The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1903-12-26
CHAPTER VI.
A Midnight Marriage.

signed Miss Breton to her faithful
maids care in her own home, to which
she had be IN SO tenderly carried.
Still dressed in the white cashmere
robe in which she had been attired for
her part, she was moro like some ex
quisite marble figure than living,
breathing woman.
You saw him, Marie?" she Ques
toned, eagerly, as the surgeons re-
treating footsteps died away.
Yes, madam. He was wild with
terror answered the French woman
Il promised to draw up the shade it
he might enter for few moments"
More powder then, Marie-qulcl,-
ly! Now, let not one fake SHOW it.
self. There! When he comes, tell
HIM l disobey my physicians orders
in seeing any one, and bid him stay
but a moment only. What is the
timer
Just II O'Clock, madam"
Quick, then! But one hour is left
me in which to act"
my wife! My darling"
These were the impassioned words
OF Travis Meredith, who bent few
minutes later over the quiet, graceful
<orm which lay so still upon the couch.
"My own, have lived ages since the
curtain fell and hid you from my
sight. l should have gone mad laG
you not blessed me with this momen-
tary glimpse of Eden! Barbara, tell
me one word-only one word-will you
not promise to become my wife? You
shall not be fastened; you shall learn
to know me, love me. Only give me
the right to love and protect you. Anu
make this illness an excuse, should
you need one, for leaving the stage
forever"
did you not say you were going
hway?' she murmured. half reproach-
fully. Perhaps--oh, Travis. must |
confess lt?->this fact may in some
measure explain my sudden illness"
ITO know 3: - Sc Sc; M M 1.csn would he
to have fulfilled the JOY OF living. But
you do but mock me. My darling,
spare me that! Think you anything
on earth could drag me from your side,
when in your smile rests my heaven,
but this" drawing from his pocket the
telegram, (Which bids me hasten back
to Europe if would see my father
once more alive?"
i A t!nge of color flushed the lovely
cheeks, a shade of triumph flashed IN
the glorious eyes. This was victory
unhOped for, victory within her very
grasp. In a few short weeks Travis
Meredith's fortune would be his very
own, to lay at the feet OF the woman
whom he adored; but tears which did
not shame his manhood blinded the
watching eyes, and of this they noted
nothing.
Memories of his happy, careless boy
hood. his fathers unfaltering gencr-
Gus devotion, came thronging thick
and fast, and with them the agonlzlng
thought that, hasten as he might, he
might yet be too late.
But gentle hand touched the
bowed head, a low voice whispered his
name, and the exquisite Joy of the
present again thrilled him.
And you will try, then, my own TO
love me? You will think of me wnen
l am ABSENT" he asked.
Shall not rather try to forget you?
Will not this absence bring forgetfu]-
ness to you? All, Travis, it is my
heart which is to suffer! Something
tells me so.''
Mot unless they pierce through
mine to reach it," he answered fond
ly. God grant I may find my father
alive. may seek his blessing on my
choice, then return to make you my
honored, cherished wife,"
ooh, Travis; Travis! Take me with
you!"
His face was TRANSPORTED with its
perfect Joy.
"You would go, Barbara? You love
me, then, so well? Oh, my precious
one! what have done to deserve such
bliss? But how could you go? You
are i'll, suffering, and the steamer
sails at dawn"
"Then you must leave me-" She
sank back, trembling, on her lace-cov
cred pillow. Travis, it will kill me
I shall never, never, be your wife I'm
less-unless-oh, what was l about tC
say"
THAT you would we'd me ere
sailed? Was that the precious balm OF
comfort that you would pour into my
bruised heart? Barbara, darling, shall
I leave my wife behind me-my wife
to watch and pray. for my return?"
Hush, Travis-hush! l must have
been mad, dreaming! My illness has
made me weak, unfit for this sudden
shock You must forgive me and for
get it,
"Forglve? forget? Forgive tina
which has beeh as the bow of promise
In the clouds? Forget the food place.
to my starving lips? Will you, then
raise hope only to crush it? Max,
what conditions you will, but give M
husbands right to shield YOU"
He was kneeling, as he spoke, be
.fdo har Tho nerf,,na from hor no;