Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1906-12-26
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Lavender.
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Lovers
By OLIVIA b. sTROHM
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lcopyrigh., 1905, by Olivia B. strohm}.
CHAPTER XXVlII.-CoNT1NuED
Distrust and unfaith and all hard.
. ness passed forever at. sight of him
stretched helpless there. -
He opened his eyes. II knew you
would come" he murmured. Z
He tried to raise his hand. She took
it in hers, REFRESHING the shudder with
which her healthy frame shrank from
the cold, prophetic moisture In his
palm.
She whispered some sweet, plying
words, and her voice was music to his
ears.
From the open door of the tavern
not far away came sounds of merri-
ment, but all was quiet near by.
Ballinger and Winslow stood with
beads bowed while the girl leaned just
thin the parted curtains, half sup
porting the dying man. Occasionally
he gasped few words Of which they
could distinguish only her name. His
voice, grew fainter-scarcely heard
above the sobbing of her whose arm
now pillowed his heavy head.
A birds song from tree near
reused him, and with an effort he
opened his eyes, which, if they had
power to see, beheld not the things of
earth. Even her dear face was
blurred and his gaze wandered, and he
put up one hand feebly, as If to guide
his erring vision.
There was a rattling sound in his
throat. At the first note of this fatal
herald, the preacher raised one hand.
and the words of prayer rose, full,
sonorous. a ladder of faith whereon
the stumbling soul might climb.
But Gonzaga seemed not to hear:
kiss me-" he SAID.
She obeyed, and he sank back with
last. long sigh of content. It almost
seemed in that one kiss there lay more
power than that Of bell or book to
shrive his passing soul.
CHAPTER xxx.
It was evening Of few days later
when the Creighton family, Gerald ex-
copied, sat about the hearth where q
few fagots burned. It was still mid
summer, but for the invalid the night
wind blew cool. Their talk was chiefly
of the letter just received from Mrs.
Blennerhasset, who, an exile in the
south, awaited the issue of Rurr's trial,
and her husbands fate.
II will hear Ill of NEITHER" she
wrote, land faith in the loyalty Of
both shall ever abide with me-"
Mrs. Creighton closed the letter with
q sad smile and doubling shake Of the
head.
why, mother, dearest" cried Law
ender. "You do not doubt? You are
not of the idle majority-the masses,
ever ready to cruelty the fallen?"
Mrs. Creighton replied with the
calm judicial manner that seemed to
fit the brow, massive beyond her sex:
1--WE have no means of knowing the
truth, daughter I doubt If even his
tory will solve this riddle which lies
hidden in the hearts of a few. There
are great and good in power who are,
as you say, ready to cruelty him. 1t
seems, therefore, as though we, be-
tween two fires, had better keep as
cool as possible"
But this view met with no sympathy
from the young partisan. She ap-
pealed to her father: dad, do you
think Aaron Burr martyr, as I do?"
The elder Creighton smiled. lizard
ly that; he may come out of this
trial with flying colors; in that case,
be sure he will find no lack of friends
of reparation. If he does not-well,
I am too much of patriot to think
he will be convicted unless he deserves
it. Let us abide the ISSUE"
But Lavender was unconvinced. ut
Is audacious, know, to hold opinions
where two such wise heads dare to
form none. All the same, I believe
that Aaron Burr is much prosecuted
man."
Encore, encore, / quite agree with
yOu," and at the door stood Winslow,
smiling and clapping his hands.
Lavender gl1ded~ to meet him; then
on stool at her mothers feet she
sat, with eyes on the fire, quiet and
happy.
They talked of the trial, although as
yet only meager news had reached
them.
$50 Aaron Burr has but one cham
pion in this assembly," and Winslow,
laughing, turned to Lavender.
ut seems So" Mr.. Creighton as
scented. "Women are, as rule, on
his side. That is why marvel at my
;wife's impartiality."
Winslow took letter from his pock-
ct. II have here word from friend
who is summoned as witness in the
trial. He is now in St. Louis. He
urges me to accompany him back to
Richmond, and may co." He fin
1shed with an involuntary glance at
Lavender /
She sat within the radius of the fire.
her face suffused, less by its glow
than by the throbbing of her heart at
the news.
= Mrs. Creighton was the first to
speak. "But this is not sudden deter
mination? You had planned to go
soon?" and she glanced at Lavender,
N hoo OF