Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1902-06-19
CHAPTER X.-tContinuedJ

OftAI EN- As-NCOllluu
"Y6u must not dare to tonch me-" she
Fried "the gulf between us Is deeper
than the grave. You nuke no mistake
about me-" She stood before him, proud
"a young queen. MAKE no mistake.
lam not going to float down the stream
with the lost and the unhappy | was II
good. innocent girl when met you-in
my own heart ] am good aud innocent
now. You have duped and deceived me;
the shame of that falls on you. and not
on me. Before the pure bright heavens
Il hold up my head proudly as | have
ever done, and the shame rccols from me
TO you. have willingly done no wrong;
would rather-heaven knows am
speaking the truth would rather have
died than have done wrong; and, to my
thinking. the wrOng-dOing falls from me,
leaving me unframed go from your
presence, Inundated, mortified, grieved
and wounded but, thank heaven. not dis
graced You have sinned against me. |
have not sinned,'
Irene" he cried. TO stop the passion
ate current Of words "lrenc. do listen TO
reason; we need not part. | will love
you to my lfe's end. will live for you.
Stay she said haughtily "Remcm-
Der that each word Of yours adds insult
TO injury. ! ask you now one fair, honest
question. You own that you have sinned
against me; that you have wronged me;
that you would fain undo the evil you
have done"
Eyes, | own all that" he replied.
II ask you now, most soleinnly, most
pleadingly will you undo that wrong2
You say that you love me. that you can
not live without me. ! ask you, will YOU
make me your wife? Give up Lady Lra
II will love you more faithfully and fond
ny by far. | will give all my woman's
wits and talents to help you. Marry me-
even now, and make me your lawful
wife"
II must refus ;" he answered.
g, on persist in your F-yolution of mar
rying Lady Lira?'
81 must SO persist" he replied II
cannot help it, Irene"
mo tears, no prayers. no pleading will
availT she asked.
mo. must speak plainly. No."
She was silent for a minute, then said
10 him:
You have trusted me so far; will you
tell me the name OF the man who helped
you in your fraudT'
He half hesitated.
"You need not fear" she said, scorn-
fully. "If you could trust me with Lady
Hira's name you may surely tell me his"
Il will tell YOU" he said. 1T is Vane
FORESTER"
She repeated 1t.
"Vane Forester. All, well, we shall
meet some day. Heaven is great and
Just; we shall meet; so here in life. Sir
Hubert Estmere. we part--remeniber al
ways, with my unutterable scorn and con
tempt. | should despise from my heart
the man who needlessly shot sweet
singing bird, who wantonly tortured a
butterfly, who destroyed, without reason.
the life of flower. What | feel for the
man who could deliberately take the
heart and soul of an innocent girl into
his hands to destroy it you can better un-
derstand than | can explain or one
thing be assured-you have not so de-
Stroyed mine. Against you and Vane
Forrester appeal to heaven. | cry for
vengeance. And, listen whRe swear ii.
This is my vow. You will remember it in
khe years to come | swear by the truth
pr heaven, swear by my mothers grave,
Ply my fathers love, by my own outrag-
ed honor, ] swear to have vengeance
against you, should spend my whole life
I'm seeking it, When the time comes
for 1t you shall kneel before me with
binding hot tears asking for mercy, but
you shall ask in vain. Now, farewell.
Greatness, honor and glory lay before
you; but tremble in the midst of it. DO
not forget, sleeping or waking. Irene's
VOW"
"Stay, Irene!" he cried.
But she was gone-gone with low.
passionate cry that he never forgot, leav-
png him there stunned and dazed with
her passionate words.