North Park union., 1900-10-05
!
y wonkS 2,'k 5: : {: e.. e.. -.

A woman had fallen close beside him
"a dArk-haired. slight woman He
rushed forward to help hef mp. quite
unconacious then that the shot that
had been flred was meant for him. and
that the woman had intercepted It He
had . dim idea. too. that he saw
Hueehinson clipping away somewhere:
but he. n we'll ~ every one else. was
occupied BY the fallen woman
His were the arms that helped her
up, and his we're the eyes that recog-
nixsd Veronica. NY God!" he cried.
And when they said DO you know
herr he answered Yes. and the sho,
has killed her was meant for mel!
He carried her to room near. and
when he laid her down she opened her
eyes and smiled. I am % happy. sne
said, softly. Allan. I never thought
70 feel your arms round me again.
Veronica" he said. remorsefuily i
would gladly have given my life II this
had not happened"
II know It," she said. but think OF
me for one instant. Alan. You see,
love you, darling. I am dying. 20 tnat
Il doss not matter. and my lie maoc
you unhappy. BY dying for you
make you and her happy. 1t y th'
only way. Aian-the only way.
but, veronica-" he urged. but
she would not let him speak.
II don't think have long, dear. Lei
me die like this In your arms. my head
upon your shoulder-so. You think
I'm pretty still. don't you What was
saying? Oh. that It will not matter
except for the boy. But l know you
and she will be good to him. l should
have liked to have seen him Just once
again. You know Hutchinson swore
he would be revenged on you. and SC
I followed him; and when he nred al
you I threw myself between. was
so happy. Alan. dear. The happies'
moment Of my life was when l felt
that might die for you"
veronica" he said, touched to the
heart. II don't deserve it-indeed
don't!"
You see." she went on. II made
you 30 unhappy by living-it is the
only way"
And when the doctor came q few mo
ments after Alan could see there was
no hope. The bullet had pierced hei
side, and she was bleeding internally
She fell into 4 state OF semi-conscious
ness; but towards midnight she
opened her eyes suddenly.
kiss me, Alan" she said. land love
my boy"
And whilst his lips touched hers hei
spirit passed away.
Joyce, waiting at the docks for
glimpse Of the man she loved. saw the
great vessel glide out to sea without
him. Something must have happened
to delay him. she thought! Full Of fea'
and anxiety, she returned home. won
derlnk what had detained him; bu
the next day she had a telegram will
these words: Veronica died last night
I am coming at once" And then sn'
knew that something serious had oc
Cured.
Alan came to her. chastened. grey
haired; but still Alan. And when HI
told her the simple. touching story o
poor Veronica's self-sacrifice and dcatl
they wcpt together. And Joyce re
solved then and there to be good an
loving mother to Alan and Veronica
boy, which vow she nobly kept. In
deed, there was nothing stcpmotherl,
about Joyce. and she could say truly
that she had had nothing but pity TO
Door Veronica, even whilst she wal
keeping Alan and herself apart.
| Alan lost no time In marrying Joyc,
again. They had suffered SO much,
he said. there was NO need to pro
lonE their suffering" Now. indeed
their life is the ideal life Of Marie,
people. whose strong love for eaci
other IL not stronger than their low
Of duty, and who did not scruple u
sacrince everything they loved bes
for what they knew to be right.
| And As for veronica's boy. he II lik
Joyce's own. Indeed. II anything. sh
spoils him more than her own chill
dren.
"His mother saved your life. dear.
she said once, in after days. whel
Alan expostulated with her. land u
10 a dear boy. and he is yours. 80 yo'
see l have three OF the most excellen
reasons for spelling him"
Hutchinson was never seen assin
| There was . hue-and-cry after him
but he was never found. Whether h
knew that the shot meant for Alal
had been received by Veronica no on
could tell. He disappeared. and Joyc
and Alan were glad that II should b
SO. They had suffered so much tina
they wanted little peace. Most o
ali, they did not want revsage. 1t w
poor Veronica who had paid the debt
and she had done 1t gladly. saying tina
Il was 1.-THE Only Way.
| (The End.)
Robert or Oeoree.