Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1906-05-05
The LOVE OF KEITH.
At the big iron gates he dismissed t

Then he began to walk mp the broad
gravel drive, his steps quick and jerky-
the movements of man whose mental
state had lost its natural calm.
His eyes, attracted by the bright color,
rested on the rhododendrons that fringed
on the half mile drive from the manor
gate to the door; but though his eyes be-
held the purple glory of the blossoms
they did so vacantly, as the eyes OF an
infant behold a flame.
Then suddenly into the vacancy a
CLEAN of pain--or was it shame? shot;
for he remembered that the rhododen-
drons had been in flower when he last
traversed that road three years ago, that
she had plucked a tiny blossom and given
it to him, bidding him keep it till the glad
hour when he should come back to claim
her for his wife.
Well he kept it. and there in his
pocektbook. where her hands had placed
it. the living bloom, it lay still, withered
and dead. He had kept it, and he had
come back to her today to fulfill his
promise and to ask for the fulfillment of
hers. Outwardly he was as unchanged as
the scene before him; little suntanned,
perhaps. and shade older and more
serious in his general air, but outwardly
he was still the same Keith Halliston who
had held Annice Graythorne in his arms
and vowed eternal fidelity to her and
their love.
And she would never know.
He told himself this bitterly, yet with
a feeling of self satisfaction that amount
ed almost to triumph. For it was no
mean thing Che argued to himself) to
have fought down that other and greater
love, to have put woman who was
dearer to him out of his life, to have
said good bye to all he held most precious
in the world. And this he had done
for honor's sake.
The kiss of that other woman was still
throbbing on his lips; her voice still
echoed in his ears; the beating of her
heart remained insistently on his own
Every word that had been spoken at
their last meeting required to him as he
went on toward the house.
IF you care for me as you say" she
had cried in her blind selfshness of
despair, you will go to her and tell her
the truth-tell her that fate has changed
you, that to marry her now would be to
bring misery to you both"
He had tried to imagine himself do
ing as she liked, and a vision of Annice
had arisen before him. her face white
with pain, stricken with disappointment
and despair.
II cannot do it," at length he had an
swered. viola, we must part. To take
our happiness at the price of hers would
mean to cast a shadow on our lives
which time would never efface. Would
to heaven we had never met and lovedi
Then we should not have known the
agony of this hour, for part we must,
Viola, and forever"
You would wreck our two lives for
her one?" Viola had said despairingly.
1T is not true, then, that you love me
most! 1t is she who holds your heart
against ALL"
My love is yours, and in you lie buried
all my hopes in life," he had affirmed,
passionately; "but l gave Annce Gray
thorne my promise, and for me she has
waited patiently and faithfully for three
long years. Can l forget that ?" Can l
break my wori?"
Can you break your heart and mine q"
she had asked
Heaven help us both, must!" he had
cried.
Then had come the last scene-the sob.
bling entreaties, the brief struggle with
temptation, the final resolve to keep faith
with Annice at all costs, that one last
look into Niolas eyes, and then-good-
bye!
Mechanically he went on his wav nm
the drive; mechanically he rang the bell
and inquired for Miss Graythorne: me-
chemically he followed the man into the
library, where for few moments he was
left alone
Those moments Were hours of agony
10 him. His sensations were akin to
those of criminal awaiting his execu-
ton, and he longed for that meeting with
Annlce even as he dreaded it-lonoed for
il to come and go.
Presently the door opened and he stood
face to face with her at last! She came
toward him with curious, hating steps.
her sweet face pale and drawn, her beau
titul eyes dimmed with weeping.
\ sudden fear darted through him.
Could she have heard? Was it possible
that someone might have told her and
that she already knew what he had
meant to conceal from her all their lives Z?
The very thought held him dumb. and
for minute he stood gazing at her and
she at him with silent questioning-a
host of unuttered doubts and fears.
Keith was the first to speak.
is this all the welcome you have for
me, Annice ?" he said.
Keith, she answered huskily, not
meeting his look. heaven knows | meant
TO give you different welcome-but"-
Go on" said the man as she paused .
but what. Annice 2"
His harsh and grating tones seemed
to startle her
How can tell yOu?" she forced out.
hat have you TO tell me-" he de-.
handed tersely.
That | have been untrue"
The words came from her in a shamed