Evening star., 1903-07-09

being kept waiting a minute so at the
door. Then I glanced beyond him. at the
people chatting in the hall. No alarm
there: nothing but very natural surprise
that the bride should keep so big a crowd
waiting. l felt that this fixed the event.
He who had sent me this quiet message
was true to himself and to old COM
pact. He had not published below what
would have set the house in an uproar in a
moment. He had left his secret to be
breathed into my ear alone. I could recall
the moment he passed me his word, and
his firm look as he said, with his hand
lifted to heaven-'You have been good to
me and given me your precious self while
was poor and a nobody. In return l
swear to keep our marriage secret till
great success shows me to be worthy OF
you, till you with your own lips express
forgiveness of my failure and grant me
leave to speak Nothing but death or your
permission shall ever unseal my lips When
heard that he was dead 1 feared lest he
might have spoken. but now that had
seen him alive. knew that in no other
breast save his. my own and that Of the
unknown minister in almost unknown
town dweit any knowledge of the fact
which stood between me and the marriage
which all these people had come here to
see. My confidence in his rectitude deter
mined me. Without conscious emotion. with
out fear even-the ending of suspense had
ended all that told the boy to seat the
gentleman in the library. Then
ct am haunted now, 1 am haunted al
ways. by one vision. horrible but persist
ent. 1t will not leave me; 1t rises between
US now; 1t has stood between us ever since
I left that house with the seal of your af-
fection on my lips. Last night it terrified
me into unconscious speech. I dreamed
that I saw again. and plainly. what
caught but a shadowy glimpse of In that
murderous hour: mans form seated at
the end of the old settle, with his head
leaning back in silent contemplation. His
face was turned the other wayI thanked
ga Co. %1,-k ut tInv, N,d. l
never thought of God in that moment of my
blind feeling about for chink and n spring
in the wall. thought only of your impa-
tience, and the people waiting, and the
this intolerable bond. could keep my place
at your side and bear your name unre-
proved and taste to the full the awe and de-
light of a passion such as few women ever
feel, because few women were ever loved
by a man like you. Had my thoughts been
elsewhere, my fingers might have forgot
ten to tumble along that wall, and had
been simply wretched today-and innocent.
Innocent! Oh, where in Gods universe can
I be made innocent again and fit to look in
your face and to love-heart breaking
thought-even to love you again?
ITO turn and turn a miserable crank aftef
those moments of frenzied action and 81
lence-that was the hard part-that was
what tried my nerve and first robbed me Of
calmness. But dared not leave that fear
full thing dangling there: I had to wind.
The machinery squeaked, and its noise
seemed to fill the house. but no one came.
nor did the door below open. sometimes
have wished that 1t had 1 should not then
have been lured on and you would not have
become involved In my ruin.
Il have heard many say that looked raA
diant when I came down to be married.
The radiance was in their thoughts. Or 1t
my face did shine, and IL I moved as II
treading on air. 1t was because had tri-
umphed over all difficulties and could pass
down to the altar without fear OF that in
terruptfug voice crying out: I Forbid She
Is mine! The wife of William Pfeiffer can
not wed anotherr No such words could be
dreaded now. The lips which might have
spoken them were dumb. I forgot that
a lifetime, long or short. lay be-
fore me, in which to hear them
humble and squeak their denunciation
and threats. Oh. but have been wretched!
At ball and dinner and dance those lips
have been ever at my ear. but most when
we have sat alone together: most then: oh.
most then!
s.He is avenged: but you! Who will
avenge you. and where will you ever flnd
happiness?
ITO blot myself from your memory
would go down deeper into the vale of suf-
fering than ever I have gone yet But no!
no! do not quite forget me. Remember me
as you saw me one night-the night you
took the flower out Of my hair and kissed
1t, saying that Washington held many beau
tiful women, but that ono OF them save
myself had ever had the power to move
your inmost heartstringR All. low was
your voice and eloquent your eyes that
hour, and Forgotten moment forgot
everything but this pure love- and the
heartbeat Il caIied up and the hope never
te be realised. that should live to hear J