Middletown transcript., 1901-07-20

! vi Ills passion; until he hal
betrayed it to her.
What must be done? 1t was morninI
ere he came to decision. He woulf
write to Dick-would tell him the Who'll,
story, fully, freely, and lave it for him
poor fellow, to decide. So he told Mis-
Keith, when they met.
you love me, Margaret" he added
/ know it, even as know that all my
heart is yours. Would it not be more
dlshonor, with this knowledge wrapped
IN both our hearts, to prejure yourself,
at the altar, to another man?'
Il do not know cannot tellp' she
moaned. lie trusted me so fully. Oh,
what weakness has overtaken us both?'
Not weakness, my darling. 1t was
our fate. We were destined for each
other"
"How can We tell that? II thought
loved him. Oh, Percy, decide for me!
cannot decide for myself"
Leave it to me, dear" he replied,
tenderly, STOPPING to kiss the quivering
lips for the first time, and imprinting
upon them brothers., more than lov-
er's kiss at will all come right"
That night Miss Keith tainted in her
seat at the table. Soma one had handed
her an evening paper, containing an
account Of an Indian skirmish, and the
fact that the brave officer leading the
charge against them had lost his life.
Poor Dick! lie knew all her falseness
now, she thought, in that one swift mo-
ment, when his name met her eye, ere
the printed words vanished in the black
ness that gathered about her. She and
Percy never could be happy together
now. They must seperate forever. 1t
seemed as though they had murdered
Dick-in spirit, if not in deed.
But the next morning came telegram
from the "dead' hero.
Reported dead, but only badly wound
ed. Home on furlough as soon as possi-
ble."
She sent for Percy Immediately.
''He is i'll. lie needs me. Our duty is
made clear now," she said. Help me,
Percy to fulfill it."
He looked into her face as she spoke,
with its white resolve painted upon it.
For moment the mad temptation strug
yled within him to snatch her in his arms
and bear her away from the world as
entirely as they had on that fatal day
been shut off from it in the cave. The
next, Dicks pale, suffering face came
before him, and the evil spirit fled.
Il will help you," he answered. "Do
with me as you will"
''There is but one thing you can do for
ne, and that is to leave me-"
Gwen thatr' he said again,
She felt kiss fall light as snow npon
Ter forehead, Snd knew that Percy had
,beyed her words.
BY the next train he had taken his
departure. 1t was a very weak, very
White hero who came at last, by slow
tages, to his home.
Margaret Keith started when she looked
lpon his face, which lit up as his eyes
ested on her with great gladness, as
he sobbed, OH her kness, beside the
ouch where he lay.
"My darling! my darling" he said,
gain and again. tenderly stroking her
air. elbow have longed for this mo-
lent! how much it atones for! l am
Ding to get strong now my pearl-strong |
1r your sweet sake. Oh, my pet, how
eautiful you have grown!
But poor Dick Tourston's race was
lmost ended. Day by day he grew
.eaker, until one day in the twilight, he
hispered:
''Pearl, I am dying! My darling, you
ere to have been my wife, l think 1
lould die happier if you might be even
et."
Gas you will, DEAR" she answered.
In few short hours, the solemn vows
ere pronounced which made her Dick
wife, or rather Dick Thurston's
idow.
He lived to smile his happiness-then,
ith her hand close clasped in his, gently }
eathed his last. When it was all over.
d she had had time to think and realize
r position, she was glad that it was So
ad that she could wrap herself in her
dow's veil, and so shut out forever the
e sweet dream she now felt almost |
me.
1t was some three years later, that, at
exhibition of pictures, she found her.
f standing spellbound before one rep
,enting a sea-cave, and in its gloomy,
adowy interior two persons-a woman
man-gazing into each others eyes.
e sea reared at its base, sea-weed hung "
the walls above them, but they saw n
ly each other, and their eyes told all +,
; story. Il
She had forgotten Percy was an artist, Il
no need to look for his name to dis h
N who had painted it. A
Margaret ~
Had the picture spoken? ''No. The n
,aker had approached unobserved, and f
W stood close beside her.
Margaret" he said again, "have / Il
waited long enough? You have paid q
1r duty to the dead. Do you owe me d
thing2" h
'Hush" she said, gently. 1T is trea- W
Iw Q,
No, my own, it is rather treason to b,
selves to live our lives apart. Answer 70
one question. Have you ceased to as
e me?"
md, with the question, Margaret nv