Casco Bay breeze. [volume] (South Harpswell, Me.) 1901-1917, 1906-08-16

tuS Toom IN that nameleSS nance
he knew nothing more for certain
until Ferrars' hand closed upon his
shoulder. Ferrars' voice itself seemed
TO come from distance.
Here. then, take this. I've writ.
ten 1t: I've not told you-not broken
my wosd literally. I can't stay to
taik tonight: have to be at the
I tneatre by seven. and my friends are
waiting. She's staying there, at that
address. with friends. not far of.
Send this telegram to her with your
own hands.
Il tried to spare you pain by keep
ing silence. She won't see you-of
mat I'm certain: so this is supposed
to come from friend of hers. asking
her to be at the main park gate by
O'Clock. on a life and. death mat
ter. It's quiet there-the gates
close at dusk. Say nothing as to
how you found out. and don't 90
near the house itself. Simply wait
and call here tomorrow to tell me.
Old chap. it would be cruel to wish
you luck!'
Some word rose In Dams throat
but 1t was not sound. He pressed
the others hands and went out. AL
most unconsciously he dispatched the
telegram.
Nine o'clock! A thin powder Of
snow was falling. Past 8! He stood
on there in the grip Of the cold
letnargy because there seemed no.
where to go-nothing more to live
Ior. And then, Lottiei Over there.
ABOUT to cross the white roadway.
came the dear slight figure that had
moved through his many dreams. He
wanted to leap forward, to shout
her name; he could only stand
rigid.
She had paused, looking around.
only the curb railing was between
them. Then she had seen him, and
given the thrilling little cry for
which he waited. She realized! To
her he was ghost from a dead
past. He could just make out the
deathly wilderness CT her face in the
surrounding gloom. She had quiy-
cred back; she was going without
workout Of his life for ever!
SLottie! Lottie, dear hear me.
One word-if you ever loved me-"
mot one-no, not one," She
faltered it family, but with deter
mination that went to his heart.
Don't come near mel am not
worth 1t! 1t was not-not like you
to stoop to such a trick with a weak
| woman"
Hush! I won't move; am not
going to brighten you, dear. Only
let me speak quietly; only tell me
what 1t all means," He stood mo-
tioniess on his side of the iron rail-
ing. She had changed-yes! There
was something in her attitude to-
night, in her chilling resolution, that
he had never known in the old days.
His Lottie!-yet not the Lottie VINO
had chung to him and babe him be
strong and brave for her sake.
If you knew what have suffered
you would forgive me this" he said,
imploringly quiet. Its all a mist:
know nothing except that I have
done nothing to forfeit your love. I
had your cruel letter and would not
believe 1t; 1 came back home to tell
you SO. You never meant those
words. Lottie, you can't-you won't
say that you have given to some
other man what you gave to me-aII
that held precious in life. worked
Tor you out there; / waited, for
your futures sake; never will be-
lieve that you turned from me of
yrlr own accord, knowing that I
prayed for you on my knees every
night--that l."
| 1t quavered of. His effort had
been made. He caught at the rail
and put hand to his eyes. She was
looking down as IL in deepest shame,
but without visible tremor.
1T is too late" she said in the
same faint. cold way. "I-I did not
realize you would take 1t so to heart.
There Is no need to make a scene
here; 1 am known, and-and !
ought not to have been trapped by a
trick like this. No, I can't tell you
any more than I wrote. I don't ask
you to forgive me. but just to forget
me. III you persist now, IL must
go still farther away and give up my
work here. But IL you're the man I
think. you'll go back and find some
better woman who will repay you
for all. dare not stop; I must say
good-by."
"Good-by." The mans lips echoed
IL In far-away whisper. His star
ing eyes saw nothing now. The lump
In his throat could not be guIped
back this time. Only once his hand
wavered out, as n in hopes Of touch
ing hers. but the dear figure in gray
had gone.
Ten o'clock! a cropping, haggard
figure, he found himself back at the
house where Archie Ferrars lived. In
that front room the gaslight still
burned, but no one was there. He
moved TO and fro with simply the
dull idea that he had come to say
"good-by" before he turned back TO
that lone life in the bush. Ali I'M
consciously IL was that he took up
newspaper lying there; vaguely
his strained eyes focused a blue-pen-