The Cook County herald., 1904-01-30
CHAPTER xv-contin,,ed.

CHAPTER .xv-continued.
What mother bereft of her young,
she continued, will not fight to re
gain possession of them? So l deter
mined to struggle for my rights. Mad
dened and outraged, my love and in
1ured pride at war with each other,
came hither, scarce knowing my pur
pose. To my horror found the cere
mony already begun, and recognized
among the group gathered before tho
clergyman the hated features of the
man who tore me from your arms
This sight gave me strength; even my
love was forgotten in that moment OF
thousand bitter memories. You
know the rest. Travis, my husband
let me restore to you the happiness
my hand has slain!"
Then for the first time he impatient
1y shook off her clinging touch.
Three years ago." he said sternly
had you thus come to me, in my boy.
fish trust and confidence, would prob
ably have restored you to the place
you once held in my heart, in spite of
the foul deception, the base treachery
by which now know you allured me.
For two years l bore in silence tie
yoke you had placed upon my neck,
when one night, alone in my room,
turning over the printed pages of a
newspaper, my eye fell upon the name
which was to me so fraught with mis-
cry. l read on down the columns the
false story of your death, and, when
I had finished, fell on my knees in
thanksgiving to God. Free! free!"
This was the s2bbing word which
escaped me. Already had learned to
love the girl from whose side today
you have torn me. In that moment
saw the barrier which so long had sep
arated us destroyed My heart leaped
over the now bridged chasm, and joy
entered where it had so long been a
forbidden guest. had learned to bear
my torture, to grow so accustomed to
its daily, hourly pangs, that. like the
Spartan boy, made no outward sign
while the wolf was gnawing at my
breast. But how can the man freed
from misery, after once learning the
EXTREMIST limit of the word, once again
see it's CHASTITY gates open to him."
mot so, Travis" she gently an
swered. II offer you no misery. Give
me once again the shelter of your
neert and l will steal from it every
shadow, every thought of gloom |
deceived you, 1t is tr"e: bnt remem-
ber how: In that early t:pe, /, too had
Seen deceived, AS God is my Judge, |
thought myself that mans wife until,
from the cruel words his hands penned
and sent me, learned the fatal truth.
Then l met you, and in your young
manhood you loved and trusted me.
Was again to dash the cup of happi-
ness from my lips? I could not! l
could not! Travis, it is not for you
to hurl ct me the first stone"
The subtle eloquence of her plead
ing was worthy nobler cause. In
spite of his armor, the low, musical
words reached his heart, and once
Tore his face softe:ed. Her swift
glance was quick to note it.
) Once more her hands clung to his
arm, and the beautiful head bent low.
er and lower until her lips passionate
touch burned his hand, wheh faint,
low moan seemed to sound somewhere
near him, perhaps the only echo of his
memory. So had he heard Florence
moan In the first moment of her awak-
ening. Was this woman's marvellous
beauty again to work his destruction ?
All, had it not already done so, as it
doomed him forever?
Madam" he said, again shaking off
her touch, "you have accomplished
your purpose. Let us waste no more
time in the useless recital Of the past;
1t is the future with which we have to
deal. What are your demands?''
She rose slowly to her feet now
she would make one more appeal, in
spite of a something in his tone which
warned her that the three years had
done their work, that she no longer
had to deal with boy who wore his
heart upon his sleeve, but with a man
whom she had pitilessly wronged.
"Ah, your love has been weaned
from met" she said, sadly. II cannot
win it back. But Travis, will you not
some time see me? May I not at
least try to teach you the lesson?'
''The lesson you have already
taught, madam, is one can never for
get. Its teachings will go with me all
my future life. Perhaps, if were to
take my story to the courts, they
might restore to each our freedom
"And on what ground?" she inter.
rupted. I have done you no wrong
No, no, Travis, you are too generous
for this"
"You have doubtless arranged your
plans, madam. 1t remains only fol-
me to meet them"
'No. had thought of nothing" she
replied; "but it seems to me only one
thing is to be done. The fact of ou,
early marriage must be acknowledged
but my maiden name had better be
concealed; also the circumstance ot
my reported death be made known
your subsequent love for the young
lady, whose wedding my presence sc
unfortunately prevented, will also pre-
vent the renewal of the conjugal rela
tim shin hot -