Sharp County record., 1903-09-04

The first lurnu1rI, NJ the woman
-.f,r had -l-fr.a and 1azpI him. SO
F.qr he Hiscradl-,r H!s senses, hul
slowly aud painfully tH- .acr forced
-saf ugor rim tlr- he was ..errnin"
10 the drama NJ His own ite-rhat tie
woman knee NO before him was She
for whom, nearby ten years ago. "r
had rnuauured ahe Iifa n p .easurn and
ambition and sought rHe sac.usirn at
o.. priesthood, and whose face he
never axuerrad 90 look UGr~ again,
And now m iusrru~abic IA. bad
brought her -1 him, and he had heard
fram her .wr Ups that she had loved
him. and Lavrs him va-.
Like one fr p TRANCE hrwru tN~0u-h
+he formula -f absomtiou, and uorun-
-iI she rose 20 T..-e The chapel did he
come 20 himself Then rIe fT- riE-
rfHcauca af .He situation flashed rDcu
him. and with l- the alternatives;
should he Iat her go uns0nkan l1d
1--we ON rs he lad. or should he speak
to her and raav.lren in his heart rhe
old struggle which ae had soug so
l.1r r0 qUeil2
But. no-thers was 30 0irp The
mischief had already been done, and
he must speak TO her. come vharmay.
He followed her from the confessional
and spoke her name, "Emilie.' She
turned quickly. and. H7tinr her veil,
locked Bim fnll in the face.
Good God." she rasped "Tt IS vow
-Fnbricc," Her face went white, and
she reclad slightly. one hand extended,
as If TO ward of threatening horror.
"Yes. it is --Fabrice." He grew
more self-coutained as he saw her agiy
tatior.
"But-but 7 Thought you dend-tar
years ago" he passed her hand over
her eyes, as if to clear away the mys-
terry that impeuded.
"E0, there is no mistake. tt is T. the
man whose life Won tried 10 min. whom
you - but pardon Il have no re-
PrOaches-now. have, through the
grace Of God, both forgiven and for
gotten.
Put tell ne, Emelie" He went close
to her and looked dep into her eyes,
wide witN awe. "Tell me, il It true.
what YOU said--you loved NE and not
this otherma1?"
Her eyes dropped before his and she
turned half awaY-then, with an impu-
tient gesture she faced him and spoke
mTassiorateIY.
True, yes, every word Of It ia true.
God knows loved you then.-and-Iove
you-yet."
A new light had Illuminated her
eyes the light of yearning love, and
the hope Of happiness.
And You, Fabrice =" she said, softly,
have you forrottenT"
"Forgotten?" Ee replied confusedly
"Why-I hardly gnow-it Is so long
ten long years"
Yes, II Is long" she answered, eager
ly, "hut true love knows no time. Ah,
Fabrice," her voice was vibrant with
pleading, "is It too late? May we NOS
yet be happy"
"But your husband-he is living,
and"
Yes, but he is broken-down old
mar row, and we have never loved each
other Such A union as ours is not true
arriaCe-besides a separation may
be easily arranged am rich"
"Gut It is impossible. No, no, How
can you tempt me! Think am
priest-my vows"
what does it NATTER You toolo
them because you thought yon had lost
me Now, see. give myself toyou.'
As she spoke she threw back her
long mantle and slowly held ont her
arms to- him. She was doing an in her
woman's power to win him to her. Fe-
half-pursed lirs, her lustrous eyes, her
outstretched arms, every line o5 her
fcura was wooing him back DO the love
of his youth.
The man fairly writhed under tho
agony Of tho conflict that Wa, rife
within HIM On the one hand lay the
world, pleasures, love, life. all .hat he
had schooled himself 10 despise On
the other hand the church duty, and
"that peace which rnsseth understand
my" In The midst Of the struggle
there came from distant aIcove the
intoDation 0i a mighty organ and a
boy choir singing "re Deum.N Ashe
heard, the crisis seemed Co resolve IT,
gelt-the wayvas clear before his feet,
The hollow world and it's life Of sinsel
and vanity lost it's rlGmour. And the
woman-w1o was she with her shallow
beauty and slender passion TO tempt
him from his duty? She seemed TO
shrink and shriyel away from him. It
was As Il n great light had been let into
his soul
With the decision look o1holy calnr
came into his face. The woman saw it,
and knew that she had lost. With
choking sob she stopped and kissed his
hand. then drew her cloak about her
and swiftly left the cathedral There
was the click " a closing door a word
Al. O. .sT D.. e a