Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1900-10-25

Forgive me, he repeated, we all feel
that way about Dixon, the way you DO,
but there IS not another man on the
force who could have said it as you
have" And one by one the others, Us
they met Waiuwright wrung his hand.
Presently people began to condole
with him ON tho loss of Dixon, They
feared that the anxiety he had suffered
during DiXop's long Illness. and grief
over the bereavement had undermined
his health, They urged him to try a
change OF scene and said they hoped
that some umo Dixon would know
what friend he was. wainwright
hega1. to dread outstretched hands and
looks OF sympathy, He felt that he
was living a lie, and vet how unspeak-
ably brutal il would be to tell the
truth.
The only consolation he found was a
new sweetness in Elaiuc pierponrs
manner The possibility Of failure to
win her was soemothtng he had not
permitted himself to contemplate since
NiNons death, but this added gentle.
ness gave him encouragement and a
certain dcgrco Of peace.
lie would tell her all about Il some.
time She would forgive and pity.
She must forgive, because It was love
for her that made him hate Dixon.
Besides, 1t was not Dixon the man,
that he hated. hut Dixon tho obstacle.
llo loved her SO Intensely that II must
atone for everything, and In imagina.
ton he felt her arms around his neck
ana her check pressed to his in sym.
pathy
In imagination Il was easy to tell
her his love and to ask for hers that
n torrent OF fiery words fairly chokcd
him, In realitv it was SO hard that he
finally wrote 1t aud then waited
to'orlshly for her reply Ii was ages
coming he thought, though really II
could have come no sooner "'ncar
Mr. Wainwright' Why didn't she
call mo Hal9" he wondered with
vague dread
Dear Mr. Wainwright II Rortrand
Dixon had lived probably should
have been your wlto, Whether II
W uld have proved mistake or not,
OF course we shall never know. If
loved him did not realize 1t, lie
asked me to he his wife aud refused
him. refused on your account, bo,
cause hoped that some time you
would tell me that which you have
was only that, 80 long Rs | knew OF no
one olso possessing your affection, |
could not help Cherishlng n little hope.
Now THAT tho letter | used to long for
has como 1t touches me deeply but not
as | had supposed it would Since his
| death ! have had arrange experience,
Porhaps 1t might be called u heart.
written today IL was not that !
| really supposed you ever would, II
| awakening, and II II to You that | owe
a knowledge of what have lost,
N'h NV l'aillN' lllN WV III NV NV
singular sweetness of HIS spirit tin
read your tribute. Then with over
powering force It camo to me as a
revelation.
II wish that | might lot him know
OF my awakening, II only just for
single moment, But can only walt
! NJ han - Innuar thVn,uh
| glass darby, but face TO face, perhaps
! can tell him and also let him know
| that IT was YOU who taught me my
mistake. How he would bless you for
! IT, know that no loved you, for he
! told mo so, and that he believed you
were his friend. ! do not think, how.
ever, That he realized your friendship
| had the quality of immortality, and
surely that Is the trait that gave your
words Of him their aurpasslng beauty
! with all tho grief that il has brought
mo / am truly grateful That you made
me know how blcst | was among
women.
II appreciate the honor you would
confer upon me. and could never
place 80 high value upon the same
offer made by any one else But you
must soc tho lmpossibIl,ly Of my ever
becoming your wife, welded as | am
10 so sacred n memory Alfectionately
and sorrowmlly yours, elaine Pier
| pont"
Wainwright smiled IN meaningless
way Mechanically he drew his hand
across his forehead, then pressed the
| Ids down over his staring eyes So
that was why Dixon had smiled at
death Elaine has refused him. But.
no, II was all Just n mistake II must
have been he, Wainwright who had
died and been cast into outer darkness.
while Dixon stlll lived. TO possess his
own or course, It was only fair that
It should be So no more than justice
to Dixon Carrie Clark Nottingham