For answer, Beauregard threw himself
at her feet.
valerie! Valerie! Oh, Heavenl" he
cried, with an agony that shook him like q
reed, "how can l atone to your l might
have known-I might have known! But,
OIL my darling, eyen when l believed you
unworthy yourself, l could not judge you
harshly, l loved you too we'll. Ali how my
blindness has made you suffer!'
Maxi hush!-hushW she whispered, lay.
ing her trembling hands on the mans
bowed head. II am to blame-I alone.
All! you were always so kind and tender
to me; thinking what you did-what you
only could think of me, you were so gener.
GUS; and you loved me through ALI Ali
nothing can take that joy from me-you
loved mo through ALP
Loved you! I worshiped you'll Alum.
dred times l had been ready 70 fling every.
thing to the Winds, and claim you; but al
ways came the hideous thought that, ii
you loved me, it was not for myself alone;
but now-now," he rose, and once more
locked the slight form in passionate EN-.
brace, NOW" he said, his deep voice trem.
bling. and he drew the golden head back
on his breast. and looked down in the dark
eyes, that sank beneath the passion of his
gaze II know that my darling is mine
was nine always-my Fairy Queen-my
own, only lovep
Lower he bent, and again their lips met.
Dizzy with happiness, the girl chung to her
lover; was 1t q dream that all the shadows
were swept away, all the heart-break, all
the bitter weeping, the endless pain-that
Max held her to his heart, called her his
own, kissed her lips, folded her life into
hisl All! she had dreamed Of this, but on
the dream there was always a shadow; she
wept even while his lips pressed hers, but
there was no shadow now; 1t was all glori-
d sunshine that dazzled by its brightness
aud made her lenses reel.
And when Max spoke agnin-Heaven
knows how long he could only hold the
loved form to him, with the rapture those
alone can know who have suffered as he
had suffered, and kiss the dear face he had
never hoped to pillow on his heartl-when
he spoke again his voice Mt first sounded
far away, like a voics In a dream; but it
was a dream Of wondrous light.
II feel as II ] could hold you here for
ever, my treasure, and never let you leave
my arms. Ahl Heavcnl to think how near
ly I lost your Yes! cling closer-closer to
me dearest; but I could not have purted
from you forever, Valerie; always my
heart warred against the falschood you
forced upon me. Imusthave followed you
you knew l loved you, Valerie, beforeto-
dayl'
Yes" she said. softly, II knew, I tried
to put the thought away: but that day.
when you would not let Zoe leap the gully
-
"Ah," he said, with a quick-drawn
oAcaCh, eAe uidu HupplncSS VI tuut rue
and-whcn you yielded to me, and gave me
your dear hand. Fairy Queen, you almost
conquered me then! | KNEW felt that
your heart was mine, and yet that cruel
thought always sealed nay lips, that were
stripped of wealth you would not listen to
your heart. 1t is like treason to you to
speak of this, and yet ! must make contes-
sion to ease my conscience" he added,
with the old bright, tender smile.
II have the most to confess, Max" said
the girl, wistfuliy. Indeed, you have
nothing; you spared me what l deserved,
or seemed to deserved"
SPARED you because I loved you, and
you but q STRIPPING, cast alone on a brilliant
world, a reigning beauty, an idol. All
yours was a rare nature not to be spelled,
Valerie, and II | had known you better j
should never have doubted you; but how
little l knew Of you after alln'
He sat down as he spoke, drawing her to
his side, and rs Valerie nestled to him, he
added, softly:
n l told you that before to-day 1 had
held you In my arms md kissed you, as ]
do now" bending down, and touching his
lips to her brow, would you forgive mes''