Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-06-06

promises All, Keith, have some pity.
could not help it-1 had no power to
stay this love, 3, ~. ~ "a
|; With a contemptuous laugh; he loosetl
her hand, and it fell limp and lifeless
at her side. IS. IS
80 much for woman's fldelityI" 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 10 .be
faithful unto death, had proved untrue
He had forgotten Viola 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 ,toiled three
years In a foreign land-for this he
had come from the other end Of the
world! ! 4. :
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
1fercely: Does It count for nothirc
that 1 have sent the man care for
from me-that I have made this sacri.
flee in order to keep my promise with
you oh. I am ready to be your wife .
she continued In a tremulous tone. "if
you are willing to take me on these
terms. Now TINT you know, 1 am VIII.
Ing to marry yoy,t Keith but to have
come to you and not tell. you=-ah, I
could not wrong you SOL could not
commit 80 unforgiyeable a sinW
A change stole over his face. as he
heard Ter; and now, as her voice
trailed OF Into SOB groan escaped
him. IL.
Z The memory of Viola came back to
him with a rush, and the pain Of the
blow Annice'sl confession had given his
vanity fed. to give place to a feeling Of
remorse. y z
E Those words Of Annice had torn the
seal 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 a binding mist Of tears,
Annice." he said, extending to her
a supplicating hand. at is ! who have
sinned not you r il3is
She listed while he told her all. her
fairShead bowed, her pale lips quiyerlng
with emotion. Then, when everything
had been laid bare, she placed her cold
hand in his, and her eyes. fullsof a pain
the depth Of which he could neither
gauge nor understand. rested on his.
There is only one thing to do.
Keith" she said. steadily, eand that is
to say good-by. You love this other
woman and III love another man.
There was fate In 1t. dear i; you can't
blame yourself any more than I can
blame myself. Love was stronger than
both of us !! Go, Keith, and be happy
forget that we ever metz {. &
And you, Annie? 2" he asked, as d
strange thrill ran through him, awak-
ssned. perhaps by a dash of memory in
which bygone days had. returned to him
the days when she had been all the
world to him. ~. 1 s.: 4.
She looked at him unfalteringIy.
IL shall marry other mar"
she said. q ~.
Squire Graythorne came into the II
brary ard stood for a moment watching
Keith Halliston's handsome figure NOV.
Ing 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.
We'll, he; questioned. s'Did that let
ter speak tile TRUTH S
'.Yes,n she answered, In a strangled
tone, 1T was all true. !" 8
An oath escaped the old mans lips.
II hope that you gave the scoundrel his
desserts, he said, suppressing his WRATH
with an, effort II hope you told HIM
what we think Of man who plays the
traitor to his promised wife :, ~.
Il have sent him away, y answered
Annice, with sob. We've have
parted forever u 20 \
II am very glad to hear 1t, observed
the squire grufiy. II was afraid you'd
be foolish. know what women are
when they care for q man as you cared
for him. And now; my girl, you must
make up your mind to forget MI about
him. have been thinking things oyer.
What do you say to a, trip abroad, eli?
4 have a great belief in other scenes
and new faces. Shall we go7'' s 4
As he spoke he sat down and put his
arms around his motherless child. She
sank weeping Into his embrace.
"Yes." she sobbed, "help me to foro, !.
daddy. Take mo away and help ma
forget love him so II love him 90 r.
80 Z! g
IS An sur later Keith Halliston, with
an exultant look on his clear-cut fea-
turen and a great joy within him. was
holding Viola Maine to his heart. :
$50 you Will DO mlne after all,n DO
whispered pass!pnatply. Ills llps on hera.
Mine RFepka |lts I Aslna w laAy iAks