Rocky Ford enterprise., 1900-08-24

er II was a real barrier or not; but II
would only make your pain the great
er II We're TO tell you what the bar
with: II must stand between us for
ever"
And am to go from you. Margaret.
knowing no more than thisT"
1t must be SO. II is as Heaven has
willed II. Paul. God has laid the bur
den upon US. We can only submit"
But from her woman's heart there
was rising a heartbrokcn cry. "oh.
my love. my love. II is hard. God
knows!"
Paul Cleland turned away suddenly.
His face had grown pale and set. II
seemed to him that any further plead
Ing with Margaret would be like beat
in. against the rock. a little CULVER
Ing sigh broke from her lips. lie
heard II. and turned quickly.
You will rcient. Margaret! Tell
me there Is some hopc!"
She shook her head.
There is none. Paul-wc must part.
oh. can We not do SO quickly! The
pain would be less II We did not see
each othcr.''
1T shall be as you wish" said Gle
land. after a moments pause. Il can
leave Greystokc at once. and In u
short time I shall be far enough from
England. DO you care to hear where
l am going. Margaret"
She bowed. making no answer.
II am going TO Egypt. l have had
m offer made me. and ! was only
doubtful as TO what my answer should
be until saw you: bu; now my mind
ID quite made up. shall probably
sail In fortnight or So
A stificd exclamation came to Mar
.arc,'s lips: but she checked It. and
the next moment turned TO him. her
face as pale as ever. but quite calm.
Il can only wish you every success
and-and happiness In your new life"
she said. and laid her hand. cold and
trembling as IL was. In his. And.
after all. what happiness Is better and
deeper thnn that which comes TO uS
from our work. II We can help to
aiiay suffering. and to bring back
health to others. surely we can ask
no greater JOY ON car,h7 Doctor Gle
land. wish you that happiness with
all my heart
Thank you.' he said. n little husk-
Ily. Il do not think shall be able to
call myself happy. Mar.arc,-i have
not reached such height OF self
abncgation yet: but Ms the great apos-
tie OF work says. Thou canst do with
out happiness. and instead thereof and
bicsscdncss. l suppose that is what
you mean. Well. shall We say good
by now! We may not have another
chance"
Margaret looked Mt him. II was n
look he was to remember for very
long afterwards. In II he read all the
deep love OF her woman's soul for one
moment, without veil or reserve. barred
before him. Her hand still lay In his.
He drew her little nearer. and his
eyes seemed to dcvour her face.
For Heavens sake. Margaret. think
once more what you are doing! Do
not part us for the sake OF an imag-
mary barrier: do not sacrifice us both
for another's sins! II is not too late
yet to say the word that will change
our whole future lives"
He felt her hand culver: but she
answered steadily:
Paul. this is the only thing left for
us to do-to part. There is no other
way-none. Good-by."
"Good-by." said Paul. hoarseiy.
Then. after n pause. still holding her
hand. he said: Margaret. II is the
last time perhaps that / shall ever
sneak to you alone on earth VIII you
kiss me once. because of what might
have been?"
And In the tenderness of that mo-
ment-a tenderness that for the time
seemed 10 blot out all her own agony
and weakness-M Margaret raised her
pale. pure face and kissed him with
kiss that held parting and grief and
death in II.