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

giveness-we are better enemies than
friends, Lord Chandos."
eve will never be enemies, and no
harm can come except that l shall be
happier for it. Say you will forgive
me, Leone. See, I ask your pardon on
my knees. For Heavens sake, for my
great loves sake, say you forgive mel"
He knelt before her humbly as a
child, he bowed his handsome head I'M
| til his face rested on her knees; be
sobbed aloud in his sorrow and his
deep regret. She stood uncertain. Her
clear reason and common sense told
her that it would be better If she would
refuse him pardon, and that they
should part for all time; but love and
pity pleaded, and of course love and
and pity won. She laid her head or
the dark head of the man whom she
had once believed her husband; hel
beautiful face quivered with emotion
''I forgive you," she said, freely
frankly, fully, as I hope Heaven will
forgive me all my sins. Nay, you must
not kiss me, not even my hand
Your kisses belong to some one else
now-not to me. I forgive you, but we
must part again. Come what may
we must part, we must not meet
again"
81 can never part with you," he
said in a hoarse voice. "You have
been life of my life, heart of my heart
too long for that"
She held up her hand with superb
gesture of warning anu silence.
''Hush, Lord Chandos," she said; "if
you speak to me in that strain, I shall
never see you again. Remember you
have a wife; you must not be false to
two women-keep true to one. Neither
your kisses nor your loving words be-
long to me now"
IT will not offend you," he said
sadly.
She leaned her beautiful arms on the
table, her white hands under her chin,
looking steadily at him
81 have forgiven you," she said, mus
ingly, 81, who have sworn such terrible
oaths, such bitter revenge, I have
ended by forgiving you, after the fash
ion Of the most milkand-Water type of
women. I have forgiven you and
Heaven knows how I tried to hate
YOU and I have tried to take treasure
in the thoughts of my vengeance"
''You have had your vengeance on
me, Leone, in love that has never left
me, and the memories which have
haunted me. You swore vengeance
against my mother, but you will forego
that"
A slow smile came over her face and
died away again.
Lord Chandos," she said, "you will
not be my debtor in generosity. You
have asked me to pardon you; have
done so. Grant me one favor in re-
turn-tell me who Influenced you to
forsake me?"
He looked puzzled.
''I hardly know, Leone, can hardly
tell you
cit was not the lady whom you have
married" she continued, "of that am
sure. Who was it?"
II think if any one Influenced me it
must have been my mother" he said,
gently; "she was always violently OPP
posed to it.
The beautiful lips paled and trem-
bled.
81 thought it was your mother" she
said, gravely. "No, I shall not forego
my vengeance against her, although
know not when I may gain it.
''You will forget all that" he said.
''You are too noble to care for ven
geance."
81 am not NOBLE" she replied. Cali
that was best and noble in me died on
the day you forsook me. And now,
Lord Chandos, listen to me. Words of
peace and pardon have passed between
us. 1t has raised a heavy funeral pail
from my life; it has, perhaps, raised a
black cloud from yours. Lord Chandos,
we must not meet again"
|You cannot be SO cruel, Leone.
Having found you, how can I lose you
AGAIN."
"You must; it is imperative"
'But, Leone, why should we not be
friends?" he said, gently.
She laughed a hard scornful laugh
that struck him in the face like the
sting of a sharp blade.
"Friends?" she repeated Gould we
who have been welded lovers ever be
friends? You do not know what words
mean if you think that"
He stood before her with stern,
white face.
Leone" he cried "are you really
going to be cruel enough to send me
away out of your life again, who have
been mad with joy at finding you?"
eff [ were cruel" she said, slowly,
''nOw I would take my vengeance
should say as you once left me SO now
I leave you but am not cruel, and
that is my reason. My reason is a
good and pure one; we could never re-
main friends; we love each other too
much for that; we must live as strang-
ers now; and remember, it is your
C..