Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1900-07-28

Don. He Was Il dnc fellow. too. but
not quite good enough for Nadine. He
was very FOND Of her, and she Was hap
pier still until the other woman came.
Such = woman. Tatsers, as beautiful
as an anges--you couldn't blame him
IL you could see her. Nadine 6tdn',
blame him. either. but it broke hes
heart. They say people sometimes out
live even that trouble. but IN isn't true.
not with q nature like hers II you
could only help her TO forget. just for
lie while. Tatters, I'd love you as
long as i've"
Tstters kept his charge faithfully.
but il was vain 60 hope for success
where human ingenuity had failed.
Ted helped evade tho dreaded climax
by reading all the newspapers carefully
before Nadine saw them 10 guard
against her seeing mention of his re-
turn. for which she watched and wait
ed, as a dying man longs TO be shriven.
She put OF the southwark fight day
by 6Ay. and meantime grew weaker.
paler and sadder; and Ted and Tatters
went about watching her with troubled
eyes.
Winter came with n rush Of icy air
and furry % snow that sent the frsil
ones hurrying southwark 20 kinder
chimes The others could not well be
spared from the busy round Of social
life, so Ted went with his mother and
Nadine. The world Law shrouced in
white vestments through which the
train plowed a narrow track bearing
them farther aud farther from their ac-
cUstomed scenes Tatters sat iD Ma
Cine's window looking wiStfully out OF
the window At the flying panorama Of
skeleton trees and he6ges till the train
stopped at wsyside station. Ted took
him out for q little walk. and h
scudded along the narrow path shifting
the frosty air delightedly. and present
" disappeared under the car wheels. TO
be caught Up by someone on the OPP
posite side.
Ted heard a mans coaxinE voice say:
Hello. my beauty, Look. Tess. isn't
that 4 perfect little beauty - The an
swcr was a delighted little feminine
exclamation. then a lady stepped out
Of the coach and confronted him. fol-
lowed by Dion. who looked very wan
and weary beside that radiant vision
Ted looked Snto her face and forgot
everything but the thought that Ma
dine must not see them. he got pos
session of Tatters and walked the
length OF the train and back before he
dared 20 confront Nadine. sndlthc train
pulled OF with.a few preliminary shocks
when he swung aboard the smoking
car. lie sat staring DULY before him.
until he was recalled 10 a realization OF
things tangible by q keen sense Of i'm
pending danger.
There was a shrek OF escaping steam.
q sickening crunch Of wheels. an explo-
sive crash. then be was seized by some
blind force ond dung down amid the
debris OF a wreck. Tatter's dolefui lit
tie whine recalled Ted's scattereG
senses he woke 10 End himself lying
In a poor little roadside hut, where
they had carried the dra6i and wound
cd Dion's wife lay not an arms
length from his couch. and beside him
sat Nadine unhurt-
1t is not fatzI?" Dion asked in =
husky whisper.
The doctor moved away very softly.
but the dying woman read the bitter
truth in his eyes. and shivered with
mortal terror.
DYING" she cried. incredulously.
'Oh, no. II simply isn't possiblel IL
can't be; why should be chosen when
so many others don't care 20 live! Oh,
no. not /. life Is far too sweet TO diel"
Tafters whined and thrust has nose
close 20 Ted's face. and he opened his
eyes and smiled unders1andingly, then
the clear, tuncful voice broke the
6cathiy silence again. Dion, IL IL
should be true am afraid TO de with
an unconfesse6 lie on my soul Ii was
all nv fault that she left you. want
ed you 10 believe Nadine unfattkfuL
You'll forgive me. Dion. won't you II
was because I loved You So-and she
couldn't have cared one hundredth part
"a much a. DO. You loved her. didn Z
you. Dion? Yes. knew. but tried 20
forget. II should die you will marry
her. Dion, ! love you 80 that / wish
only for your happiness
But viii not de. Dion. win notl"
the young voice trailed of in hall u sob.
then woke again very faint and tremu-
ious. like the echo Of distant music.
How dark il has grownl" IL muir
INJURED Have they left US alone al
last. Dion7 Come closer. / cannot see
you"
There was no more sound OF motion
from the darkened pallet; the long
lashes fiuttered down and lay like rays
% darkness on driven snow. and the
childish lips parted IN faint. sweet
kmile upon which death had set his
holy seal as il God had. forgiven her