Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1906-05-05

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, a wild and unreason-
able anger swept over him. lie 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 | tell that the years might
bring other thoughts and other views ?"
she asked him piteously. We were so
young, three years ago, Keith; it was
not fair to bind ourselves with promises.
All, Keith, have some pity! l could not
help it had no power to stay this
love"
With contemptuous laugh, he loosed
her hand, and it fell limp and lifeless at
her side.
80 much for a woman's fidelity!" he
sneered 80 much for the love that
was to last to all eternity"
He had forgotten all save that Annice
who had vowed to love no other man but
himself, who had sworn to be faithful
| forgotten Viola-everyt hing-but that he
had come there to claim his promised
wife, and that he had found instead
woman who had betrayed their love and
given her heart to another And for this
he had toiled 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.
Does it count for nothing that
have been honest with your" she asked
| fiercely. Does it count for nothing that
have sent the man / care for from me-
that | have made this sacrifice in order
to keep my promise with you? Oh, l am
ready to be your wife," she continued in
tremulous tone, IF you are willing to
take me on these terms. Now that you
know, ] am willing to marry you, Keith;
but to have come to you and not tell you
All, | could not wrong you sol could
not commit so unforgiveable a SIM"
A change stole over his face as he
heard her; and now, as her voice trailed
off into sob, 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 feeling of
remorse.
| Those words of Annice had torn the
scales from his eyes, and he saw now
the wickedness of the thing he had been
about to do.
| Her name broke from him hoarsely.
She turned to him and looked at him
| through binding mist of tears.
"Annice," he said, extending to her
suppIicatiug hand, "it is l who have
sinned-not you!"
She listened while he told her all, her
fair heed bowed, her pale lips quivering
with emotion Then, when everything
had been laid bare, she placed her cold
hand in his, and her eyes, full of a pain
the depth OF which ne could neither gauge
nor understand, rested on his
| There is only one thing to do, Keith"
she said, steadily, "and that is to say
goodbye You love this other woman
and II love another man. There was
fate in it, dear; you can't blame your
self any more than | can blame myself.
Love was stronger than both of us! Go,
Keith, and be happy~forget that we ever
met"
"And you, Annice?" he asked, as a
strange thrill ran through him, awak-
ened perhaps, by a flash of memory in
which bygone days had returned to him
1.-The days when she had been all the
world to him.
She looked at him unfalteringly.
Il shall marry-the other man" she
said.
Squire Graythorne came into the IL
brary and stood for a moment watching
Keith Halliston's handsome figure moving
swiftly down the drive. When it had
passed out of sight he turned to the girl,
who lay face downward on the cushions
OF the couch.
Well he questioned. Did that let
ter speak the TRUTH
Yes" she answered, in a strangled
| tone, 1t was all true"
I An oath escaped the old mans lips.