The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1901-06-27
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though / was, remember his passion
OF srief when the news came that you
sh 1i lost your life. He has never for
gotten you. So often now he will still
speak Of you! He is in your camp.
We are travelling together. He will be
here here this evening. What delight it will
give him to know his dearest friend is
lii Twin But why-why have you kept
him ignorant if you were lost to all the
world beside 2" 3
Still he answered her nothing. The
truth he could not tell, the lie he would
not. She paused, waiting reply. Re-
celVlng none, she spoke once more, her
words full Of that exquisite softness:
MIR: Cecil. OWNED rightly. I felt
that in all things save in some acct
dent of position we were equals. But
why have you condemned yourself to
this misery? Your life is brave, is no.
Die, but it must be a constant torture
to such as you.' :. -.
Leave my life alone, for Gods
sake!' he said passionately. '"Tell me
OF your own-tell me, above all, Of his.
he loved me, you say? Oh, heaven, he
dld, better than any creature that ever
Dreathed save the man whose grave
lies yonder!" =
HE does so STILL" she answered ca
gerly. phillips is not heart that for
gets. 1t is a heart of gold, and the
name of his earliest friend is craven on
1t as deeply now as ever. He thinks
you dead. Tonight will be the happiest
hour he has ever known when he shall
meet you here. .--
why do you not answer me?" she
pursued, while she leaned nearer with
wonder and doubt and a certain awak-
enlng dread shadowing the blue luster
OF her eyes, that were bent so thought
fully, so searchingly upon him. els it
possible that you have heard Of your
inheritance, of your title and estates,
and that you voluntarily remain SOL
der here? Lord Royallieu must yield
them in the instant you prove your
identity, and in that there could be no
difficulty. I remember you we'll now,
and Philip, am certain, will only need
to see you once to-
Hush, for PHYS sake! Have you
never heard-has none ever told YOU
"What?"
He turned from her so that she could
not see his face.
"That, when l became dead to the
world, died with the faint Of crime
on mel"
"Of crime?"
Il was accused of having forged
your brothers name"
A faint cry escaped her. Her lips
grew white, and her eyes darkened
and dilated.
Accused! But wrongfully?"
His breath came and went in quick,
sharp spasms.
4 could not prove that"
,"Not prove it? Why?
II could not"
"But he-Philip-never believed you
guilty."
II cannot tell. He may. He must"
"But you are not!'
1t was not an Interrogation, but an
affirmation that rang out in the silver
clearness of her voice.
YOU are guiltless. whatever circum:
stance may have arrayed against you,
whatever shadow Of evil may have
fallen falsely on you. Is it not 500"
His head bowed low over her hands
as he took them. In that moment half
the bitterness of his doom passed from
him: He had at least her faith. He
lifted his head and looked her full in
the eyes. Her own closed inyolun-
tarily and filed with tears. She felt
that the despair and the patience of
that look would haunt her until her
dying day.
IT was guiltless, but none could
credit it then, none would do so now.
Nor can seek to make them. Ask me
no more. Give me your belief if you
can. God knows what precious mercy
it is to me, but leave me to. fulfill my
fate and tell no living creature what l
have told you now"
The great tears stood in her eyes and
blinded her as she heard.
'"Tell no oneW she echoed. "What!
Not Philip even-not your oldest friend
All, be sure, whatever the evidence
might be against you, his heart never
condemned you for one Instant
II believe it. Yet all you can do for
me, all implore you to do for me, is to
keep silence forever on my name. To-
day accident has made me break a
vow l never thought but to keep sa-
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