Shiner gazette. [volume] (Shiner, Tex.) 1893-current, 1901-08-14

denly she heard footsteps In the deid
that was before her-manly footsteps,
which she had not heard for four
years, but which she knew at once.
Then figure vaulted over the stlle
and Alan stood before her.
She tottered to her feet. holding out
the child. He looked at her wildly
and gave great cry, as If body and
soul were being rent asunder. Yer
onica! God, o Godl"
He fell backwards against the stile,
covering his face with his hands, as il
to shut out the sight of great horror.
She stood trembling before him, push
ing her child in front of her, as IL she
wanted to obliterate herself and to oh
trude the child; but he stood there,
shaking and shivering moaning at
intervals. Veronica o God o Godl"
1t was she who spoke first; he could
not find words, or anything but the
piteous moan, and her voice was
touching in exquisite joy. Yes, Alan,
it is 1, saved from the sea, my dearest.
And here-here is our child. Are you
not pleased? Tell me you are pleased.
for | have longed so to see your dear
face agalnl | have longed so to hear
your voice l cannot believe it has
come at lastv'
She came quite near to him, adj
vancing as she spoke. 1t seemed as
ii she were longing for him to I'M
cover his face, to take her into his
arms.
Alan" she cried, oh, my darling,
are you not glad to see me?"
There was still no doubt i'm her
mind. She thought that the joy of
seeing her had been too great. and
that he was trying to recover from
the shock She had no doubt, poor
soul, at all. He loved her, therefore
her coming to him must be inexpres-
sible joy.
Then Alan uncovered his haggard
face Glad? No! 1t has ruined my
life" he cried brutally But for the
moment he could think OF nothing but
Joyce-his Joyce, with whom life had
begun so joyfully, and whose heart he
must now break. as his own had been
broken. Il wish L were dead" he
said, with sob.
"Alan!" The anguish in her voice
matched his. rs that what you have
TO say to me, your wife, the mother
of your child, who has undergone
all hardships, and who has just lived
on because you were in the world?
Oh, Alan. If you do not want me, l
had better go"
She turned, walking unsteadily,
holding her child's hand tightly. And
then great temptation assailed Alan
Mackenzie. The temptation to let
her go, to let her be lost to him, to
say nothing to Joyce; but to go on
as II the days work had never been.
And then he saw in flash what his
life would be. How every moment of
happiness with Joyce would have its
corresponding moment of bitterness
when he was alone; how he must live
a double life, always on the brink of
detection. Not worse, perhaps, that
/ the life parted from Joyce; but then
he would be an honest man, and not
traitor. He put his temptation away
liOui uiui, ludhhlHS OOu lHdL he COulu
do so. knowing that Joyce would not
love man who was dishonorable. So
before Veronica had staggered a dozen
steps away he called to her hoarsely
to come back. She turned at once,
obedient as always, and for mo-
ment he hated himself for his brutal
ity to so gentle woman. Her tears
were falling down the beautiful face.
She looked up at him with the old
look of faithful love, still pushing
the child towards him.
YES" she said, questioning him,
what is 1t, Alan?"
II am married. he said, crudeIy
and hoarsely, thinking it best to tell
her at once. II thought you were
dead. l heard nothing from you since
| left you; it is four years ago. They
told me all on board were drowned,
and l could hear nothing of you.
What wonder then thought you
we're dead? And so l married, Yer
onica-I am married now!"
And then for a long time there was
silence between them.
(To be continued)