Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1905-08-09

White and rigid, one hand holding
the chair for support, she watches
him.
Yes" he mutters, more TO himself
than to her. II deserve It,"
Then he looks at her over his Shout
Ter. as man might look when he
takes his last look at the Paradise
from which he is expelled-forever.
His eyes take in every line of the
beautiful face, and slowly, with bent
b.ad, he moves toward the door.
/ Alas she cannot let him go, The
passionate love which was not dead,
but has sprung into life again at his
touch. leaps like a wild beast within
her bosom and overmastcrs her.
With low cry sho springs toward
him, and falling at his feet, clings to
mis- arms
! -Heron-Heroni
Shaking in every limit. he looks
DOWN at her for moment, then he
bends, and takes her in his arms, and
With a wild light breaking over his
face he cries:
mo. not too late, You will not
.eave ne. my darling-iny darlingi"
For a 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. "Saya me,
Heron; save me from myself. 1 love
vou-I love you, but it is Toe jlte-too
late, Save me- Heron. Ge-go
now, this minute IL cannot bear it
longer! See, look at me. listen," and
she shrinks back from him, her eyes
| 8xe,I wildly on his Every kiss of
YOURS, every word Of yours, shames-
shames me! You have come too late,
Heron! am married-manied al
ready in all but the mere form! can
not betray him,"
! An oath breaks from his lips.
"You are mine, and no other's!"
he exclaims hoarsely. who is he,
the other, that he should step between
u.s."
The question makes her shudder,
! nut it Gains her
"WhoP" she says, painting. 'One
who loves me better than you did
T! crc who has never deserted me
whom 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-neyeT
never, Tiff you love me, leave
me nov 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.
Isis there no hope?" he groans.
None" she breathes, her hand
pressed to her heaving bosom. None.
hut that we may never meet again"
| Monet" he says vacantly. by
Heaven, it is hard. have deserved
/ it. Would to Heaven l had never
! learned the truth, or had known that
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
,llas up his hat from the hoor. and
stana. lingering it with trembling fin
gers. his eyes fixed on hers with pain
sui intensity.
Goodbye" he says at last. After
all, it is best. perhaps. You will be
happy with this-this other So te
Ia. Good-bye:"
| She cannot, dare not touch him, ard
after a moment his hand falls To his
side, he takes step nearer 10 her
and touches the edge IL her dress
with a lingering, dumb caress of fare
W I'll. thea 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,
ais eyes fixed with a 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 ami bag
gard and watchfui.
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 1t falls in Heron's
eager grasp goes out into the night.
When. a minute afterward, Carrie
rushes in. dragging Sydney Dalton af-
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
CHAPTER xxxIil.
It is the evening of the day follow
ing that of Heron's return. London,
hot AMI parchei. has just dragged
through it's long twilight, and the rat
tie of carriages along the sultry
streets proclaims that the nights gay
\ m