Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1903-06-19

upon him. He- how pale you are VI
tia! What is it, dearest? l am sure you
are not well to-day"
81 am quite well. / am only cold; go
on" speaking with some difficulty; you
were saying something about-Fabian.
81 think so much Of him that 1t IS re-
lief to talk sometimes; but won't MAKE
you doleful. Only, now-that yod KNOW
him-when you have been beneath tne
same roof with him for some months no"
is it with you? You feel that he Is lnho-
cent?"
"How you catechize one" says Port'a,
with painfully bald attempt at inolner-
ence that does not impose upon the slowly
awakening suspicious Of the other TOT Que
instant. "Let us change the subject.
"In one moment. / want an answer
to my question first. Now that you nave
seen and known Fabian, do you Deiie'e
him Innocent" 49,
A most fatal silence follows. Portia
lips are so dry and parched that they
absolutely refuse to give utterance TO any
words. In vain she tries to conquer tne
deafness that is overpowering her, Du'
without avail.
"No, do not trouble yourself to answer
me-" says Dulce, in cold, cutting tones !
want nc lies, no pretty speeches; l thank
you at least that you have spared ms
those. In your soul-I can see-you THINK
him guilty of this shameful! deed. oh! !
is horribIew She covers her face with
both her hands, and sways little, as one
might who is, indeed, hurt to death. Ana
you, too" she says, family, "the only one
of all our friends. And l so trusted YOU
so loved you"
"Dulcew cries poor Portia, in an agon'
lied tone, 'hear me-" :,
mo, l will not listen. have trusted
you too far already. Oh!' piteousiy'
'yeu who have seen him, and nave
noticed the beauty, the sweetness Of MS
life, how could you have misjudged him
But" with Vehement anger, yer mar
row mind could not appreciate him. You
lack generosity. You could not grasp the
fact that there might be in this wide
world such thing Us undiscovered
wrong. You condemned without hear
ing. Why" growing calmer, there have
been hundreds of cases where the inno-
cent have suffered for the guilty"
Il know it," says Portia, feverishly'
taking Dulce's hand and trying to draw
her toward her; but the girl recolls.
"Do not touch me-" she says. There
is no longer any friendship between us."
ooh! Dulce, do not say that" entreats
Portia, painfully.
II will say 1t. Ali is at an end as far
as love between us is concerned. Fabian
is part of me. / cannot separate myself
from him. His friends are mine. His
detcacters are pipe also, I will not for
give them. I believe him saint, you
believe him deiled, and tainted with the
crime Of forgery. And this one thing
am resolved on. He shall no longer be
left in ignorance Of your scorn; he shall
not any more spend his affection upon
one who regards him with disdain; he
shall know the truth before the day dies"
"Have you no pity?' says Portia.
family.
"Have you none? You condemned him
willingly"
81 don't care, you have condemned
him."
IF lou only think, you will see
Don't speak to me, hate you," says
Miss Blount, growing undignifed because
of her deep grief and agitation. "And
don't think you can turn me from my pur.
pose. I shall tell him what you think of
him before this evening passes, be sure
of that"
"There is no need to tell him." says
Portia, in so low tone that Dulce can
scarcely hear her. "He-he knows al
ready"
Portia, to check the sob that rises In
her throat, tightens her clasp on Dulce'a
hand. The unwonted sharpness Of her
pressure rouses Dulce. The extreme
pain and grief she sees in Portals eyes
awakens her to the truth; she draws her
breath little quickly and lays her hand
impulsiyely upon her cousins bare white
arm.
"You suffer, too-youv' she says, in
whisper full Of surprise. ooh, Portia! is
it that you love him.
HAS it taken you so long to discover
that?" says Portia, reproachfully.
ooh, that you could believe in him!'
'Tf I could, should be too deeply
blessed. Yet is 1t that I do not believe,
or that I dread the worlds disbelief?
That Is the sting. To know that stain
lies on the man I love, to know that
others distrust him, and will forever pass
him by on the other side. That is the
horror. Dulcc, am ignoble, fear many
things; the future terrifes me; but yet, as
| am so wretched, dear, dear Dulce, take
me back into your heart"
She burst into tears. They are SO
strange to her and have been SO long de-
MED, that BY their very vehemence they
brighten Dulce. She takes Portia in her
arms, and chngs to her; and, pressing
her lips to her cheek, whispers to her
fondly that she is forgiven, and that from
her soul she pities her.