The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1905-01-14

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will. | "a thrown upon the world,
| anne here to Calvert, Tex, and
friends secured me a position in the
public school"
What Of the man." he asked. stern.
ly. did he dare"
Hush, hush" she impiored. "Hs
was true TO me, Business called him
TO Europe before my uncle's marriage.
He was lost at sea. My sorrows fol-
lowed each other In quick succession;
the last being a long illness and grim
fight with death, | care for you, |
have seen your love for me. | have
tried to yield to 1t, for | know that
you are noble, good and true. My
heart has sometimes hungered for your
tenderness and care. but phantom
hands have always, and will always,
thrust you from my heart, for | feel
bound to him for time and eternity"
you say that Mr.. Sinclair is dead?"
Eyes; the vessel was lost OF the
banks of Newfoundland"
For a moment the love OF the mar
struggled with the integrity Of the gen
tleman. Unconsciously she had be-
trayed the fact that he might in time
win her love, and save his happiness,
but by paying the price Of eternal
shame, His soul bowed In the dust OF
despair, but his honor arose triumph
ant from tae crumbling ruin Of his
hopes.
Alice, can you bear a great shock?
Be brave, | have something wonderful
to tell you. Harry Sinclair was picked
up by a fishing boat, but was desper-
ately i'll for months afterward. My
friend says that he sought for his lost
love even as Evangeline sought for Ga
briel. Then he heard that she was dead.
Weep to your hearts comfort now, I
will never rest, never cease in my ef-
forts, until | lay this little hand in
his. | have seen him! # I had only
known"
"You have seen him! Is It possible?
Oh! tell me all about him. Was he
broken-hearted, sad?"
We'll, no; he did not impress me
that way. | thought him a genial,
pleasant fellow"
81 do not see how that was posi-
BILE"
"You must not be unjust. You loved
him truly and yet you have always
seemed like Gods smile and angel Of
light"
His voice broke with suppressed sobs
as he arose:
"Good-by, my lost love, | will go
away tomorrow, and when l return,
please God, it will not be alone"
The shock of the news, the power OF
memory awakened by the imprisoned
voice, which she had thought stilled in
death. left her mind almost in a state
of chaos, but the beauty of such unself-
ish devotion impressed her as Loves
divine self-abnegation." As il wits
pered to her soul, came the words Of
the Son of God:
Greater love has no man than this;
that he lay down his life for his
friend" and she knew that the sweet
est hope of his heart had been slain by
her hand.
She stood in the parlor awaiting his
coming. Her face was like a lily which
the frost had touched. Piteous ex-
pectancy was in her eyes. Her hands
were cold and %nerveless. She knew that
Mr.. Leigh had returned alone, but
what story did he bring?
When he came the pity upon his
face did not escape her eyes.
"He is dead" she almost whispered.
~ can read the truth in your face"
mo; it Is worse than that, poor
child. Sinclair was married the very
day | reached"
Married, married! Oh, thank God!'
and the frozen misery Of her face broke
up in a food of tears. After awhile
she said:
Listen before you tell me one word.
He was my girlhood's lover, associated
with the romance, music and sentiment
Of youth. If he had remained constant
to my memory I would have married
him. Dudley, the girl loved him, the
woman loves you. did not know until
you had gone that | had sent you to
find my doom as we'll as yours"
alice, Alice!" and he drew her to
his heart. TN June must go to Eu-
rope. Tell me that | need not go
alone"
The family had gathered In the sit.
ting room and the children went as
usual to the g~raphophone. In a mo-
ment the air qulyered with the melody
Of song. Childish voices Joined In the
refrain, blending with the fathers bass
and the mothers sweet contralto.
Alice moved to the doorway, the por-
tiers framing her slight form, and sang
as no human ear had ever heard her
sing. Then turning she laid her hand
in his, and he read his answer in the
dying cadence:
81 will wed you in the golden sum.
mer-time."