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


seemed TO her that she was doing what
he, in her place, would have done. He
strictly obeyed her request not to speak
| OF her, 20 look for her. or cause any in
quirics to be made about her.
The garden gate opened and his daugh-
ter walked up the broad garden path
lined with roses walked MS though she
had left It yesterday He could see In
that faint light that she had changed
very much; she had grown taller, she was
dressed with great elegance. He was
struck mute and dumb by her marvellous
and exquisite loveliness. His daughter
! Irene Great heaven! were the evening
shadows playing him false, or what was
| It?
| Nearer and nearer she drew; and then
by the faint light from the golden clouds
he saw that her face was white with
some terrible mental pain. His great
honest heart went out to her.
MY darling my darling" he cried,
with outstretched arms! ooh, my darling,
have you come back TO me at lastT
She looked up, and the pale face quiv-
cred with pain.
~ knew you would welcome me, papa;
but before you take me to your heart
before you kiss me, let me tell you what
has happened"
Tell inc the worst, Irene" he cried !;
Suspense kills me. You-you have a
wedding ring on your finger. child; there
can be nothing wrong"
Listen. papa she said. may, do not
% l. L..
to your heart. | have not sinned--I have
been sinned again. Before earth and
heaven, before man and before heaven, /
stand erect and refuse to own that | have
done wrong, or that the crime of traitor
has touched me"
What is it, my child? Had he been
married before? Is there another wife?
What is it?
She went up to him and laid her hand,
which bore the wedding ring, on his
shoulder; she raised her white. proud,
panied face to his.
II will tell you," she said. 1.-THE man
whom | loved with all my heart was
traitor-a traitor-and you know all that
word means. He wooed me, he won all
my love: then he asked me to leave home
and marry him. If he had asked me
to go with him to the depth of the sea,
the fire of the southern desert. | should
have gone. He asked me to be his wife,"
A great sigh of relief came from San
ton Darcy.
THANK heavenv' he cried. 81 feared
there was no marriage"
Listen" said Irene. "He took me
straight to London and to the place
where we were to be married. Father,
the marriage was mock marriage, the
minister mock minister 1t was a bias
phemous farce played to deceive me; and
now he has told me the TRUTH am not
his wife"
One by one Irene resumed her duties
in her old home; between her father and
herself there was no further mention
made of the one subject that filed both
their minds. Santon Darcy went on with
his painting. Irene resumed the occupa
tions Of everyday life, and for n short
time all was peace; but she dropped hour
by hour: her very soul seemed to fade.
She could not bear it. this constant open
ing of the old wounds; every spot was
eloquent of him-every tree, every green
lane, every field, every nook had some
legend of him. She bore 1t until she could
bear il no longer, until the pain of ii
seemed ITO have eaten her heart away.
Then she went to her father and laid
her tender arms around his neck.
Papa" she said, gently II must go
from Fernside. ] cannot stay here"
Quickly enough he laid aside his
brushes and took her in his arms.
"Why, darling? 1t shall be just as
you say, but tell me whyT'
II cannot, papa; it is killing me. Let
me go away for time, until l have for
gotten him."
He was silent for some minutes, then
said, hurriedly:
IL can satisfy your WISH" he said
"You have heard of the Ballecoree fam
lily? The old duke has a palace in Rome,
and he has asked me to so there to re-
touch some valuable pictures that have
been injured, For your sake | was about
to say MOTOR your sake shall | say
'Yes'?"
Yes" she whispered.
And for a time il seemed as though the
troubles of her life were ended.