The Red Cloud chief., 1900-08-17
HAPrE VII.

seemed glad to see her, that his heart
had not leapt out to her, as hers did
10 him, that his eyes did not rest for
one moment upon the boy, was bad
enough; but that there should be an
other woman In her place! Oh. that
was anguish intolerable! AT last she
spoke. you love her, Alan?' she
asked.
Better than my lifo!" he answered
passionately.
oh" She gave a little shudder.
Then I will go and leave you to your
happiness" she said quietly. Its the
only way-the only way. will take
our boy and co.
But you cannot go!' he groaned.
II made you my wife, Veronica, n
as long as you live you will be my
wife, although my heart and hers may
break"
II break your heart" cried YER
onica. why, | would give my life
for you. | would not have you un-
happy for n moment II | could help 1t.
love you as much as in the old
days, Alan, before the shipwreck. Oh,
why was | saved2'
He looked at her, and poor Veron-
ica's heart failed her. There was no
love in that look. All the love Of
Alan's heart was given to Joyce.
There was pity and despair, but no
love. When a woman loves a man
she can soon see the difference. He
could not say that he praised o that
she was saved, and he did not. Tell
me about IT," he said mechanically.
II she talked he would be able to
think what Il would be best to do for
her. But as for him, the despair OF
his heart almost choked him when he
thought that In about half an hour
he must pull down that beautiful fab
ric OF their lives, must ruin Joyce for
ever! He could scarcely think OF YER
onlca In his overwhelming agony;
but she spoke, glad to see his inter-
est.
II was washed In shore. into a
sandy bay, Alan. | had gone through
the anguish Of dying: but when the
people found me they brought me to.
hut the shock had beer too much for
me: | could not remember anything.
ltnd then In about Ave months baby
WAS born. and then II all came to me
slowly. | was Ill and weak and could
do nothing: | could scarcely think,
Then at last when | wrote the letters
were sent back to me. and ! heard a
gumor that you had gone back to Eng
Land. was penniless. did not
know IL you wanted our marriage ac-
knowledged, so | did not write to Mr.
Dempster; but as my strength re-
turned my courage did also. | began
giving singing and guitar lessons
People were good to me. l worked
hard, and at last scraped together
enough money to take me in a sailing
boat to England. l hate the sea.
was afraid of It; but you were there
and | zane. But 1t was a year before
| could find anything of you, and
should not have found you at all bu'
Hutchinson told me he had seen yol
and had spoken to you"
When did he tell you that"
1.-TWO days go. But he told m
that he had seen you two months ago
and you had spoken Of me. You hat
told him We were married, Alan
which he HAD not known. He tracke'
me home from a music shop, wher
they get me music lessons; but | can
not tell why he delayed"
But Alan could. Hutchinson. In hi
cruelty, knew that 1t would be tn
! ruin OF Joyce's life as we'll as his owl
IL this marriage with her could b
consummated first. He knew Hutch
inson hated him, so this was his re
I venge!
He tried I O think Of Veronica, bu
It was OF no use. Joyce's image cam
. before him whenever he tried to thin
: of the poor girl who was his wifi,
The little boy, also, was looking q
I him with his, Alan's, wi blue eye
$ which were SO great a contrast to h
I curly dark hair. That these poo
u creatures, dependent upon him Il
u lONt WnltH ht tOuiu Hot give, tTOuDit
\ him.
Veronica he said at length, wi
you go back to where you live and
, will write to you when l have see
herr"
The wife you love?" asked POI
Veronica.
n Yes" said Alan. "Wm you #,
d that? You know that you can tru
J. me-"
l. ''Of course" said Veronica. simpl
i will do what you say always.
Is misery TO mt to think that I ha
l. made you so unhappy, when thong
70 only to make you happy"
MY poor girl" he said. deer
touched by the contrition in her 20
Is and by her sadness, you would ha
D., done very wrong II you had n
~ come"
>, She gave him her address and l.
Al.- NNTlA. 49, kal coma a Itksl. an,