The Red Cloud chief., 1901-06-07

way, but, oh, forgive me! No-do not
mistake me. know well you would
never marry me now; and" lowering
her voice-"neither could ever marry
you. having once shown you my heart;
so there can be no misconception
about that. But IL you knew every
thing-how wretched was. how hope
less, how essential IL was that the
money should be procured, how ter
rible 1t was to me to have to borrow
II, and how Just and right a thing II
seemed to give you myself In ex-
change, having no other means of re-
payment-you might perhaps pity me.
Could you only have seen into my
heart, you would have read there how
real was my determination to be true
to you, to make you a good wife, and
love you eventually as we'll as loved
that other"
She broke down here and covered
her face with her hands. And Lyndon
who had never learned the art OF be-
ing consistently unkind to anything,
felt his wrath and wrongs melt away
altogether, while a choking sensation
arose in his throat.
He forgot all his own deep injuries,
and, taking the pretty golden head
between his hands, he drew IL down
upon his breast, where she began to
cry right heartily.
Mildred, how could you do IT." he
whispered, presently, in broken
voice. Had you hated me you could
have done nothing more cruel. Child.
did you never think of the conse-
quences?"
Il know I have behaved baseIy to
you,' sobbed Mildred. But never
thought that this would be the end.
All might have turned out so different
ly, had-had this day never BEEN
Il shall never cease to be thankful
that this day did come" he answered,
earnestly. Better to wake from a
happy dream in time than rest uncon-
scious until the waking is too late.
Bitter as 1t is to lose you now, and
no one but myself can guess how bit
ter that Is. would it not be far worse
to discover that my wife had no SYM
pathy with me. no thought akin to
mine?' He paused for moment and
then he said, sadly, 1T seems a hard
thing for me to say, but yet-oh, Mil
dred, ! wish we had never met!"
rs there nothing can do to make
1t up to you?" she asked, despairing-
ly.
No. there is nothing" he answered.
regretfully; "all that could be said or
dnna would
You are crying still. Mildred" raising
her face, and regarding 1t mournfully;
are you so very sorry then. for your
work? And yet a few plain words
would have prevented all this. Tell
me-when returning the money, which
you insisted on doing after your
grand-aunt's death, why did you not
then honestly speak the truth? Was
not that a good opportunity"
"Oh, how could | do it them" she
asked, turning away her head, with a
little shiver of distaste; that would
have appeared so detestable in your
eyes WHAT'S exclaimed, accept
your kindness gratefully when | was
in sore need of 1t, and then when /
had no further want of it, throw you
off without the slightest compunction L?
Surely you would have thought that
a very unworthy action?"
Still 1t would have been better than
this" he answered, gloomily, begin
ming to walk slowly up and down the
room, while she stood weaving her
fingers restlessly in and out, watching
him.
Poor Mildred, the bitterness of her
remorse just then made half atone
ment for her sin. With a heart al
once affectionate and deeply feeling
1t was to her the intensest agony tc
see Lyndon so crushed and heart
broken, and know 1t was her owr
handiwork.
For few minutes there was silence
except for the faint sound OF Lyndon
footsteps as he paced heavily to ant
fro on the thick carpet At length
she could bear 1t no longer.
(To be continued)