Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1900-06-28

She turned, with 4 nervous start. and
let the oars drop from her trembling
lands.
HERBERT
Even in the pale moonlight he could
see the crimson life-tide flushing brow
and cheek. as she spoke the name.
rs it Sybil, indeed? or only some
hooking vision:' he asked-"some cru
Ell spirit. Turing ME on to destruction
and despair: In Gods name, if beings
such as you have God. speak to me!
Tell me who and what you are! Free
me from the spell that holds me. de-
spite myself and adj my efforts! Tell
ne why you haunt me-by what mys-
FERROUS power you control my fate
rs it Herbert Give who speaks"
she asked. with touch of scoln-
Herbert Give? or some weak crea-
ture whom any juggler could delude?
Spell and charm! Alas. it is only wO-
man who bends willing victim to
her power-it is only woman who ac-
krowledges the one mighty spell that
enthralls heart. and soul. and mind,
aud strength-the spell of Love! 1t is
only woman who can suffer and die.
smiling in her letters. yet never ask to
be SET free!''
"Sybil. Sybl. do you speak to me ILL
these accents of reproach:" was his
bitter eNclamation-"you.w whom have
loved with such folly. such madness.
that reason. judgment and wisdom
have weighed as nothing against the
power that drew me to your side: You
have denied my suit, refused my pray
ers. perplexed me with doubts. tor
| tured me by mysteries, well-nigh mad
dened me with masks and DISCUSSES. I
| loved YOU as purely and devotedly as
| man can love. and yet that love. based
though it was. on honor. faith and
| truth, has been wcll-nigh my ruin. My
| life is still before me- sere and blight
ed. It's true. but cannot cast it utter
iy away. Sweet and lovely though
the flower may be. when its perfume
po:Sons and bewilders us. that flower
must be plucked from our breasts.
Sybil. l have loved you'll must love
You 10 the bitter end-but I must fly
| from you. l dream. hope. suffer all
the agonies of doubt and suspense at
Your side. My firmest resolutions fail
me. I am again madman!'
The little boat rocked like lily leaf
! VIZ lIlS lllOoIlfl NiNtS. NE ltl IOcCll-
pant was trembling now-trembling
with the weight of emotions pride
could not control.
been a cruel. cruel fete that has
brought our lives together. I have
flung dark and poisoned shadow in
your path. I have blighted where
would have blessed. embittered where
| would hovn
cheered. 1t is right that you should
forget me, and yet-yet-''
She paused and buried her face in
her hands.
You would not be forgotten" he
| interposed. "Speak to me. darling.
and tell me it is so? Oh, my love-my
only love-it is only from a deluding
dream that l would escape; it is only
from a glittering mirage that 1 would
turn away. l cannot wreck my life in
following an Elusive phantom. The
echoes OF your voice. glimpses of your
presence. snatches Of your songs. have
| lured me on from land to land. from
cline to cline. Have been too long
an idle wanderer. worthless dream
er. Sybl, you yourself would scorn
| the man who could waste his manhood
| in the vain pursuit of shadow. a
| vision. beautiful but evanescent
dream."
81 know she whispered. know
you are right. The web of my life has
been woven so strangely,so darkly, that
you may we'll look upon me with doubt
and fear. And yet-yet I am no being
OF different mould from those around
me. Sorrow and injustice, mortal's
hate and mortal vengeance, have
warped my life and made me what l
am. "A woman, with all woman's
loves and hopes denied. Forgive me
the unwilling wrong 1 have done you.
Alas. suffer enough without the
thought that we have parted in anger
or fear. Let us part in sorrow, Her
bert. as those part whom the death
angel sewers for time alone. not eterni-
ty. l would have died, indeed, rather
than have lived to cause you mo-,
ments anguish. a moments fear. Let
US part here, beneath the moonlit skies
in sorrow and in peace"
'And in love" he added, eagerly.
Say in love and in hope Sybil. and
the future. however cold, will CLEAN
as brightly as those snow-capped
heights above us. l will wait and
| trust through the mocnlit night for the
/ Sou-liS ut,S Lie CiOlOS anu udIhutS5
have been heavy and bewildering, dar-
ling. Tighten them with one pale
beam of hope?"
"Hope.' she whispered, rising in the
boat and holding out her hand to him.
alas! the word is one I dare not ut
ter. But love-even the sorrowing, the
hopeless, may speak of love-love that
can reach even unto heaven! All, yes
| we NAV Dart in lOye!"
He lifted the little hand to his lips
Love, love. Henceforth that word
shall be my talisman," he murmured.
I'VE part in love. Aye, darling and in
/ lOve-I know, l feel tive shall meeq
again"
CTO be Continuedl