Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1907-10-04

town.
Il lost something. have been hunt
ing for 1t on the beach. / have come
back to have another look here"
II have it. Come straight up to the
room you were In this afternoon"
lie appeared to hesitate.
You-you are not alone?
But Claire had left the window and
was waiting impatiently at the open
door. How long he kept her! 1t seem
ed an age before his halting step was
heard upon the stairs, willie she. on
fire to crave his forgiveness and mind
full Of nothing else, could not Imagine
what held him back. Even when he
came his eye was timid and his feet
slow to cross the threshold-in fact.
the inveteratc conventionallty of the
male was not little fiuttered at her
receiving him alone at this hour Of the
night and that night her marriage eve.
Yet his qualms were entirely on her
account. Nor could they quench the
ineXtinguishable loyelight in his hon
est eyes.
AS for Claire, however, she forgot
everything but the cruel wrong she
had done the man before her, the suf-
ferin1s cut so deep upon his bronzed
face anu her own new and binding
realization of his innocence and hero
ism. For space she could but stand
ana gaze upon him with burning eye
balls. Then, with the noble uncon-
seriousness of woman stirred to the
soul, she took him by both hands and
drew him into the room and besought
his forgiveness upon her knees, but
with his hands still clasped in hers.
Tom released his hands, shut the
door nervously and then almost
brusquely asked her what he had to
forgive.
Il thought you guilty. she sobbed.
Il said so-and you We're innocent all
the time! Oh, thank Cod
Wait" he interrupted. How do
you know that?''
What you lost found. I have It
here. Oh, Tom. have read every
word! Oh, why did you not send it
ut the time? You were innocent-in-
nocent! Can you ever forgive me?'
Get up" he said. "You have for
gotten something
Nothing she answered. "Your
marriage has no more to do with 1t
than NINE"
My marriage! With whom, pray?"
1.-THE wife You applied for-at some
factorym
She could not help her tone. 1t
stung Tom into telling her the facts
and so inadvertently exposing DAM
trees chlcanery. lie instantly defend
ed it as the accepted course.
but that's not what meant at all"
he added hurriedly. You must have
forgotten what told you the other
day in the boat shed!''
'sMy hero!' she whispered. "You
thought it best that should never
know, and so you said you We're not
an innocent man."
Nor was l." he faltered. "You soon
saw that for yourself. They may hang
me YETI
"And you wouldn't have me think of
you any more" continued Claire, a
spasm OF pain crossing her face Mt his
words. But WILL will! I'll think
Of you till deny own herow
He fidgeted horribly, looking toward
the door. She would compromise her.
self, she would do herself harm. That
was still his first thought. She saw
1t, and 1t foated her to the crest Of
that emotional wave in whose trough
he trembled
Il believed YOU guilty-inay God for
give met she cried. "But-shall tell
you something's"
"Well?"
Il loved you all the samer'
II won't believe it," lie said, at last.
81 did; know it now
"Then forget it!' he cried hoarsely.
For Gods sake, remember nobody
but the man you are to marry tomor-
row morning. What? Claire:' He
started from her. She had shaken her
head. She shook it more passionately
for that, but< she did not speak So
he began-hardly knowing what he
said-but pleading for his best friend
pleading for her hon0e- pleading for
sacred duty rs Ills male eye saw 1t.
She was going to marry Il generous
and brave man, to whom he owed, not
only his life twice over, but any good
that was left In him. Yet neither was
the other faultless man, though SO
generous and so brave, and his one
great anchor to good sense aud good
living was his love for Claire. Tom
poke plainly. even cloqucntly. us he
went on. lie would have gone oil
longer, but there was6no need. Claire
sat meelsly weeping. He bent over her
| his face wrung with anguish now
hat hers vas hidden-and SO took her
hand III his for the last time.
God bless you always" lie whisper
ed In n broken voice, "and make you
good to him-anu make him good to
your
She chung passlonately to his hand.
She held it to her bosom aud looked
lpiteously up into his face. Tho teara
'parkled in her eyes and on her cheeks.
Her sweet lips quivercd. 1t was more
than man could hear. He fell upon his
inecs, he threw his arms about her,
md for very little space these two
torn hearts beat and 'sobbed as one.
ITO be continued)
His Dear Old Mother.
1