Waterbury Democrat., 1901-12-02


 between them and looked from ons to the other. The woman had growI very pale The chain which she was clasping about her neck when tht stranger appeared fell through hel fingers to the floor. The man ben1 forward and picked it up. Instead o1 returning it to her he kept it and looked first on one side of the coir and then on the other.
 ssYou came here for this," he saiC to her, his eyes fastened on her face sYou lost it and came to claim 1t Madelain. I came to claim it, too. read the description by chance an6 thought it must be yours-the toker that | gave you. But didn't know I didn't dream that I would meet yor here"
 .sNo.' she said, slowly. raising her eyes to his. s'And I didn't dream o1 meeting you here--or anywhere ever again. I thought"
 ''You thought that I was dead?" ht he asked. She nodded. He gave heI the chain.
 q am sorry to disappoint you,' he said, bitterly. She did not speak, but looked past him through the open door. Nicolini retired to a corner o1 the room and pretended to put things in order.
 s'I have often wished to die,' the man went on, ''but It is not an easy thing to do. I suppose you were sorry for me when you thought was dead. Sorry, perhaps, for yourself too, and for the things that happened long ago. But if you knew you would be sorry for me still.'
 ssI am only sorry that you came here that we met. It can do no good, and I must leave you now," she said. stepping past him towards the door.
 '.Madelain, don't go. Listen to me. ; he begged. .sThis is the chance that [ have dreamed of--the chance of sec ing you, of hearing your voice. knew that it would come, and now l must not let it slip by me, and let you go your way without me"
 Our ways were parted long ago. she said; there is nothing to be said, nothing to be learned, because we can do nothing"
 'sWhy are you so hard, so hopeless?" he asked, getting nearer to her than he had been before. You must still care, else why would you have come here to claim the token I gave you years ago?'
 1T came because I was foolish. couldn't bear to give up the last frag- ment of the broken dream of love. Women always treasure their painful memories. and men try to get rid of them. I wanted to keep this little re- hinder of my misery, my misplaced hopes, because II have always had 1t. I would feel strange without it-''
 Do you never forgive ?'' he asked.
 Forgiveness is so played out,'' she said, wearily.
 And the motto? Our motto" he asked. .'.Amor Vincit Omnia,' is that too played out?"
 ''1es, long ago we realized the fol- ly of that" Again she turned from him and, nodding to Nicolini, passed out..- The man followed her. A look of desperation had come into his eyes, and his face was drawn in hard lines. He laid his hand on her arm.
 "Madelain. you must listen to me. ," he said, hoarsely. '1 did wrong once, but can't you see that have suffered Because we both made horrible mis- takes at the turning point, is that any reason why we should blindly close our eyes and go on suffering, when the chance is given us to retrieve our hap piness? You are free now-free to choose again.
 "Free!'' she whispered, putting her hand to her throat, as if the word choked her.
 ''Yes, your husband has been dead for years and that leaves you at lib- erty to-
 sssTo marry again. she suggested There was pause, then she faced him and said, slowly: Yes, my husbands death left me at liberty to marry again, and l took advantage of that liberty. I was married last spring.
 A terrible despair darkened the mans face, and the ungloved hand that she put into his was as cold as death
 Nicolini watched her from the little window as she crossed the lots. He held the money she had given him, the ransom she had paid for her love charm, tight in his hand till the strange man had disappeared by the way that led to the river