Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1901-05-30

beauty which ever since has haunted
me. You are the one woman in all the
world No. do not start and draw
| away your hands. have not forgot
ten either my honor or my plighted
vows! Miss Lorrimer has never be-
lieved herself mistres of my heart. new.
er coveted that position!" he added.
| with a little harsh, bitter laugh. She
| will be mistress Of my house, my home.
| my wealth. She will be none the rich
| er, none the poorer for this brief cpl
sode of my life. which has so changed
| all its coloring; but I shall be the rich
| err, even in my added loneliness. in the
new emptiness which existence must
henceforth know for me, robbed OF
| your presence-richer for having
smelled the fragranceof loves BIOS
| som-richer for having tasted the in
| effable sweetness of the draughts
whose dregs are bitterer than death
richer for having seen the picture whose
| colorng can never fade, and which
alone is framed within my soul! Be-
| atrice. it is neither your fault nor mine
| that I have loved you. 1 make it the
| plea to ask but one boon at your hands
| to be Of service to you. Will you re-
| fuse it now?"
"Coors seen by candlelight do not
seem the same by day." interrupted
mocking voice both knew full we'll.
DO allow Miss Markham to sleep up
or your interesting proposal Allen.
An interview in the morning, though
less romantic. might possess greater
propriety! All, here is the book OF
which I came in search. Unexpected.
ly, I opened on the pages of another
more interesting romance. Singular
that we should all appear restless to-
night! Hereafter promise to take my
stray volume with me on my first re-
firing, 1t is embarrassing to play wit
ness or eavesdropper. Goodnight"
stop. One moment, Edith" ex-
claimed Layton. "our words hold an
implication which, in justice to Miss
Markham. cannot pass. You speak as
though this interview had been plan
ned. 1t was as wholly unexpected as
is ours now, but since you have heard
all that have said. I must leave my
fate in your hands, Edith"
With low inclination of the head,
Beatrice slowly walked past them, ana
assembled the stairs leading to her
room.
Miss Lorrimer watched her with
curling lip and flashing eye, until a
bend in the staircase hid her from
view.
you mean your freedom is mine to
return to you, Allen Layton?" she said,
slowly. "You mean that having over
heard all that you told this nameless
heroine, my dignity will not permit me
| to hold you to your vows? You mean
t.
wholly empty I should return it to
| you? Why? Tell me why! Accord
| ing to your own words this knowledge
own conviction, wish no place or
part in your heart. According to your
belief, love has never entered into the
terms of our contract. Then, 1 hold
you to it. Ay. as relentlessly as ever
Shylock did. If it is your name, your
wealth, your house I covet, give them
to me. Our engagement remains I'M
/ broken, Mr.. Layton, unless you cancel
the bonds between us. Goodnight"
She fitted noiselessly from the room;
but once within the four walls Of her
| apartment, she let the mask of calm
ness fall.
| Up and down the floor she paced, like
| fierce lioness pent within it's cage.
IT might have won him-I might
have won him, but for herr" she MUIR
INJURED. "Why did I come here? What
| madness brought me? o. God. it is
| who will go mad! His home, his
wealth, his name covet?' This he be-
| lieves; and I would give all-all for
one little word of love, one glance, one
kiss to tell me passion had awakened
his SOUL she-she can win it all! To
| me he throws the dry crust. and be
| leves it satisfies my hunger. His wife!
| Vain title, empty name! I would rath-
| err be his slave. his servant, and know
myself necessary to one hour of his ex-
| istence. one minute of his happiness,
than live lifetime by his side with
starvation slowly consuming my soul.
| Allen, are you blind? Can you not
see? Oh, God, show me some way In
which. through which she, not he nor
| I, may be the victim of my own love,
| passion and hate!"