The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1902-04-08
Ter mothers hands lightly.

is true2 You have sounded lie 5 deep
meaning. Is this all you know OF life?
You love me. Tell me truly
No. darling. a woman cannot deny
this deep yearning of her soul and live.
would tear my tongue out sooner than
deceive you in such an hour
sweet Mother she softly murmured
again as she kissed her good night.
When CASTOR received her telegram
in Jail he was seated by a window look
ing out through the bars on Mt. Pts
gah's distant peak looming in grandeur
amid a sea of smaller blue mountain
waves. He read the message and his
soul was filled with a great peace.
At asst, at last, l draw her with
soVeriGn power. These prison bars. they
are coed, l could kiss them. | can
never be grateful enough to my enc
miles,
He had taken his prison as a joke
from the first, sneering At the judge
who had committed him. He knew that
every day he stayed in that Jail he was
becoming more and more master of tie
people. If Mcleod had tried he could
lot nave played into his hands with
more fatal certainty. Five hundred citi-
zcns of Independence had wired him
their congratulations and offered him
any assistance he desired. from unlimit-
ed money for defence 10 a delegation TO
tear the Jail down.
He declined any assistance. EVecy
day that he remained in jail With that
little Federal judge denying bail WAS
incye easing the fury Of the people.
A carriage rolled into the Jail en-
closure and two young ladies alighted.
One cf them stopped in the sitting room
for visitors, and she heard the tramp Of
a mans heavy feet on the stairs and
after it the tread of a woman like 4 soft
ecfo.
The key grated in the lock, the Goor
opened. She looked into his eye for
just on instant OF searching soul reVe-
lation, saw the yearning and the CRATE
ful tears, and with a gial cry spr&nS
into his arms.
You do love me-" she passionately
cried.
Love yoa? drew you back across
the seas with my love. | knew you
would come. l wiiled it With a power
you couldn't resist"
II never got your letters, and I was
hungry to see you,' she whispered.
And l never got yours, and drew YOU
back by the power Of a great heart pur-
pose
''Forgive me, fer being away from you
When YOU were in danger
Il was glad you Were safe. Don't
let this Jail alarm You. I'll be out too
soon for my good I'm afraid"
n other woman has come into your
heart to cheer it even With her friend
ship since I've been, away, has sne?'
What a silly question. I've mover
locked at any other woman since the
day I first saw you,'
Tell me YOU love me again.
"I-love-you, queen OF my soul unto
the uttermost. III life, In leath, for
ever" he whispered tenderly.
She sighed and smiled. 1.-THE sweet
est music the ear of a woman ever
heard" she half laughed, half cried.
Now, my dear, YOU are n grown
woman in the beauty of a perfect wo-
manhood. For five years and more. ]
have waited and suffered. My life is az
open hook before you. When are you
going to end this suspense and be my
sweet bride? You must decide o
whether your fathers Ni,i shall rule
your life or my love-"
Must l decide today" she asked
trcmblingly.
Yes" he answered firmly. at is no
fair 10 torture me LONGER"
Then l give you up" she tearfully
exclaimed. "Ged forgive me if 1 an
doing wrong. l carnot resist you lon
ger. | do net desire to, / Will not,
an, all yours, forever-soul. body, viii
honor, life-all, / cannot live without
you ! owe you. I owe you!-Kis:
me.-again. | an yours! You arm!
are the bonds of my slavery and they
are sweet"
CASTOR was trembling with the Joy
that flooded his being With these, The
first words of perfect faith and submis.
sive love, that had come from her lips
"My dear. my joy is too great. It i
pain, as We'll as Joy. In the dark day.
of our first year Of separation I though
once you had forgotten me. I went away
into two weeks of de~bauchery. Your
perfect love brushes me with it's beauty
and purity. l must confess this wrong
to Won I must not deceive you in the
smallest thing in his hour"
She placed her hand over his lipS. g.
will rot hear it. I ought to have beer
VI dllu IOuSuL y lily IlSItlS dOl
yours. I will not hear one word of con
fession from you. [ love you. You art
my king. 1 would love YOU if you wer,
a murderer on the galloWs. T canno
help it. l do not wisl, to help it.
will follow you to the bottomless pit o.
to the throne of Go and say it without
fear to devil or angel, Kiss me again
Beloved
When will YOU fix the day. dear?'
he softly urged.
How soon would you like it?"
The sooner the better. [ am lonely.
Then I'll fix it today she said i'm
pulsively.
NY beautiful queen, This hour i
worth every pain and every throb O
anguish / have suffered. It's memor,
Will encompass my life with a grea
light"
I'll go With Stella. see DR.. Durham
who is here looking after your case
have him get the license, and we will
| NO hoal- in hole o~ Lo,,s