Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1901-03-08
SYNOPSIS.

SYNOPSIS.
CHAPTER I-Story opens in Richmond,
Va. on day Fort Sumter surrendered
Dr. Francis Brodnar makes remarkable
request of his friend, Dick Somers, to
which Somers finally agrees. He is to
marry, blindfolded. woman whose
name he is not to know, ask no ques-
tons. and finally, when she Is out OF
the power of certain enemies. is to grant
her an honorable divorce.
"Hush!' he cried. mot one word
more. You are making it hard-hard
for me to keep faith with my friend
You are betraying his secret" She
threw off his hand and arose suddenly
with an abandon of passion that over.
whelmed him.
What mockery! what mockery!
am ashamed-a ashamed! 1t is ! who
am betrayed" He had arisen also
"Never-at my hands. l chose the
words deliberately. l will honor and
protect you--to the best of my ability;
but my ability ends where my promise
began. All is based upon my contract
with Francis Brodnar, my friend"
"Friend-friend!" she said, bitterly
sin Gods name, sir, what am to you?'
He was too deeply affected to answer at
once. When he did his voice was un,
steady.
This: In the hour / have been
here you have found an untrodden way
to the heart of Richard Somers. know
now that no woman was ever there
hefore yop. Mona will oyar fo1lo,,. ,.o,,
may not be here to give you my hand
Il do not know the circumstances tina,
surround you, or even If in winning
your sympathy am playing false-but
| wherever you are, remember that my
soul follows, and would keep guart
over you if might" He spoke with
an earnestness and passion that dis
turbed and alarmed himself. Some.
thing like groan burst from his lip,
when he realized how far he had eAn
mitted himself, and he sank back in hi,
chair. There presently she found him
and resting her hand timidly upon hi.
arm. she said. gently:
What would you have me answer
your" She was calm and confiden,
now. AT first she had shrunk a little
from him. Her simple, confding actor
restored to him his calmness.
II would have you say at what hour
1t is you are accustomed to close the
| eyes which look down upon without
seeing mine"
cat nine. But what is this upon you,
lapel-a fower?"
"a white rose for our wedding"
With pretty show of authority she
drew it from its resting place and
fixed it in her hair.
do not flowers belong to ths
bride?"
Wear it in memory of me-" he said
gently. But now am going to in
sist that you take steps to preserve
those other roses which I am sure
have bloomed for you. Have you s
dressing-room?"
"Yes, but 1 am not sleepy and
shall not desert you. Wait. Speaking
of the rose, I shall sing you song
love very much-that is, If oan fnt
my guitar. All, here it is! Now IL
sit here-and you right there-but
wonder if can ever play in the dark
May not have just little light.
l won't mind"
"How easily you forget! 1t is i'm
possible. Sing as you are; 1 shall no
hear any discord." He was astonishes
at her swift change of mood and ,
new, glad note in her voice. She sang
low and sweetly, with perfect contro
of her tones, the Last Rose of Sum
mer." And then he understood bet
ter. For in her voice he read tina,
the soul and spirit of an impassionet
woman dwelt in the slender fran,
yelled by the shadows of the room
he was silent. Every heartache tina
had been crushed out of his MANHOOD
seemed to have revived under tn,
magic of a subtle tone, an indescriba
| BILE, indefinable echo. It was resur
rection of something that had die.
| hard within him.
"Iou do not like my singing" sh
said, disappointed, when, waiting TO
his praise, she found him silent an,
thoughtful.
"Your singing? Yes. But mem
DRY! 90 to sleep now. Make yoursel
comfortable and leave me to keej
watch. Yet.stay; will you not sin,
over those lines again? To me the,
are ineNpressibly beautiful
Standing in the doorway of he
dressing-room, she sang the vers,
through again softly without accom-
paniment, waited until she was as
sured that he would not speak, ant
then passed thoughtfully within
When she came forth, arrayed in he
wrapper, she paused beside him, puz
zled over his change of mood.
Il am afraid you are going to b
lonely" she said.
"Sleep, my child, sleep; I shall no
be lonely-knowing you are there"
Perhaps am keeping you awake?
Eyes. That is it; you are keeping
me awakel"
well, 1 am holding out my hand
and saying good night" she said
He found and pressed his lips upo,
them. He held them so tightly ant
trembled SO violently she bent dow
over him confused. One of her curls
loosened, dropped upon his neck, an,
another across his cheek. The mingled
odor of her hair and the rose file,
him with strange intoxication.
Il am sorry if have distressed 20,
in any way" she said; "you have bee,
kind, oh, SO kind to me. Good night
He still held her hands, his fac,