Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1906-09-26
CHAPTER XVI.
THE CASTLE OF ROMANCE

How silent the forest wasl The
brook no longer murmured. the rustic
OF the leaves was without sound. A
spar OF sunshine, filtering through the
ragged limbs of the trees. fell aslant
ner, and she stood in an aureola. AS
Tor my hero. species of paralysis had
stricken him motionless and dumb
1t was all SO unexpected, all so sud-
zen, that he had the sensation OF be-
Ing whirled away from reality and
bundled unceremoniously into the I'M
real. She knew, and had knowni
leaf brushed his face. but he was
senseless to the touch OF it. All he had
the power to do was to stare at her.
She knew. and had known!
Dick stepped into the brook and be-
gan to paw the water, and the inter
mission of speech and action came to
an end
"You-and you knew" What a
strange sound his voice had in his own
earsl
Yes. From the very beginning 7
knew you to be a gentleman in mas
querade: that is to say. when | saw
you in the police-court. The absence
or the beard confused me at first. but
presently | recognized the gentleman
whom had noticed on board the
ship" SO she had noticed him.
Ihat night you believed me to be
your sister Nancy. But did not know
this till lately. And the night visited
her she exhibited some photographs
Among them was a portrait of you
without beard"
Warburton started. And the thought
that this might be the case had never
trickled through his thick SKULL How
she must have laughed at him secretly,
She continued: Even then 7 was
not sure. But when Col Raleigh de-
clared that you resembled former
lieutenant of his, then I knew" She
ceased. She turned to her horse as if
to gather the courage to go on; but
Jane had her nose hidden in the
stream, and was oblivious of her mis-
tress' need.
He waited DULY for her to resume
Tor ne supposed that she had not yet
done.
i have Inundated you in a hundred
ways, and for this I want you to for
give me. / sent the butler away for
the very purpose OF making you serve
In his stead. But you were so good
about it all with never a murmur of
rebellion. that | grew ashamed of my
part In the comedy. But now" Her
eyes closed and her body swayed: but
she clenched her hands. and the faint
ness passed away. But for you. nv
poor father would have been dishon-
I
into the arms OF man whom I despise
whenever / have Inundated YOU you
have returned the gift of a kind deed
You will forgive me?"
Forgive you! There is nothing
Tor me TO forgive on my side. much on
yours. It is you who should forgive
me. What YOU have done have de-
served" His tongue was thick and
dry. How much did she know?
No. not wholly deserved it," She
fumbled with the buttons of her waist:
her eyes were so full that she could
not see. She produced an oblong slip
Of paper
When he saw IT a breath as Of ice
enveloped him. The thing she held
out toward him was the Cancelled note
For a while he did me the honor to
believe that had betrayed him.
Il understand the kind and generous
impulse which prompted this deed Oh
admire it, and say to you. God bless
youi But don't you see how limos
sible 1t is? IL can not be: no. no,
My father and I are proud. What we
owe we shall pay. Poverty. TO be ac-
eepted without plant. must be with
out debts Of gratitude. But II was
noble and great Of you: and 7 knew
that you intended 10 run away without
ever letting any one know"
who told YOU"
mo one guessed H."
And he might have denied all knowI-
edge or iti
Won't you-won't You let II be az
81 is? have never done ANYTHING
worth while before. and this has made
ne happy. Won't you let me do this?
only You need know 7 am going away
on Monday. and II will be years be-
fore 7 see Washington again. No one
need ever know"
1T is imuossible,"
"Why2'
She looked away. In her minds eye
she could see this man leading a
try Cp through a snow-storm. How the
Wind reared! How the snow whirled
and edGied about them. or suddenly
blCtted them from sight, BUT on and
on, resolutciy. courageously. hopeful
~ he led them on TO safety.
lie was speaking. and the picture dis
solved
won't you let # remain Just as
u i52" he pleaded
Her head moved negatively. and once
more she extended the note lie took
II and slowly tore IL into shreds. with
8, he was tearing up the dream and
tossing IL down the winds.
"Tbs money viii be placed 70 youT
,rcdii al the bank on Monday We ca n