Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1906-06-20

those of criminal awaiting his execu-
ton, and he longed for that meeting
with Annice even as he dreaded it
longed for it 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 beautiful eyes dimmed with weep
ing.
A sudden fear darted through him.
Could she have heardi 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? The very thought held him
dumb, and for a minute he stood gaz-
ing at her and she at him with a silent
questioning host of unuttered doubts
and fears.
Keith was the first to speak.
us this all the welcome you have
for me, Annice?" he said.
Keith, she answered huskiIy, not
meeting his look, "heaven knows
meant to give you a different welcome
but"
go on said the man as she paused;
''but what, Annice?"
His harsh and grating tones seemed
to startle her.
How can tell your" she forced out.
what have you to tell me?" he de
manded tersely.
STFhof T bauo hooY0
The words came from her in a
shamed whisper as she. once more
dropped her gaze.
Pale with surprise and incredulity,
Keith stared at her. His pulses had be-
gun to race madly, the blood seemed to
dance in his head, Wild and unreason-
able anger swept over him. He grasped
her hand roughly.
"Annice," he said, "speak out! Do
those words mean that you regret the
promise you gave me, and that you
have ceased to love me?"
How could I tell that the years
might bring other thoughts and other
views?" she asked him piteously. eve
were so young, three years ago, Keith !;
it was not fair to bind ourselves with
promises. All, Keith, have some pity /!
| could not help it had no power to
stay this love-"
With a contemptuous laugh, he loosed
her hand, and it fell limp and lifeless
at her side.
$50 much for woman's fidelity /" he
sneered. $50 much for the love that
was to last to all eternity"
He had forgotten all save that An
nice, who had vowed to love no other
man but himself, who had sworn to be
faithful unto death, had proved untrue.
He had forgotten everything
but that he had come there to claim his
promised wife, and that he had found
instead a woman who had betrayed
their love and given her heart to an
other. And for this he had toiIed three
years IN a foreign land-for this he
had come from the other end of the
world!
Stung by his taunt, the girl looked
up, crimson now with Indignation.
docs it count for nothing that 1
have been honest with your she asked
fercely. "Does it count for nothing
that I have sent the man I care for
from me-that have made this sacri-
fee in order to keep my promise with
you? oh, am ready to be your wife, y
she continued in a tremulous tone, "if
! you are willing to take me on these
terms. Now that you know, am will
ing to marry you, Keithj but to have
come to you and not tell you-ah, I
could not wrong you sol could not
commit so unforgiveable a SIM"
A change stole over his face as he
heard ner; and now, as her voice
trailed off into a sob, a groan escaped
| him.
The memory of Viola came back to
him with a rush, and the pain of the
blow Annice's confession had given his
vanity fed, to give place to a feeling OF
remorse.
Those words Of Annice had torn the
scales from his eyes, and he saw now
the wlckedness of the thing he had been
about to do.
Her name broke from him hoarsely
She turned to him and looked at him
through a binding mist Of tears.
"Annice," he said, extending to hel
a suppIIcating hand, at is who have
sinned-not you'll"
She listed while he told her all, hel
fair head bowed, her pale lips quiverine
with emotion. Then, when everything
had been laid bare, she placed her colo
hand In his, and her eyes, full Of pair
the depth of which he could neither
gauge nor understand. rested en- his.