Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1905-08-24
By Charles Oarvice

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bends, and takes her In his arms, am
with a wild light breaking over his
face he cries:
mo. not too late! You will not
cave me, my darling-my darling!"
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.
Non She cries. Save me
| Heron; save me from myself, ] love
voll-l love you. but It is TOO late-too
late, Save me, Heron! Gc-go-go!
now, this minute II cannot bear II
longer! See, look at me, lislen!" and
she shrinks back from him. her eyes
fixed wildly on his. Every kiss OF
yours, every word Of yours, shamCs-
3lamcs me! You have come too late
Heron! | am married-man led al
ready in all but the mere form! ] can
not betray him."
An oath breaks from his lips.
you are mine, and no othcr's!'
he exclaims hoarsely. who is he
the other, that he should step between
us?"
The question makes her shudder
but II cahnS her,
"Who9" she says, painting zone
| who loves me better than you did
one 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 revlved-never
newer, If--If you love me, leave
me now this moment, while ! have
strength to save my honor. Go-oh
ro,"
And with great, expiring effort
che frees herself,
He stan1s and looks at her,
Us Ia there no hope?" ne Groans.
None" she brcathes her hand
lnrosscd to her heaylnE bosom. None
but that we may never meet again"
None" he says vacanly "BS
! Heaven. II IL hard, | have deserved
II. Would to Heaven | had never
learned tho truth. or had known thai
| had lost you forever; | could have
finished the story But now"
Ana his hands fall with dreary DC
spuir to his Side.
There Is minutes silence; then h'
takes MP his hat from the 1loor, anc
stands lingering II with trembling fin
gers, his eyes nXed on hers with pain
, frll intensity.
"Good.hyc," he says at last "Afte
all. II IT, best, perhaps. You will bt
aappy with thls-this other So be
, It. Goodbye
She cannot, dare not touch hi.l, az,
after moment hls hand falls 10 hi
side, he takes step nearer to her
land Touches the edge II her dresl
y with II lingering, dumb caress Of fare
well, then goes slowly to the door.
But even IA his two fingers touci
the handle. the door opens, and Ora
ham Gordon stands on the threshold.
Erect and molionless ne stands foI
"A moment, his face white and set
| ais clos fixed with n look OF sup
PRESSED agony on Mays face,
Heron starts backward and glarcs n
him
"Who Is this" he demands hoarsely
vi bout turning to May, his voic,
plainly dcnotjng that the question /!
unnecessary,
For answer Graham Gordon comes
forward aud takes Mays hand--noV
cold and limp, and gently leads her K
where Heron stands. white AMI hag
gard and watchluL
Without word he stands and looki
M her, with the same set gaze of noble
! resignation, and then he lifts her hanC
TO his lips, and rs II falls in Heron'
en- or grasp goes out into the night.
When, minute aitcrWdrd, CARR,
PUSHES In, dragging sydney Dalton AT
ter her, they find them still standin.
| looking into each others eyes, awet
and suhdued scarcely daring to realiz,
the happiness which Graham Gordon'i
noble sacrifice OF self has wrought fo
them