The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1903-08-06
cHAprgR xv-contInued.

mined to struggle for my rights. Mad
csned and outraged, my love and In
jured pride at war with each other, |
came hither, scarce knowing my pur-
pose. To my horror | found the cere-
mony already begun, and recognized
among the group gathered before the
clergyman the hated features OF the
man who tore me from your arms.
This sight gave me strength; even my
love was forgotten in that moment of
a thousand bitter memories. You
know the rest. Travis, my husband,
let me restore TO you the happiness
my hand has SLANT"
Then for the first time he impatient.
f, ly shook off her clinging touch.
Three years ago." he said sternly,
chad you thus come to me, in my boy
fish trust and confidence, would prob
ably have restored you to the place
you once held In my heart, In spite OF
the foul deception, the base treachery
by which | now know you allured me.
For two years / bore in silence the
yoke you had placed upon my neck,
when one night, alone In my room,
turning over the printed pages of a
newspaper, my eye fell upon the name
which was to me so fraught with mis-
cry I read on down the columns the
false story of your death, and, when
had finished, fell on my knees in
thanksgiving to God. Free! free!"
This was the sobbing word which
escaped me. Already had learned to
love the girl from whose side to-day
you have torn me. In that moment
saw the barrier which so long had sep
arated ne destroyed. My heart leaped
over the now bridged chasm, and joy
entered where 1t had so long been a
forbidden g6est | had learned to bear
my torture, to grow 80 accustomed TO
its daily. hourly pangs, that like the
Spartan boy, | made no outward sign
while the wolf was gnawing at my
breast But how can the man freed
from misery, after once learning the
EXTREMIST limit of the word, once again
see its CHASTITY gates open to him."
mot so, Travis" she gently an
gwered Il offer you no misery. Give
me once again the shelter of your
heart and | will steal from 1t every
shadow, every thought of gloom.
deceived you, Il is true; but remem-
Der how, In that early time, l. too, had
been deceived AS God is my Judge,
thought myself that mans wife until,
from the cruel words his hands penned
and sent me, learned the fatal truth.
Then met you, and in your young
manhood you loved and trusted me.
Was again to dash the cup of happi-
ness from my lips? could not! I
could mott Travis, 1t Is not for you
TO hurl at me the first stone"
The subtle eloquence OF her plead
ing was worthy a nobler cause. In
spite of his armor, the low, musical
words reached his heart and once
more his face softened. Her swift
glance was quick to note It.
Once more her hands chung to his
arm, and the beautiful head bent low
er and lower until her lips passionate
touch burned his hand, when a faint.
low moan seemed to sound somewhere
near him, perhaps the only echo of his
memory. So had he heard Florence
moan in the first moment of her awak-
ening. Was this woman's marvellous
beauty again to work his destruction?
All, had IL not already done so, as II
doomed him forever?
Madam" he said, again shaking on
her touch, you have accomplished
your purpose. Let US waste no more
time in the useless recital Of the past;
it is the future with which we have to
deal. What are your demands?"
She rose slowly to her feet now;
she would make one more appeal, In
spite of something In his tone which
warned her that the three years had
done their work, that she no longer
had to deal with boy who wore his
heart upon his sleeve, but with a man
whom she had pitilessly wronged.
''Ah, your love has been weaned
from mel" she said. sadly. II cannot
win It back. But Travis, will you not
some time see me? May | not al
least try to teach you the lesson?"
1.-THE lesson you have already
taught, madam. Is one can never for
get. It's teachings will go with me al
my future life. Perhaps, IL | were tc
take my story to the courts, they
might restore to each our freedom"
"And on what ground?" she inter,
rupted. I have done you no wrong
No, no. Travis, you are too generous
for this"
"You have doubtless arranged your
plans. madam. II remains only for
me to meet them"
.No ! had thought of nothing" she
replied; but It seems to me only one
thing is to be done. The fact OF our
early marriage must be acknowledged,
but my maiden name had better be
concealed; also the circumstance OF
my reported death be made known
your subsequent love for the young
lady. whose wedding my presence sc
unfortunately prevented. will also pre-
vent the renewal Of the conjugal rela,
tionship between US. Therefore, since
I see At to take UP my present abode
IN Paris, you give me such a home as
your means entitle me to, and let the
Partisan world konw me as Mrs
Travis Meredith. These are my terms
DO you accede to them?"
considering how entirely they were
born of the moment, their clearness
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