The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1904-02-27
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first I thought So !; but III have
had time for thought in the past week,
and 81 Travis, there lis much I cannot
reconcile. Have you known Avice all
these years only to SO readily believe
her capable of such an act? Last
night dreamed OF her. She came to
me in my sleep, her face so white, her
eyes burning with despair. I thought
I heard her say, Florence, save me.
am dying!' Then / awoke, but my
dream was SO vivid I could not ban
ish it from my mind, neither could
go to sleep again. It seemed to me as
though we had all sat with folded
hands and perhaps permitted a great
wrong to be done. Soon people will
begin to inquire into Avice's absence.
We must find out where she is. 1t
was to say this to you, Travis, that I
did not refuse you admittance to-day"
Had you done so, believe l should
have put quick end to all this con-
centraed misery. Florence, what are
the wretched conventionalities of the
world that they should separate US?
Which is my wife in the sight of God
- woman who tricked me into a cere-
mony or the woman before whom my
soul bows in alteration? God knows
I would not sully your purity by even
a thought, but tell you l cannot live
my life without you. Oh, Florence,
come to me-trust my love, and !
promise you that my whole life shall
atone to you for the sacrifice"
A look not of indignation, but of d.
vine pity crept into Florence St. Johns
eyes.
II love you too WE'LL" she said gen.
thy, Ito be angry at words you so soon
will wish unsaid. You did not mean
them, Travis. Say you did not mean
them! 1t all seems very sad, very
hopeless, but that would make it more
sad, more hopeless still. No, my love!
I may possibly never be your wife, but
l shall ever try to be worthy of the
place would have held. Surely your
hand would not be the one to drag me
down into the dust?"
You are right" he answered, hope
lessly; "and yet it all seems so hard,
SO cruel. How bitterly l am punished
for one reckless act of boyhood folly!"
Poor, boy!" fondly stroking his hair
as she spoke. But we talk only Of
ourselves; let us rather think of Av-
ice. Travis, there was some reason
why she came to me in my sleep. In
some way / can save her. Oh, if
could ascertain the way! Where is
her maid?"
"She disappeared the day after
Avice's flight. / thought it possible
that Avice had bound her to secrecy
and ordered her to follow
Florence shook her head.
mot likely" she replied. "Av1cc
was not one to calculate in regard to
the future; and, indeed, had she really
contemplated flight she would have
been too agitated at the step she was
about to take. No; we must find the
maid. saw her once; Avice sent Ter
to me on an errand. I should surely
know her again. Has Mr. Lennox no
theory in regard to this?''
None; save that he refuses to be-
lieve in Avice's falseness--that he
does not give up the search for ner
night or day. Florence, it is all too
dreadful!"
I'VE shall find her. the girl an
swered, confidently; Il feel it know
it. Trust to me, Travis, and try to be
patient for a little while. We shall
find her, and it will be our own dear
little Avice whom we have so tenderly
loved, SO cruelty wronged And you
dear, shall be my brother, as we'll as
hers, to aid me in the search