The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1902-07-23

She stood quite silent before him.
her white face dropping from the sun
shine. her hands clasped in mortal
pain Was there any chance, any loop
hole of escape: Could anything absOlIe
her from her solemn VOW? No. there
could be no release. 1t was for kathe-
rinu's sake. for her fathers memory
the same urgent reasons that had i'll
tiuenced her before existed now. Were
she to be induced to break her vow,
Katherine would suffer tenfold. She
would keep it.
Must we part, Neronica?" he said
I'VE. who have loved each other with so
great L love. must we part?'
Unless YOU can trust me. and let
me keep silence" she replied.
Il cannot trust you: l can only say
good-by Good-by, Veronica. You have
broken the heart of the man who has
loved you as few ever loved. Fare
WELL"
He did not touch her hand, Or kiss
her face, or stop to utter one more
word. Perhaps, if he had done so, his
strength would have failed him. He
left her standing there in the sunshine,
with the bitterness Of death hanging
over her.
He went at once in search Of Lady
Brandon. He found her in the pretty
morning-room, alone. She cried out
when she saw his pale set face.
what is the matter, Sir Marc:
What is wrong?,'
Il want to speak to you, Lady Bran
don," he said. Veronica and have
had some unpleasant words. We have
had a quarrel that can never be heal
ed. and we have parted forveer.'
Lady Brandon held up her hands in
diSmay.
Can it be possible, Sir Marc, that
you have parted with Veronica? Why,
She will break her heart. 1t must not
be. Let me go to her-let me talk to
her. If she has offended you, she will,
l am sure, be very sorry; let me go to
her. l know how she loves. you. my
poor Veronica,
1t is quite impossible" he said,
hurriedly. This quarrel can never be
healed: even if Veronica wished it. l
could not"
You are angry. Sir Marc" asserted
Lady Brandon: and when your anger
subsidies you will be sorry for this"
Il shall regret it all my life" he
said: no one knows that better than1
do. There will never dawn another
happy day for me. Lady Brandon. l
am a lost. ruined ma~.;
You will think better of it" she
told him. How could you quarrel
with Veronica? I know no one like
her: she is so good, so tender Of heart,
so true, so loyal"
NO more.,n he cried, shuddering. Il
can hear no more
You must hear me-" Lady Brandon
persisted. Il cannot have Veronica
sacrificed to mere fit of temper"
1T is worse than that" he declar-
ed.
Have you thought what the world
will say, Sir Marc? Her wedding-dreSS
is ordered-her trousseau is prepared.
Everything is being put in a state OF
readiness for the wedding. What am
l to say?"
There is nothing tosay," he replied
gloomily. Except that Veronica has
dismissed me. / will take all the
blame, all the shame, all the disgrace.
But, Lady Brandon, there is one thing
that should like to ask you. DO not
talk to her about our disagreement.
Do not ask her any questions. That
which we have quarreled about lies
between US a dead secret. Promise
me that you will not ask her any ques-
tions: it will only distress her and do
no good"
"But, Sir Marc, will you not trust
me, and tell me something at least?'
NO" he replied. You have been
very kind to me, Lady Brandon-let
me say good-by to you. and thank you
heartily for all your goodness to me-"
You will surely stay and see karhe-
rine?" cried Lady Brandon.
NO. Tell her that | had not the
courage to stay and see her, but that
hoped she would be kind to Feron-
ica."
Then Lady Brandon broke down,
and wept passionate tears.
You will break Aeronica'S heart.
she cried-''you should not leave her. y
Heaven bless you for a kind-heart-
ed, generous woman.' he said, bending
down to kiss her hand. Il wish all
women were like you. I shall go at
once. You will see that all belonging
to me is sent after me, Lady Bran
DOM"
But she only sobbed that he should
not leave Veronica.
$50 to her." he said; land, Lady
Brandon, while you comfort her, do not
speak to her of me-" The next mo-
ment he was gone.
She was almost bewildered to know
how to act.
Il would give much to know what
the quarrel has been about" she said
to herself; ''but suppose shall never
learn" And then she went to Feron-
icas room.
The unhappy girl had fallen where
her lover had left her, and lay like one
dead on the floor. Lady Brandon rails
ed her; she tried to bring back conscl-
business to her: and then she thought
to herself, IF she really loves him so
we'll, and they have parted forever, it
will be more merciful to let her die" "
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