Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1900-06-14
BY JEAN WARNER.

heart beneath your holy garb. 1 must
go forth and wander on"
My child. my child! do not give
way TO such despair" chided the older
woman. 1T is wrong; it is sinful!
You. upon whom Providence has show
cred such rich and wondrous bless
| ings!''
f: Il know. l llnow!" was the sad re-
Spouse. "Ah. Sister, you have taught
! me lessons during my sojourn in these
holy walls that | can never forget.
! You have laugh me to look upward for
| the brightness that earth denies me.
But. alas! you know not the weakness
| of Il woman'S heart when-when it
loves! You know not the madness,
the folly Will you believe it?'-she
broke off. pasSionately-"I have been
very happy here, seeing him senSeleSs,
fevered, for aught l knew, dying
! happy in feeling was near him, at his
i siGe-happy in hearing his fevered raw
! ing. bathing his burning brow, holding
i the cooling water to lbs parched lips
happy in feeling that he would die in
: my arms. Sister. Sister! what must
be the misery of a love that can find
iself blessed in pain. in sorrow, in suf-
fering-nay. even in death itself?"
Poor childr' said the nun. in tone
Of tender pity. Earthly love always
| has its dregs Of bitterness and pain.
| Be satisfied. be patient and trust in
| the goodness of Providence. All will
yet be we'll"
"AlaS. you know not the stern fate
that rules my life" answered the 9th.
er, sobbing. You know not how
blind how pitileSS. how relentless. is
the will of man. You speak to me of
Gods will: but l, alas, am bound by
the will Of 4 proud. weak. passionate,
resentful man, and who, if he knew,
If he dreamed of my mission here.
would sccrn all restraint"
That mission is now over. my
| Child. SAID the nun. gravely. "All
danger is past. God has heard your
first wild prayer to Him. and has
spared the life dearer than your OWL.
Leave the future in His wise keeping.
and go the way that duty points in
peace"
Il must, | must" was the despair
in" reply. There is no choice left
me. But-but there can be no harm
in my looking on his face once more
ere-the low voice faltered-"ere
bid him adieu forever
Your promise, my child-remember
your solemn PROMISE" said the nun,
repr"acllfully.
Il have not forgotten it," the other
answered.
Il do not ask to speak to him. Alas
it would be only adding Il new pang to
despair. Let me but look upon his
Slecpln" face and bear away with me
its expression of peaceful repose."
Herbert lay still. almost GREATNESS,
fearing to move or breathe. lest he
should dissolve the beautiful dream;
for it was Sybil who spoke-Sybil.
whose accents trembled in his ear. in
tones Of despairng love-Sybil. who
pleaded for one more glance at his
sleeping face.
He closed his eyes and lay like 4
breathing statue as she approached
his bedside. If he spoke to her. if he
locked ut her. he felt she would again
melt from his presence. this strange.
mysterious spirit-love.
She glided to his bedside; he felt her
head bend above him. lift his wasted
hand and as Il great scalding tear fell
upon his brow whisper low and
1remulOuS us the sigh of the summer
zephyr. reached his ear:
My love. my faithful love. farewell
farewell. forever
The last word WIS unspoken. for. as
if that teardrop had started him into
life. Herbert Enclosed his eyes. clasped
the little Land that still rested timidly
on his with feryan pressure, and he
and his nurse of the previous evening
We're face to face.