Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1900-12-22

| terribly sad voice.
Il know what that means. To give
comfort with you is TO gain it. Oh! you
are too good 10 me- SAYS she with pang
she drive from her all memory of that
/ other, and give her heart entirely TO this
| good-thiS perfect man-this prince
| amongst his fellows?
i have heard all. Mrs Darcy told
| me. says he, placing strong conStraint
upon himself and compelling his fainting
spirit 10 touch tightly on the one horri-
bic fact that has laid his life to ruins
Yes | know. And perhaps" says she.
looking mn at him in the flaming freight.
you dislike what she told you-yOu
shrink from the daughter Of man who
had beeu-murdered. She shudders
perceptibly.
Crawford lays his hand upon the back
of the chair next him. 1t Is perhaps as
well that she cannot clearly see the work
Ings of his eGuntenance. He to shrink
from her! Heaven if she only knew
how he does shrink! And why And if
she knew all. how she would shrink from
him, with fear-with horror uRspeaEabie
You do not speak" says she sadly
We'll. / don't wonder. 1t has always
seemed to me that 10 have horrible
thing like that connected with one must
shock people. | couldn't bear TO have it
talked about. Kitty has been very good
about it. And you see, with growing
melancholy, Il was right about it. You
know 1t now, and now -" She breaks
off suddenly. "Oh, il has blghted all
my life. cries she with nervous passion.
If she had but known how eacn word
of hers stabs the man standing beside
her. He is thankful for the duif light
that wells his features and hides from
her his pallor-glad, too. for the first
time, that she has covered her face with
her hands and so hidden it from him.
1t has been given to him then to blight
her life.
You take an entirely wrong view of
IT.. says he in a duh sort of way. In.
deed he scarcely knows what he says.
You think that II -' His voice
dies away altogether. It is impossible to
say anything about that. ''One can feel
nothing for you save grief, pity. re-
morse --" He dragS himself up sharp
ly-a wrong word surely.
'Remorse. There is but one person
who should feel that" says Evelyn the
man who killed my father
And he felt itT' says Crawford. draw
ing nearer to her, but not attempting to
take the small pretty hand that hangs so
liStlesSly at her side.
''Well? says she. turning her face
to his. as though waiting for his reply
Her tone was hardened; as the freight
flames up and shows her face he can see
that it is cold and stern and unforgiving
''RemorSc is a terrible thing" says
Crawford slowly. 1T is the worm that
never dieth. 1t gnaws forever. Death is
small thing, We are here, we are
gone The sudden ceasing is 50 slight
a thing that we scarce know of it. But
to still live. and still be always dying
to endure the death pang daily-hourly.
there is anguish truly-the fire that nevee
is quenChed.
Death for him who dies is a small
thing. perhaps, hut how for those he
leaves behind him? Is it so small thing
for them? How of their grief. their
never-ceaSing regret--ther shuddering re-
calling of -"
She trembles and sinks into a chair;
but, though her body has grown weak in
this moment of remembrance. her beauti-
full face still retains its expression of re-
lentless anger.
There is such a virtue as mercy"
did he show mercyT
"NO-no. truly-and vet he did not
mea9 perhaps to-kill -"
'Oh, who shall say that? 1t is easy
for those who are outside the palaasGse I
to talk lightly of a wrong like mine. 'Ev>
eryone can master a grief but he that
has it And my father! An old man.
they tell me-though he never seemed old
to me; the gentlest soul alive--the most
L
in my heart the tender words. the soft,
sweet names by which he called me. He
never wronged a man-yet some man
slew him-some devil, rather She has
risen. and a very passion of revenge is
quickly stirring in her. you speak to
me of mercy-to me. tell you the
poignancy Of my grief is added to by the
knowledge that now all hope of bring
ing his murderer to justice is at an end
why should it be?" cries he. amy
day you may meet him face to face
AS he says this the strange, wild strain
that lies in him, and that can change him
from saint to demon at breath. awakes
within him; he bursts into loud laugh
ter.
oh, that I might" cries the girl fe-
verishly. That l might be the one to
give him up to just Judge. You think
me cruel. harsh. unfeminine; but it was
so wantOn crime, so uncalled for, to put
ont that gentle life. to silence that kindly
spirit, that he'd no word but good for
anyone"
Tiff, however it could be proved TO
you that it was an accident-a deed com
mitted in haste--unmeant-and after
wards repented of --" His voice Is
hoarse. scarcely audible indeed. Re
pented Of as was never crime before.
How then? There would be forgiveness
then. Evelyn. Then He has grasped
the mantelpiece with one hand and is
shaking from head to foot. ''Say it.
Say it, entreats he in dying tone.
Never" cries she vehemently. Cow
ard! bastard. to kill a man old and on,
feebled. Never. l tell you!" She is too
agitated herself to take any notice Of the
emotion that has mastered him. and
you-yOu," exclaims she with passionate
reproach, why should you take his part?
If you dread to marry girl whose long
ing for revenge on her fathers murderer
is eternal. why" impetuously, 'the road
is open to you to escape
1T is not that" says he family. The
last dull spark Of hope has gone out
the hearth is black and cold.
NO. How could | so misjudgc YOU
cries she. bursting into tears Il know
well how ii is with you. You. with your
sweet charity for all men, would even
cOndone this worst Of crimes-would seek
forgiveness for the author Of it. But |
am not like you. | could never be -
good as you are-much as il may gricve
YOU / must make you understand that
If | lived for q hundred years ! should
still cry for vengeance on my father =