The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1904-06-10
CHAPTER VII.

roomad Glad To see her, that his heart
nod not leapt out to her, as hers did
TO aim that his eyes did not rest LOT
one moment upon the boy, was PAD
enough: but that there should be an
other woman in her place! Oh, that
was anguish intolerable! At last she
spoke. you love her, Alan! she
asked.
Better thai my life!" he answered
passionately.
"Oh!" She gave a little shudder.
''Then I will go and leave you to your
happiness" she said quietly. Its the
only way-the only way. I will take
our boy and go!'
"But you cannot co." he groaned.
II made you my wife, Veronica, and
as long as o live you will be my
wife, although my heart and hers may
break"
II break your hearth" cried Yer
onica. "Why, ! would give my life
for you. l would not have you UNI
happy for a moment il l could help it.
I love you as much as in the old
days. Alan, before the shipwreck. Oh.
why was I saved!"
He looked at her, and poor Veron-
ica's heart failed her. There was no
love in that look. All the love OF
Alan's heart was given to Joyce.
There was pity and despair, but no
) love. When a m loves a man
she can soon see the difference. He
= could not say that he praised God that
i she was saved, and he did not. Tell
me about it." he said mechanically.
Z If she talked he would be able to
{ think what it would be best to do for
{ her. But as for him, the despair OF
his heart almost choked him when he
thought that in about half an hour
d he must pull down that beautiful fab
ric of their lives, must ruin Joyce for
b ever! He could scarcely think OF Yer
onica in his overwhelming agony;
but she spoke. glad to see his inter-
est.
II was washed in shore, into a
sandy bay, Alan. l had gone through
= he anguish of dying; but when the
people found me they brought me to,
but the shock had been too much for
me; l could not remember anything.
And then in about five months baby
II was born, and then 1t all came to me
slowly. l was i'll and weak and could
: do nothing; l could scarcely think.
Then at last when l wrote the letters
were sent back to me. and l heard a
rumor that you had gone back to Eng
land. l was penniless. l did not
q know II you wanted our marriage &C
kn~owedged, so l did not write to Mr..
Dempster; but as my strength re-
turned my courage did also. l began
giving singing and guitar lessons.
People were good to me. I worked
|" hard, and at last scraped together
enough money to take me in a sailing
boat to England. l hate the sea. l
:. was afraid Of it.: but you were there,
and l came. But 1t was q year before
/ could find anything Of you. and l
should not have found you at all but
, Hutchinson told me he had seen you
: and had spoken to YOU"
~ when did he tell you that?"
- 1.-TWO days ago. Blu he told me
- that he had seen you two months ago.
!. and you had spoken Of me. You had
,s told him we were married. Alan.
which he had not known. He tracked
me home from q music shop, where
Ii they get me music lessons; but can
If not toll why he delayed"
,r But Alan could. Hutchinson, in his
cruelty. knew that II would be the
q. ruin Of Joyce's life as well as his own
II this marriage with her could be
A. contaminated first. He knew Hutch
IN inson hated him, so this was his re-
3 venge!
e He tried to think OF Veronica, but
It was Of no use. Joyce's image came
2 before him whenever he tried to think
OF the poor girl who was his wife.
Z The little boy. also, was looking at
Z. him with his. Alan's, own blue eyes.
:. which were so great a contrast to his
curly dark hair. That these poor
creatures, dependent upon him for
~ love which he could not give, troubled
4. him.
Il Veronica" he said at length. will
you 60 back to where you live and l
y. will write to you when I have seen
he her?"
The win you love! asked poor
US Veronica.
YES" said Alan. 'Will you do
thatf You know that you can trust
me-"
tie "Of course" said Veronica, simply,
al X will do what you say always. II
is misery to me to think that / have
'k' made you so unhappy, when I thought
IN only to make you happy"
MY poor GIRL" he said, deeply
81 !. touched by the contrition in her tone
=, and by her sadness, you would have
done very wrong IL you had not
come"
She gave him her address and left
him. When she had one a little way
ffom him she took her boy in heI
=, arms and Rugged him nercely. Hi
u~~rn~ Onnlknl - nw nwyM - chl