Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1902-07-24

there Is neither excuse nor pardon. Be
lieve me that. when ] lay dying, as
| thought, in yOndCr woods, that was my
greatest trouble | am sorry, through
to my hearts core. for all | have done
to hurt you. If ! could | would crave
that pardon on my knees Irene. will you
forgive me? Forgive me, my dear, for
| heavens sake
She made no answer, and he went on:
| You swore to he avenged upon me,
| my dear you have taken terrible ven
geHnce. | have suffered all the pains Of
| dcath-all its pains, its desolation, Its
abandonment. Do you not think that
have suffered enough? No death could
| ever be so terrible again. | have suf-
fered more than death, Irene therefore,
! your vengeance is complete. You have
slain me, GreDe-all the youth, the man
| hood. the strength in me-slain me. Ii
| suffered so much lying there that this
| world and this life can never be much to
me again, and II heard the doctors
say if ever ! recovered | should be lame
for life-never able to walk erect again.
Oh. Irene, have ! not suffered enough?
You have had your vengeance, and heav-
en- has taken the rest from your hands"
Yes" she said. slowly, you ha sur
fered enough in all conscience, a." my
revenge sutiices. Az you say, II /. Av-
en- who took you from me-"
And you will forgiven he said.
She was silent and thoughtful for a
minute then she said, gently:
Yes | have fulfilled my vow, and
will forgive You"
She looked at him in wonder for he
was crying like child: great tears rain
ed down his face and bitter sobs shook
mis- frame.
IL am broken down." he said. Irene,
| have no strength left; it is like a light
from heaven on me, the peace that came
with your words. You quite forgive me,
Irene"
She laid ner hand with a kindly caress-
ing touch on his forehead.
"Yes, l pardon you, Hubert; you ruin
ed my life, but | forgive you. as pray
the good God to forgive me-"
Shall we bury the horrible past and
be frieuds?" he asked.
THAT can never be-" she said, quietly.
II will speak quite frankly to you.
can never be indifferent TO you. l must
either love you or hate you. There can
be no medium. no friendship for us.
forgive you, but we must be as strangers.
You must promise me gradually to break
off your friendship with the duke, to de-
cline his invitations. always to avoid
meeting me, for there can be no friend
ship between us-the two who have loved
each other so dearly and have sought
each others lives-on this condition we
part, and ! forgive you"
You are right, as you always are" he
I
thank you for my pardon. Let me kiss
your hand once before you CO. Irene"
She laid her hand on his lips lightly,
and then went away.
That night she slept the soundest sleep
that had ever visited her eyes since the
| day at Beechgrove on which he had FIRST
told her that she was not his wife.
Vengeance is mine, and | will repay"
| said the Lord"
These words haunted her until she
| slept. Assuredly If ever heaven had
wrested vengeance from any human
hands it had from hers.
| He was better in the morning, and
| Lady Estmere was beside herself with
| joy. He told the story of his accident
TO her then, and how, when he was dy-
ing almost of despair, the little white
log that had belonged to the duchess
came up to him and began TO lick his
| hand.
Then the idea came to me-" he said,
ito tie my handkerchief round his neck;
| felt q certain hope that 1t would be
seem
But" said his wife. IL cannot think
why you wear that ring on your finger,
| or where II came from"
II found it in the woods" he said.
and | mean to keep II. 1t will remind
ne of all thought about whileI mag
ned myself to bed wing there"
What did you think about. Hulbert?"
she asked, curiously
That II heaven would but spare me.
NY darling, | would be a better man all
my life long" he said.
You are a good man now" she said,
with the faith so natural to loving wife.
But | will be better, darling" he said,
with a long shuddering cry: II learned
my lesson while lay all night In the
onely woods. Kiss me, Lira--I am going
to sleep"
The duchess told her husband that her
nerves had been terribly shaken sby the
| accident, and that she should like to go
TO the south OF France for some months.
They could leave Saxonhurst at the dis
pOsal of Sir Hubert and Lady Estmers
until he recovered.
Sir Hubert kept his word faithfully to
The duchess; although the duke demurred
at first, and was hurt at his GOODNESS, he
refused every invitation sent to him. He
never saw beautiful Saxonhurst again.
Whenever he could avoid meeting the
duchess he did so; but there were times
when the exigencies OF society compelled
them to meet. Then they exchanged but
few words, they never shook hands, they
never looked into each others faces; each
knew of the other a secret more binding
than death.
To Sir Hubert and Lady Estmere
came blooming sons and fair-faced
daughters, in the midst OF whom Lord
Gerant, the great Statesman, grew young
again.