Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1905-08-28

DOWN at her for moment, then he
bends, and takes her in his arms, ant
with wild light breaking over his
face he cries:
mo, not too late! You will moi
cave me, my darling-my dariing!"
For minute, one brief, delicious
minute, she yields to him; then honor
right, conscience rise and do battle
with her soul for the man whose
plighted wife she is.
Mono" she cries. ..Save me
Heron; save me from myself! / love
vou--I love you. but it is too late-toc
late! Save me, Heron! Gc;-go-go!
now, this minute II cannot bear it
longer. See, look at me, listen!' and
she shrinks back from him, her eyes
fixed wildly on his. Every kiss OF
yours, every word Of yours, shamcs-
sllames me! You have come too late.
Heron! I am married married al
ready in all but the mere form! I can
not betray him."
An oath breaks from his lips.
he exclaims hoarsely. ''Who is he,
the other, that he should step between
us?"
The question makes her shudder,
hut it Gains her.
''Who9" she says, painting. Zone
who loves me better than you did
one who has never deserted me
whom I dare not betray. Heron! say,
do what you will. shall marry him to-
morrow; you are too late--too late!
the past can never be revived-never
never! Tiff you love me, leave
me now this moment, while I have
strength to save my honor. Go-oh,
go!"
And with a great, expiring effort
she frees herself. '.
He stands and looks at her.
Ts-is there no hope?" he groans.
"None," she breathes, her hand
pressed to her heaving bosom. None,
but that we may never meet again"
Monet" he says vacantly. by
Heaven. it is hard / have deserved
it. Would to Heaven had never
learned the truth, or had known that
1 had lost you forever; I could have
finished the story. But now"
And his hands fall with dreary de-
spair to his side.
There is a minutes silence: then he
takes ZIP his hat from the floor, and
stands lingering it with trembling fin
gers, his eyes fixed on hers with pain
full intensity
Goodbye he says at last. after
all, it is best, perhaps. You will be
happy with this-this other. SO be
it. Good-bye!"
She cannot, dare not touch him, ard
after a moment his hand falls to his
side; lie takes step nearer to her
and touches the edge If her dress
with a lingering, dumb caress Of fare
well, then goes slowly to the door
But even as his two fingers touch
the handle, the door opens, and Ora
ham Gordon stands on the threshold
Erect and motionless ne stands for
moment, his face white and set,
mis- eyes fixed with q look OF sup
pressed agony on Mays face.
Heron starts backward and glares at
him.
'"Who Is this" he demands hOarsely,
without turning to May, his voice
plainly denoting that the question is
unnecessary.
For answer Graham Gordon comes
forward and takes Mays hand-now
cold and limp, and gently leads her to
where Heron stands, white and hag-
gard and watchluj.
Without a word he stands and looks
at her, with the same set gaze OF noble
resignation, and then he lifts her hand
to his lips, and as it falls in Heron's
eager grasp goes out into the night.
When, a minute afterward, Carrie
rushes in, dragging Sydney Dalton al
ter her, they find them still standing
looking into each others eyes, awed
and subdued, scarcely daring to realize
the happiness which Graham Gordon's
noble sacrifice of self has wrought for
them