The Washington herald., 1906-10-13

'Surely-your excuses.
Il cannot apologize yet. katherin; !
am unconvineed."
She thought moment. thinking deeply
DO YOU know. Frank she said 1T last
no man has ever insulted me bat you?
do not like il. I have a mind not 90
bother trying to convince yOu-a mind 20
let YOU go
In that case. madame" He arose.
hat in hand
Her eyes opened wide. you would 90:
you would dare leave me?p she gasped.
He nodded.
She stared az him, turning pale as
death. then cried Of a sudden
Go then. Never let me see your face
again"
He bowed and obeyed. but from the
door heard a low. painful moan He
turned. Madame Niyella was sObbing as
though her heart would break
Cressingham found an echo Of her emo
tion in his own heart. Madams Viyella
was very beautiful. even though her face
was not Of classic type It was no sense
of duty which prompted him 10 sake The
woman in his arms and press hot kisses
on her crimson tear-wet mouth
She took his hand and put it TO her
heart. which beat within its cage a wild
impassiOned prisoner. 1t is yours" she
whispered; ALI all yours; DO you believe
me now?"
'Katherin.' The cry was struggling
one; he was fighting for control.
The woman smiled 10 see. She sat upon
the lounge and drew him down beside her
with a gust of words Foolish boy.
YOU are still Jealous. Really. it was my
father Frank / know il is hard for you
ID haf hfrf is f..fI
you his name dear. nor anything about
HIM He is a great person, and I am
his daughter. Do you understand
No one in the world knows aught
of this but you. dear one. He sometimes
visits me. but always secretly. Were our
relationship once suspected-I should see
him no more; and. Frank. he is The only
near friend that I have ] love him. dear.
he has been always good 20 me. should
not tell YOU anything Of this. All, how
trust YOU
Trust me more. What is his name?r
The woman smiled at him. You are
an honorable man, dear are YOU nOt2
You would not break your word. much
less an oatb2"
All
II am oath-bound Frank. You would
not counsel me 10 break my vow. But
an. for Your sake anything Am + no.
yours. soul as well as body? Dear one.
order me 10 break my oath, Are you not
my MASTER
Cressingham was beaten and although
he Qimly recognized the method. the art
of her attack was too perfect to allow
thought Of insincerity. Honest as steel
himself, he answered frankly as another
of as pure calibtr. Il have no right to
ask that of you. Katherin."
Then let as talk Of love-" she cried.
since We are now together here with
n0ught AZ last but love between us"
Fate saved him for the moment There
came servant with a message for mad
anne. n person had called 20 see her who
was of too exalted rank for cavalier dis
missIi. She got 10 her feet O jealous
light in her eyes and anger unconceaIed:
she hated so 10 let him go, but she whis-
pered in his ear some burning words. and
CTeSsingham left her pledged 10 return
that very night
The cold. calm light of the day without
offered a sudden bliss 90 his stiU tiugIing
senses. chilling the blood that still throb-
bed iusolently in his veins. He remem-
bered Miss Elliott then and realized the
depths into which he had almost fallen. +
the abyss on whose brink he still stood
totteTinE. He remembered too. the task
which be had undertaken. and saw him
self q double faIlUTe-a traitor 10 his duty.
"a traitor 20 his love.
H. an almost reckless mood he called
upon Col. Vernon. his commanding Off
Ger. kindly old soldien who had not
fathered ~ crack regiment Ions enough to-
forget the follies of bis own youth. and
who bore the reputation Of being lenient
10 all faults save those that furnished
honor. To him Cressingham made full
confession Of his Russian fiasco. save
only that he gave no names.
The colonel had always been fond Of his
Junior captain, and did not want to lose
him bat he saw an opportunity dear 10
his heart. and. rs ne aftsrWaTd told his
friend. Gen Poole he rated the young
ster soUudly. These hot blOOds want
a lesson now and then, Poole. and when /.
they want it, sir by CAD they get it
from me-
But The Raging once over. the colo
mel proceeded straightway TO discount his I
words; be invited CTessngh3m to lunch I
ana over the second bottle OF HeidSi8ck +.
waXed 50 reminiscent that CrCssingham I.
presently perceived be sat before q man
who hai spent q wilder and more
thoughtlesS youth than he and ne was .
astSnished and q little amused 20 find
how proud at heart the old man was of 4
the semi -disgracefuI pranks and mishaps
of his past
The lesson did him good from a worldly /
point of view. 1t showed him that pains .
of the present become pleasant mental /
tit-bits for the jdded palate of m3turcr
years. tt taught him Co attach less
weight tnan was his wont 20 his own
and shortcomings. He left
the colonel feeling half satisfied that an
rrsa 49, Gin
sin. This moral ObiiqUiU OF vision FUR
nished him with an excuse 10 keep his
appointment with Miss Elliott in spite
Of The mornings tTedCneTicS. lie had
been false to her-sranted; but. then. she
did not know of il, He loved her In
spite of his falseness; indeed. his fault
had made him perhaps appreciate her
more
So be argued attempting 20 convince
himself, and when he reached her door
the argument was still half finished. He
had a queer. instructive presentiment
that he would find her cold % him. that
She would read his heart and divine the
wrong uIat lie had done her That she
loved him he never doubted; SO strangely
penetrating is .he mind OF love, me had
been able TO read her heart in that with
)ut tangible reason or eucoura cement
All, well perhaps she would save him
rom himself. He had been weak before
and would infaliibly be weak
iaain before Il similar temptation. but. \
ike most well-meaning sinners. he was
'emorseful ana anxious to find grace inn
nediately the cause of sin had been re-
moved Lead us not into temptation.'
: the most necessary prayer of all. as
hTist the Master knew for i'm fashioning
hat eXhortation. which has descended f.,
Town the centuries to Us. Iegacy divine.
He phrased that simple heart cry last of