Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1903-11-20

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tete-a-tete, MADAME said he, saluting
her with a profound bow.
"Reminiscences such as mine are
better interrupted" she replied
You we're
Saying goodby to my-my-cousin."
HAS your ladyship no dearer title
than that by which to designate him?"
Not yet" she answered YEARLY.
'Ah, 1 perceive" he continued jeal-
ously. The natural regret at the alb
sence Of your betrothed, for
mo, no, not that. How can you
trifle so with me at this moment? He
reprOached me because I-why do l
tell you these things? You constrain
me, sir; u
Forgive me! You need not finish,
Lady Elizabeth" he said, with q sud
den gravity. 'As for me, must needs
trihe or die. Life in the freshness of
the morning, the white capped ocean
stretching before us In the sunlight,
the gentle breeze playing across our
faces, is sweet to think on. With youth
and rank and station 1t would be heav-
emily spent with you. Without you l
welcome the death your guardian will
undoubtedly inf1ict upon me-"
"Yet you waited so Tonga year and
q half-why did you not come? T.
She stopped. She had spoken in a
low, tender whisper, looking down at
the sea beneath them and plucking
nervously at the loose plaster of the
old walk. Death so imminent for love
and lover-nay, not for love; that were
eternal-broke down petty convention.
Where were death and love there, too,
should truth and honesty be-and hon
or.
He laid his strong hand gently down
on the small white one outlined upon
the gray weather beaten rock of the
parapet. With upturned palm she met
his grasp. Her eyes were lifted now.
She drew strength from his strength;
a dawning hope flickered into being in
her torn heart. He was so strong and
true he surely could do something
there must be some other way. 1t was
the tribute woman pays to man.
He read Alright, with eyes keen from
affection, the mute. piteous appeal In
her sweetly lifted face, but he could
only smile sadly in answer, with a 81
lent shake Of the head. There was no
other way. then, in the marked path
she must walk. Have mercy, Lord!
"Was 1t long to you, dearestT' he
queried, his dark face aflame. ITO
mel have been fool. Nothing should
have kept me from you. To trust to
messengers. letters-a fOOl-tOo later
Silence! The hands unclasped; ties
were broken. '"Too later He turned
bitterly away.
"Would that we had met in happier
days" she murmured sadly. making a
brave effort at self control.
mo reproaches, Lady Elizabeth" he
answered, the touch Of Formally in the
address showing his own equal strife
"What must be must bel At least I
have met you before I die, and for a
year and u half I have thought Of you
and dreamed Of you and held you the
lady of my heart. Fen death itself
cannot rob me Of that sweet jOy-f0r 1t
is past"
They looked apart, and heard above
the voice Of the great deep, the un-
fashionable sound of the moaning
surge far beneath them, chatting against
the pebbles in the still morning, the
wild beating Of their hearts. After q
little pause he continued more softly:
"And you-you will forget the young
Irishman, the soldier of fortune, whom
untoward fate threw across your path
way. and in your own English home
and in the love Of your noble husband
may you be happy"
NAY. not So" she said softly, taking
his hand again, her eyes filing with
tears-this time she was the stronger.
my heart is not made of such tickle
stuff. l shall do my duty. keep my
plighted word-even you would have
me do no less than that-but not more
stcadfastly than shall keep you with
In my recollection. But do not talk Of
death; you must not know the ad-
n.irat-he aas kindly heart
Il would not live" replied the young
man quietly; "for life is death when
the heart Is dead"
'Tell me-" asked the girl. nervously
breaking the almost insupportable 81
ience. were you there when my moth
ers picture fell last nightT
Eyes. SO near to 1t that 1t almost fell
into my arms" he answered. smiling.
"A bad omenr' she murmured, shak.
Ing her head.
"What! That 1t should fall into my
0TmST
SNO, that II should fall at all.w