The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1900-11-16
PURIFIEDBYLOVE|
BY ANNA A. BRUCE.

/
over week had passed by, and un-
iii this morning Bert Leslie could not
natter himself that he had made the
least progress toward an acquaintance
| with Miss Lambert.
That evening they all drove down 10
! the beach, and saw n very pretty pic.
| ture, indeed-the dark brig, with the
surf beating against the stern; the
tent, which men had pitched on shore.
with a bright fire burning i'm front;
| overhead, the cloudless sky, bending
away off till IL seemed To meet the
water In "A long line Of dazzling light.
Bert went mp 10 Miss Lambert ana
after few moments careless convcr-
satiOn finally led the talk back 10 ;hc
subject Of the morning, ana for n long
time they conversed In way which
Kate Lambert would not have believed
possible even the previous evening.
That was the beginning, and before
ten days were over Bert Leslie learned
that new era In his life had dawncd
he passionately loved Kate Lambert.
He had no mind 10 tell her so. He
knew how hopeless IL would be then,
probably equally so at any future time
but he loved her. and then there be
gan the regret and remOrsc which
must ever ovcrtakc a man who has led
n wild, reckless life, when he finds
that his whole soul has at last gone out
In n pure love, which makes him long
TO be worthy Of It's object
He had no mind to tell her, but ne
did so only the night before he was
obliged to go away. They had driven
down to see the wreck for the last
time. and after the party returned Bert
ana Miss Lambert walked up and
down the long vcranda, talking freely.
as they had fallen into the habit of
doing, and-hOw IL came about nc
never could have told-thc secret
uttered.
IL am not Offering you my love-" ne
said; "do not bc afraid Of that | will
not even offend you hy saying that |
love you-but this much you cannot bc
angry TO hear"
'hi h'' hhElgs Nil' bINN'l'hs
am surpriscd-grlcvcd | did not think
of this brokcnly; "it is SO short
time. hope you are sclf-dcccivcd."
"Do not hope that" he answered
"Thank God for It., as | do; ii will
make me n better man. | have not at
tempted TO deceive you; ! have not
tried To gloss over my past follics ana
sins, but | think you cannot bc angry
ut my saying that knowing you has
made me bitterly repent. made me
long TO atone"
Il have not judged you harshly,"
she said. 81 will not deny that was
prejudiccd against you. but | may say
this much-my friendship Is yours, If
you will have It,"
GLADLY. God bless you"
She let him take her hand for an in
stant, then she turned TO enter the
house
Not yet" he pleaded, give me a
moment more. Perhaps in this world
YOU and | will never walk thus again"
She took his arm Cucc more, and
they walked slowly up ana down In
the dim light, while the merry tunes
of n waltz, that Mrs. Chester was play
ing, rang out from the parlor, and up
from the distance came the low, hoarsc
moan of the sea, mingling strangely
enough with the gay melody.
He kept nothing back from her; he
did not seek to paliatc his errors, he
was very manly through II all.
II shall not see you for a long time
perhaps" he said. at last, lit is better
So"
but you must remember always thar
| think of YOU kindly and pleasantly"
She answered.
Nothing morc?' he asked, eagerly.
Her lips quivcrcd, and he saw her
grow pale in her trouble at giving him
pain.
You must rccollcCt how short the
time has been" she said
1T has seemed very long TO mc-l
have lived SO much in IT, But If there
had been more timc-don't he afraid of
distressing me; IL you had had oppor-
tunity to"
Always your friend she inter
ruptcd, in low voice. Just now.
Mr.. Leslie, can promise you nothing
more"
He let her 60 then. He was much
more composed than she, for when she
began TO say. i'm a trembling voice. that
she trusted she had at least done him
no harm. tha. he would acquit her Of
intentional wrong. he checked her
with weary. painful smile, which
hurt her more kecnly than the bitter
est reproaches could have done
You have been blessing 10 me"
he said. always remember that. II
ever | become better man V will he
the dear assurance of your friendship
which will have caused the amend
mcnt."
For one mad moment he folded her
/ in his arms. and pressed burning, pas
/ sionate kisses ON her warm, sweet lips.
/ then. releasing her. he turned quickly
and strodc out I'm the night. with the
/ dull moan OF the sea booming In his
/ ears like the echo Of the mad pain that
tore so fiercely at the inmost chords of
/ his passionate. undiscipllncd heart.
Aud Kate Lambert knew NJ last that
she loved him. and that with him had
gone much OF the freshness and sweet
ness OF her fair young life.
Two years with their storms and
sunshine passed. and beautiful Miss
Lambert was Miss Lambert still. or
fers lnnumerablc she had had. hut