Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1903-12-04
She left my eunt-Mrs. Aanesley-rour
years age, faltered MrsxArnold.
With a chilling bow DIR. Keith turned
and left her.


and left her.
In the lady superintendent private
room at the hospital. one hand resting
on the table with unconscious forca,
DR.. Dudley Keith stands. He has de-
sired the page 20 announce him only
as "a gentleman Wishing to see Miss
Warren"
What contrast to the calm around
him was the tumult of emotions raging
in his breast! The singing pain Of self
reproach which had possessed him since
his Interview with Mrs. Arnold, was fast
being overwhelmed by the agony of sus-
pense, and the wild delight of the
thought that in one moment he would
see her again.
So he waited and then watched her
coming. Up the narrow city garden
path the graceful figure moved, now IN
the shadow, now in the sunlight, slowly,
thoughtfully.
She had reached the terrace now on
which the glass doors of the room
opened. The cold drops gathered on his
brow. as his keen, hungry glance read
the sweet, unconscious face with these
sad lines of lip and brow so new to
him.
With tremendous effort he held him
self perfectly still as she quickly en-
tered and lifted her dark eyes inquiring-
1y to his.
A breathless silence One low cry,
then, grasping the back of a chair she
stood as rigidly upright as he.
He drew back step and extended his
arms, his eyes-glowing with a strange
mingling of unutterable tenderness,
passionate yearning, and suppressed trl-
umph-fxed on the delicate purity of her
agitated face.
Il will not ask you" In low, husky
taees.-lle said. 80 much as to touch my
hand in formal greeting until I have
spoken-the vilest criminal can speak IN
his own defense. 1t will be for you
then, to pronounce my doom. but speak
I will, and answer me you musti"
And in short, deliberate sentences,
which could not disguise the passionate
eloquence. the underlying vibration Of
feeling, without seeking to excuse his
unjust suspicion-he told his story. The
revelation of the idle. dishonorab1e act,
the miserable mistake which had
wrecked their lives.
Then he waited-every nerve braced
to an agony of tension, while the time
piece on the mantel licked loud and
fast on the pain fraught stiffness.
Only for one brief moment. Then,
with trembling steps. but the radiant
light of great gladness on her beauti-
full face, she crossed the room, and fell
with shuddering sob on his breast
felt his strong arms close around her
with the quick rapture of possession.
heard his voice in broken accents whis-
per in her ear:
"My darling! At last!"
And the timepiece licked on through
deeper silence than before, while they
stOOd-heart to hearth that supreme
moment of perfect happiness too sa-
cred for words.
The moonlight is falling on Lake Luz
cerne in tranquil beauty. At win
dow Of a hotel overlooking the lake
stand DR.. Dudley Keith and his wife.
Five years ago this evening we first
met" she says. softly. raising her hand
to touch his hair. you had gray hairs
even then. Dudley, though you were
only 3d."
cay, darling! And some are even
silver now
Il like them" she whispered. "How
happy we are
o. God help me" he whispered, solemn
ly, ito keep those sweet words ever on
your lips Have 1 not five years of lost
happiness to atone to you for?"
"Ah!" she said, perhaps life is all
the sweeter for the contrast of those
weary years I want to forget all-only
that we are together at last!"
THANK Heaven!" he whispered. hold
ing her more closely to him. Thank
Heaven-now and always. till death and
through eternity-my wife!"-Chicage
Tribune