The Elbert County tribune., 1900-05-10

moment of frenzy he had even sold his
soul.
He saw himself in that awful mo-
ment for what he was. and even with
Captain Derwent's dead body at his
feet he had failed to see himself.
Scorned and shamed before men, II
brought near to him another tribunal,
higher and all-powerful. at whose por-
tails be must needs stand at the last
day. and he bowed his head in the
first real prayer that had ever rent his
bleeding heart.
My God, my God. be merclfull"
How would she for whom he had
sinned look at him when those closed
eyes opened? Would she not shrink
from his touch as from some unclean
thing? Would her love not fail be-
fore this blow he had dealt It, or was
IL that love possessed of a divine pity
which would not turn even from the
hand that struck it, He took the ivory
fan which had dropped from her nerve
less fingers and waited 1t softly over
her paid face.
fsNs aNAt7s eAAAAA AAcA'1 lut
white eyelIds opened at last. and her
blue eyes were looking into his.
He covered his face with his hands
and bowed his head on the cushion be-
side her. for he could not dare to look
at her now. She put out trembling
hand and touched his thick brown
hair.
Don" she whispered family, tell
me II is not truei"
Il cannoti" The hoarse reply
pierced her very soul. Her hand
dropped. She burst into sudden and
passionate weeping. with strong
effort Don recovered his self-control.
and spoke with labored intensity.
1T was not my shot that killed him
---as God is my Judge, swear to you
It was not; but. in ut OF anger. I
fired. and 1t might have killed him.
He insisted you were to marry that
dark fellow. and he would not listen
to me, and I lost my head. Lille. LII
lie' don't look like that Don'tl /
cannot bear III"
She had stayed her convulsiye sobs.
and her blue eyes were regarding him
in a way that made his proud lips
CULVER.
you did that. yet You came back to
me and told me nothing of It, and you
made me marry youi" The words
broke from her in low. halting SEN
tenCes, as II they choked her to utter
them.
Lille, be merciful, II was my love
for you that made me reckless. What
good would II have done to tell you Of
our quarrel? For never dreamt you
would come to know of It,"
qoh. why did you make me marry
yon?" she walled. And now she broke
down once more and wept bitterly.
'Llllie," he cried. beside himself
with remorse and suffering. you don't
believe me guilty of his death? Don't
tel me you doubt mel"
e do not doubt you." she spoke at
las; but you have deceived me. and
oh. Don. 1t has broken my heart!"
He looked at her wildly. and seemed
b realize, with a new sense OF Desc
lttion, that 1t was indeed true He
fid shattered alike her faith in him
pd her love.
l"ohl" he cried out. "if you had loved
aand and be pitlfuli"
81 do love you." she answered bro
lenly-'you as you should be, MS God
meant you to be. not what you are"
"Don'tl" he cried again. '''oh. II you
emily knew what a purgatory remorse
las made my life ever since that fatal
hight. you would pity me and for
svel"
Il do forgive you" she said. after a
iilence that seemed an eternity to the
nan who hung upon her words: but
hfe can never be the same again
never. neyerl"
She staggered to her feet and flung
back the long strands of her flaxen
hair from her face with despairing
gesture. With a wild rush OF memory
It had dawned upon her that this was
her wedding day. and that In an hours
time she was expected to leave her
maiden home a happy bride.
Her wedding day Was II indeed
oily a few hours since she laid her
hand in Don's and vowed that him she
would love and cherish and obey till
death them did part?
She turned now and looked at him,
with the misery of that remembrance
writ large upon her face. and Don
WINGED beneath that look as II she had
struck him a blow.
"oh, that we could undo this day,"
she said.
He knew then the thing he dreaded
had come upon him. He had lost her
love. and he was yet to lose herself
And fierce despair fell upon him. He
strobe towards her and took her in a
passionate embrace.
mo, will not let you say III" he
cried hoarsely. for I could not live
without you. Lilliei"