The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-01-18

her beacon light. unconscious Of the
storm which was raging without, lay
tossing in her four-post bed, a prey TO
very different emotions Tears frequently
stole frcm under her closed lids, and
fell with a thud on the pillow, but they
were tears of deepest joy, and most ten
der compassion. He loved her-he loved
her! What had she done to deserve such
honor, such happiness? How could she
be grateful enough to God for giving it2
BY what extraordinary mercy had she
become possessed of his secret just in
time? For, had 1t been kept but a.
few hours longer, 1t would have been too
late; she would have gone away in igno-
rance of it; she might never nave Seen
of his love-so CASTOR said-and she,
knowing him so well, could understand
his motives for concealment; but now
she knew; she knew, and she could act
accordingly. A wave Of pity would sweep
over her heart now and then How ha
must have suffered all these months,
1t! How honorable, how chdvalrous he
had been, and yet if she had not been
so blind she could have seen-as she
now did, looking back with her sharpen
ed eyes-that his cOldness was assun ed:
that his frequent avoidance of her was
because he dared not trust himself in
her company. Yes, he would even have
let her go without speaking; but this
should not be- She would tell him his
secret was discovered and that She
loved him tool 1t seemed to her that
out knowing 1T; but now-she was sure.
If the morning would only come that she
might see him and tell him! Then
would see him in the morning? Could IL
be possible that, In his dread of betray-
Ing himself, he would let her go without
saying goodbye? No, no! he could not.
said he would come to say goodbye"
thought Molly, in her childish way
How long the day had been. spent in
FTTQf FOL - JT0pr ICr1
how interminable the night seemedl
When would it be morning, that She
might see him and speak to him? What
Could she add: 'T love you, too?" Molly
with burning cheeks decided she couldn't
quite go so far as that; but surely he
It was possible he might demur even
then, fearing to take advantage of her
position, or shrinking from appearing a
fortune hunter in the eyes, Of the
tections. she would tell him that as
Castor said, Love equalizes all things"
and that "a true mans heart is worth
all the money in the world" At last
she fell into feverish sleep, broken by
uneasy dreams, and woke after a few
hours unrefreshed and suddenly appre-
to fade in the cold light Of the Novem-
Der down. and her plans appeared less
feasible than when formed under cover
OF the darkness.
chanically wrapping up and putting away
such Of her possessions as were not al
ready packed At 8 o'clock Justine
brought her her coffee, informing her.
in melancholy tones, that the carriage
which was to take her away would ar
rive in half an hour. Molly hastily swal-
Jacket, and descended the stairs with
limbs which trembled under her. Gas
ton, Shaking the La Pepi niere dust from
his feet had departed on the preceding
the countess hidden
farewell in injured and dolorous tones,
before retiring for the night. OF Raoul
alone she had not taken leave; but he
was not waiting on the stairs; she did
not see him in the hall. Was 1t possible
that he would not come after all? Isa-
dore was wandering about the passages
opening shutters and shaking mats;
the front door was ajar, allowing the
bitterly cold morning air to circulate free
into the little salon and closed the door
at least there should be no witnesses
to this last meeting. She sat down and
waited. her heart beating violently her
hands trembling. all her courage oozing
rapidly away; and yet she kept rehears-
ing her her little sReeeh,, to herself; RaouI
peated; 'I WILL will"
At last she heard steps in the passage
without, the handle of the door turned,
and Raoul entered. Raoul, with his face
lines. but with a certain peace stamped
upon 1t. No trace Of his vigil was appar-
emit; no sign of his struggled what had
almost been his despair; but to Molly
there was something awful in this rigid
serenity, this uncompromising strength.
1.-The carriage Is here he said, "and 7
fear you have not much time"
Molly rose and made a step or two for
ward, swaying a little. Now was the
time to speak. They stood facing each
other. these two who loved each other
with so immense love; each to each
waA all in all; to part was almost unen-
durable misery. Nothing divided them
but the thing they both called honor:
Raoul would not speak, and Molly could
not In all her feyer1sh dreams and plans
she had left her maidenly delicacy out Of
the count; but now it suddenly asserted
itself. She could not say the few simple
words which would have made all 80
clear; 1t was impossible to her even to
hint at the love that was to equalize
everything.
She gazed at him dumbly save for a
little strangled sob; and Raouls face re-
Taxed for a moment: God bless her:
God bless her for her pity" he thought
in his heart. Then he stretched out his
hand and said: Goodbye"
He would not kiss the little fingers that
trembled in his: he would not even hold
them for a moment longer than was nee
essary in the most ordinary politeness.
Goodbye" he said; and Molly passed
out blindly, and got into the carriage,
1sidore helping her, for Raoul did not fol-
low her to the door. His courage had
suddenly failed him, and he could not