The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-04-13
The Leopard's Spots,
Continued from Page Nine.)


love to her mother-f fashion.
'.Oh mama,'' cried Sallie, burying her
face beside her mother as she lay in
bed. 81 am at a great soul crisis.
don't know what to do. I feel lonely,
helpless and heart-sick. You are wo-
man. Put your dear arms about me and
help me to know the truth and my duty
/ want to ask you a question"
What is it, darling? I'll answer it,
if can," she replied stroking her dark
hair tenderly.
DO you believe these stories about
Charities character
MOT ore word of them!" she prompt
ly answered
An impulsive kiss and sob on he.
breast!
"Sweet mother she murniured in a
low fearful voice. "And now, mama
one more. Papa has been dining into
my ears his own fickleness in love when
young and the fact that he knows in a
long life that love is of little impor-
lance in mans existence. He says
that 1 can forget and love again with
equal intensity and better judgment.
Can one treat thus lightly the souls
and worthy Of effort?''
Her voice broke and she continued
slowly and tremblingly, as she held one
Of her mothers hands tightly.
Now, mama dear heart 10 heart
tell me as you would talk in your in
most soul to God, do you believe this
is true? You have sounded lifes 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.
1 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 sea of smaller blue mountain
waves. He read the message and his
soul was filled with great peace.
AT la ST. at last! l draw her with
soverisn power. These prison bars. they
are good! I could kiss them. 1 can
never be grateful enough to my enc
mies.''
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
not have played into his hands with
more fatal certainty. Five hundred citi-
zens of Independence had wired him
their congratulations and offered him
any assistance he desired, from unlimit-
ed money for defence to delegation to
tear the Jail down.
He declined any assistance. Every
day that he remained in Jail with that
little Federal judge denying bail was
increasing the fury of the people.
A carriage rolled into the Jail en-
closure end two young ladies alighted.
One Ct 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 woman like soft
echo.
The key grated in the lock- the Goor
opened. She looked into. his eyes for
just an instant OF searching soul reve-
lation. saw the yearning and the CRATE
full tears, and with a glad cry sprang
into his arms
cried.
Love. you? I drew you back across
the seas with my love. / knew you
would come. l willed it with power
you couldn't resist
81 never got your letters, and l 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
81 was glad you We're safe Don't
let this Jail alarm you. I'll be out too
soon for my good I'm afraid
"NC other woman has come into your
heart to cheer it even with her friend
ship since I've been away, has sne?''
What silly question. I've never
locked at any other woman since the
day first saw you'
Tell me you love me again."
'T-love-you. queen of my soul unto
the uttermost. in life, in leath for
ever!" he whispered tenderly.
She sighed and smiled "The sweet
est IDuSlC tie ear OIL q woman ever
heard she half laughed, half cried
New, my dear, you are a full grown
woman in the beauty of a perfect wo-
manhood. For five years and more 1
have waited and suffered. My life is an
open hook before you. When are you
going TO end this suspense and be my
sweet bride? You must decide now
whether your fathers will shall rule
your life or my love?'
Must / decide today?" she asked
tremblingly.
Yes" he answered firmly. at is not
fair TO torture me lonGer.
Then l give YOU up she tearfully
exclaimed. God forgive me If / am
doing wrong! I carnot resist you Ion
ger. | do net desire to. l will not: I
an. all yours, forever-soul, body, will
honor life-all. l cannot live without
you. ] love you. l love you.-Kiss
me.-ag gain. l am yours Your arms
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