The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1907-05-30

/ LOST sOAsIniu-. L nave pStH uInt-
ing for it on the beach / have come
back to have another look here"
Il have it. Come straight up to the
room you Were in this afternoon
| He appeared to hesitate.
.+you-you are not alone?"
| But Claire had left the window and
WAS waiting impatiently ut the open
| door. How long he kept her. 1t seem
ed an age before his hating step was
heard upon the stairs. while 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
Glow to cross the threshod--in fact.
the iuyeterate conventionality Of the
male was not a little huttered 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 tie
inextinguishable Iovelight 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-
ferings cut so deep upon his bronzed
face and her own new and binding
realization of his innocence and hero
ism. For q space she could but stand
and gaze uDon him with burning eye
balls. Then. with the noble uncon-
seriousness of 4 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
81 said so-and you were innocent all
the time. Oh, thank Cod
"Wait,' he interrupted. How do
you know that?"
here oh, Tom, / have read every
at 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 it
than NINE
"My marriagei With whom. pray?"
THE wife you applied for-at some
factory"
She could not help her tone. 1t
stung Tom into telling her the facts
and SO inadvertently exposing Dam
trees chicanery. He instantly defend
ed it as the accepted course.
But that's not what 1 meant at ALL"
he added hurriedly You must have
forgotten what / told you the other
day in the boat shed"'
"AIy heror' she whispered. "You
thought it best that l should never
know. and so you said you were net
ala innocent man.
Nor was T." he faltercd 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 at his
words. But | will will, I'll think
of you till deny own hero.''
He fidsetad horribly, looking toward
the door She would compromise her
self, she would Go herself harm. That |
was still his first thought She saw
1t. and it foated her to the crest of
that emotional wave in whose trough |
he trembled
Il believed you guilty-inay God for
give me.' she cried. "But-shall 1 tell
you something
"tWeil?"
81 loved You all the samer'
Il won't believe it, he said, ut last |
81 did: know it now
,tf
FOR Gods sake, remember nobody |
but the man you are to marry tomor-
row morning What? Clairct' lie |
started from her. She had shaken her
head. She shook it more passionately |
for that, but she did not speak. SO /
he began-bardly knowing what he |
said-but pleading for his best friend
pleading for her honor-pleading for
sacred duty as his male eye saw. it.
She was going to marry d 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 a faultless man, though so
generous and 50 brave. and his one
great anchor to good sense and good
living was his love for Claire. Tom
spoke plainly, even eloquently. as he
went on. He would have gone ON
longer, but there was no need. Claire
vat meekly weeping. He bent over her
his face wrunG with anguish now
hat hers was hidden-end so took her
hand in his for the last time.
God bless you always he whisper
ed in a broken voice, land make you
good TO hinl-and make him good 10
rour'
She chung passionately to his hand
She held it to her bosom and looked
,iteously UP into his face. The tears
'parSled in her eyes and on her cheeks
Her sweet lins qUivered. 1t was more
than man could bear. He fell upon his
snees. he threw his arms about her,
Ind for a very little space these two
torn hearts beaz and sobbed as one.
CHAPTER XNXIII.
1TyHE mister was busy at his desk.
81 but there was no rhyrnins die
81 tionary at lis elbow. and the