Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1905-09-22
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/ gOLANDE /
aS BY WILLIAM BLACK 81
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She looked at her watch. Well, she
had nearly half an hour to spare, and
she was determined to stay till the last
minute If 1t were needful. But there
was no figure coming along the road, no
living thing visible on these vacant hill
sides, nor a sign of life along the wide
moorland Of the village. She was CRATE
full for Mrs. Bells talking; it lessened
the overstrain of the suspense somehow;
she had to force herself to listen in a
measure.
Perhaps he Is not going away" said
folande. And then she added, suddenly,
and with her face grown deadly white:
Mrs. Bell, that is Mr.. Melville COM
ing down the hill. wish to speak a
word or two to him by himself"
"Oh, yes, yes; why notT said Mrs.
Bell, cheerfully. I'm just going indoors
to put bit string round the flowers for
ye. And there's wee bit basket, too,
ye maun take; l made a few sweets,
and comfits, and such things for We last
night, that'll help to amuse ye on the
Journey"
She did not hear; she was regarding
him as he approached. His features
were as pale as her own; his lips were
thin and white. When he came to her
he stood before her with his eyes cast
down like one guilty. The pallor of his
face was frightful.
Il could not go away without a
word of good-by."
Here she stopped, fearful that her
self-possession would desert her. Her
hands were tightly clinched, and uncon-
sciously she was nervously lingering her
engagement ring
81 do not see why the truth should
not be said between us-it is the last
time. did not know, you did not know =.
1t was all a misfortune; but l ought to
have known-I ought to have guarded
myself; it is l who am to blame. Well,
if l have to suffer, it is no matter, it Is
you that | am sorry for"
"Yolande l cannot have you talk like
that! he exclaimed.
Zone moment" she said-and strange
ly enough her French accent seemed
more marked in her speech, perhaps be-
cause she was not thinking of any ac-
cent. "One moment. When l am gone
away, do not think that l regret having
met you and known you. 1t has been
a misfortune for you; for me, no. 1t has
been an honor to me that you were my
friend, and an education also; you have
|, shown me what this one or that one may
be In the world! had not known it be-
fore; you made me expect better things.
1t was you who showed me what 1 should
do. Do not think that l shall forget
) what l owe you; whatever happens,
!, will try to think of what you would ex-
pect of me, and that will be my ambi-
!, ton. 1 wished to say this to you before
l went away" said she, and her fingers
were trembling somewhat, despite her
enforced calmness. "And also that
that, If one cannot retrieve the past, if
one has the misfortune to bring suffering
on"
"Yolande, Yolande," said he earnestly
and he looked up and looked into her
, eyes, "do not speak of lido not think
. of it any more! Put it behind you. You
. are no longer a girl; you are woman
you have a woman's duties before you
4, Whatever is past, let that be over and
gone If any one is to blame, it has
, not been you. Look before you; forget
what Is behind. Do you know that il
is not light matter you have undertak.
{ emp
He was frmer than she was; he re-
garded her calmly, though still his face
was of a ghastly paleness. She hesitat
ed for a moment or two; then she glanc
5 ed around.
81 wish you TOTO give me flower,
5 she said, "that / may take it with me-
: NO" he said at once. "No. Forget
f everything that has happened here, ex
$ cept the duty you owe to others"
I THAT l have deserved" she said, in
! low voice. "Good-by."
e She held out her hand. He took 1t ant
held it, and there was a great compass
t sion in his eyes. To her they seemed
? glorifed eyes, the eyes of a saint, full Of
9. sad and yearning pity.
: "Yolande," said he, and the tones ol
his voice seemed to reach her very heart
p 81 have faith in you. | shall hear o.
= you Be worthy of yourself. Now, Goo
). bless you and good-by."
"Adeu-adieuw she murmured anC
t then, whte-faced and all trembling, bu
, still dry-eyed and erect, she got through
the house somehow, and out to the front
: where Mrs. Bell was awaiting her by tn,
@ side of the dog cart.
p When she had driven away, Mrs. Bel
n remained for minute or two looking af
$ ter the departing vehicle-and perhaps
y rather regretfully, too, for she had takeI
i great liking to this bright young Eng
n lish lady who had come into these wilds
but presently she was recalled from he
- reveries or'regrets by the calling Of Mr.
Melville. She went into the house a
q once.
L "Now, Mrs. Bell" said he, and h
s seemed In an unusual hurry; "do 20,
e think one Of the girls could hunt ou
I for me the waterproof coat that has tn
d strap attached to 1t for singing over tn
= shoulders? And l suppose she coul,
e pack me some bit of cold meat or some
thing of tho kind and h1lf n loaf In