Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1899-08-26

| COulu never w HIS WlIC-l ulu uDU KNOW
even that Gerald, your brother, was Ill. l
wrote that answe soon after Lawford's
letter came. l kept 1t to show aunt Con.
stance first, but when she did not return I
sent it, 1t had left the house half an hour
when she came home, and told me Gerald
was dangerously i'll; she was asking me
what answer l had sent to Lawford, for
they had told her of his letter to me, when
your telegram came. seemed to you base
indeed; why should you not believe ever
this scathing shame of met Why, / lentit
further countenance when l came here. |
knew what aunt Constance wished, and
yet / came ; l was afraid to defy her in
words, 1t was the old horror of being
charged with the truth; and she might
have spoken to youl Ali anything-any.
thing but that, and then-then-1 am keep.
ing back nothing, Max, I am laying my
heart bare to you-there was happiness,
through all the cruel pain, In being with
you; but OIL your own heart will speak for
me, that l had no part or lot in the wretch.
ed scheme that brought me herel In this
at least l can prove my truth; Aston Law.
ford wrote to me a few days ago, asking
me again to be his wife. ] tore his letter
into fragments, and flung them on the foo,
that was my answer to him. Then aunt
Constance spoke to me plainly. / could
win you IL l chose, she said; I would not dc
that, and / 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. / told her / would
give her my decision to-day, and that day
l wrote to uncle VIII, and said / was com
Ing back to him. / told aunt Constance
to-day that l had made my choice. To
morrow l return to Wexford. Maxg' her
voice faltered and broke now, "Ihave been
wrong and foolish, but l was young and
ignorant, and there was no one TO guide
and counsel me: but it was my love for
you, not love Of the world, that made me
seem false and m%ercenary. Iwronged you,
but it was in ~wronging myself first. Can
you believe me, MAXI"
For answer, Beauregard threw himself
at her feet.
"Valeriel Valerie! Oh, Heaven!' he
cried, with an agony That shook him like q
reed, show can l atone to you? | might
have Known might have knownl But,
OH my darling, even when / believed you
unworthy yourself, | could not judge you
harshly, l loved you too well. Ali how my
blindness has made you suffer-"
maxi hushl-hushp' she whispered, lay.
ing her trembling hands on the mans
bowed head. 81 am to blame-I alone.
Ali 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 all! Ali
nothing can take that Joy from me-you
loved me through ALP
Loved you! l %worshiped you! Alum.
dred times l had been ready to 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 81 know that my darling Is mine
was nine always-my Fairy Queen-my
own, only lovel'
Lower he bent, and again their lips met.
Dizzy with happiness, the girl chung to her
lover; was it a dream that all the shadows
were swept away all the heart-break, all
the bitter weeping, the endless ~pain-tbat
Max held her to his heart, called her his
own, kissed her lips, folded her life into
hist 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; it was all glori-
Gus sunshine that dazzled by its brightness
and made her senses reel.
And when Max spoke again-Heaven
knows how long he could only hold the
loved form to him, with the rapture those
alone can know who have suffered rs he
had suffered, and kiss the dear face he had
never hoped to pillow on his heart!-when
he spoke again his voice ct first sounded
far away, like a voice in a dream; but 1t
was a dream of wondrous light.
II feel rs If ! could hold you here for
ever, my treasure, and never let you leave
my arms. All! Heaven! to think how near
" l lost you? Yes! cling c~loser-closer to
me dearest; but l could not have parted
from you forever, Valerie; always my
heart warred against the falsehood you
forced upon me. Unjust have followed you
you knew l loved you, Valerie, before to-
dayr"
eyes" she said, softly, 81 knew, / 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
breath, "the mad happiness of that ridel
and when you yielded to me, and gave me
your dear hand. Fairy Queen, you almost
conquered me then! 1 knew-I felt that
your heart was mine, and yet that cruel
thought always sealed my lips, that were l
stripped of wealth you would not listen to
your heart. 1t is like treason to you to
speak Of this, and yet l must make contes-
sion to ease my conscience" he added,
with the old bright, tender smile.
81 have the most to confess. Max said