Mower County transcript., 1906-12-05

triton. Never mind, sweetheart" hi
said, tenderly; but she interrupted him
with sudden vehemence: "Then why
did they remind me over and ovel
again that you killed her father
and"
For a moment Charles forgot his
promise to Sue Miller, and burst out:
II? Killed her father?"
Then with swift recollection of hif
bond of silence: "Go on" he said
calmly.
II was going to say that the circum
stances under which you took his life
as have since learned them, make his
death appear in-well, in a different
light"
But still bad? You would think II
better if no mans blood cried to me
from the ground?"
Unconsciously she sighed in consent
but quickly answered.: 1T is so diff
ferent to me now. He was not the ia
ther protecting his child, but an an
tagonist who sprang at you unawares. u
He did not reply, and she went on
"But there must have been mistake;
the old man probably thought you
were another. Did not the girls lover
appear?"
II saw nobody he declared
docs anyone know who he is, or
do they all think of you as I did?"
He did not look at her as he replied,
indirectly: 1T is matter of indif-
ference to me what they think, So
long as I am right in your eyes. And
you-you believe in me, now?"
He bent closer, trying to see into her
eyes. But she kept them turned from
him, fixed with unseeing gaze upon the
river hurrying past them.
She did believe in him with a faith
unalterable, but as that faith grew,
rose another mist of doubt-doubt of
that other, of that man who had held
the mirror wherein Winslow had ap-
peared in such bad light to her dis
torted vision. Was he, too, mistaken,
or was he purposely misleading her?
She dared not reason calmly. To dis
trust GonZaga now would mean mis-
ery-would set all her hopes adrift
For was he not her betrothed, her
mothers choice for her? The man
who was to bring that mother back to
home and life?
The last thought stilled the tumult
in her breast, and remorse toward
Winslow, thwarted love for him, sus-
picion of Gonzaga, all sank-weighed
in this last scale. Her mothers health
and comfort had before seemed all
important; was it only because, in her
own unhappy state, nothing mattered
anyway? When the one man in the
world was gone out of her life, it had
seemed easy to dedicate it to fiUal
piety. But now-now that his love
was hers, that the boon was within
reach, was she to forget what had
been SO plain a duty? Because the
plan was now sacrifice, indeed, was
she to renounce it? Conscience told
her that though the path of duty were
harder, it was just as clear.
He interrupted her musing: eve
must not linger, dearest" And he
took both her hands to help her up
beside him. then, with sudden passion,
drew her close.
But at the first sign of her rebellion
he gently released her, and they stood,
the man and the maid, facing e3ch
other in the road
4 squirrel ran, una-raid, across
their path. A blackbird scolded from
walnut tree near, and the scent Of
the green nuts was overpowering.
Ever afterwards their pungent fra
g&nce called to mind this scene
the sandy road with it's border of tan
gled grass, and in the center Of the
picture the girl, ankle deep in flower
ing weeds. On the muslin bodice was
a stain of pokeberry juice, forming a
crimson cross on her breast.
"Forgive me-" he said, simply.
Her voice was strained and weary
as she answered: There is nothing
to forgive, only-only have no right
to love you"
"There is somebody else?"
She bowed
"And you would not tell Re before?"
She raised her hand, as if to ward off
blow. Don't; I was weak last
night" she pleaded, "and it was sweet
to drift. But I am strong now
strong to live without your love. But
not"-ker voice faltered- but oh, not
without your friendship! Let that
ever abide with me-"
She extended both hands. and he took
them in silence.
At that moment there was a sound
in the forest, an indistinguishable
sound; but their hearts stood still to
hear
To be Continued.