The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1907-05-17

But he had borne the battle badly. No
laurels of victory were hs-he was despica-
BILE coward and deceiver.
Madness and jealousy had spurred him on
to this now he had pledged himself to an
other-his word, given, could never be broken
He led her out again into the lighted ball
room. Her mother was seeking her; the car
riage was waiting. But she seemed to heed
All that night, till the cold gray Of dawn
crept through the blind, she sat on the edge
of her bed In state Of semi-consciousness.
She would not g, to sleep. though her eyes
were dropping and heavy. She dare not look
into the beyond-the morrow She feared the
awakening from sleep, lest it should prove a
dream
He came to the house the next day. His
face was white and drawn. Something was
Her hand stole timidly into his In silent sym.
pathy. He had obtained her fathers consent
about soon. Thrice a nine days wonder tn, the
announcement would be. 1t would fall Ike
an electric shock upon the tea tatters. From
this exciting source the river of gossip would
flow until the waters were drained dry, till
the news was stale and some fresh topic re-
placed it.
world. The sunshine dazzled her sight, the
dangerous odOr of flowers waited In the
magic breeze of her passionate, all-absorbing
love. What thing was this? What had SO
suddenly and completely filled that great void
In her life? Sometimes still the dark troubled
submerged her in cruel depths of despair
sense Of desolatlon and darkness would come
over her. The shadow of great sorrow
as it true-or is it but a dream?" she
would ask herself Shall l waken one day
and find the substance far beyond 6 my reach +,
As time passed the look Of silent anguish
In his face became more than apparent TO
same. At least, he could be kind; he would
do all in his power to atone for the great
wrong he had done. her: She must never
One day, when she had been playing some
SOFT low melody, turning around suddenly,
his chest, his brow was furrowed and his
lips tightly. closed.
She turned to the piano again, but her
hands trembled so she could not play. mist
noated before her sight; her heart was cold
with fear.
The gardens Of Lady Tregannons house
seene n hae and gayey farsan gowns
and dainty parasols made moving fiecks of
color the s was rs t an a
Only the giant elm trees cast welcome shad-
ows on the parched grass, and the giimmer
the main, looked refreshing to weary eyes.
Down a sheltered path, between shining
laurels and rhododendrons, walked Agatha
alone The sun then was setting In the
western sky; the broad light Of the day
Her thoughts were far away from the pres
ent. She had become more silent, more reti-
cent than usual OF late.
Hearing a voice, she paused. One Of her
hands pressed against her heart 1t was a
voice she knew-so well.
Irene. you have ruined my life as well as
your own. We have both reaped-what you
Agatha caught the sound of stihed sobs:
"Do not cry the deep voice said they
taar
heaven knows You know I love you-no
woman on earth can usurp your place IN my
You say that am sacrificing. your happiness
have you not sacrificed miner
entirely can Yo1 5naf yG9 n
other man holding. me IN his arms-maklng
love to me-and 1t CALLED you to madness.
70 become your wife. You thought you would
show me by this that you did not care-tnat
] was nothing to you, and you were lndiner-
II have not kept up the, role very WELL"
he answered, his voice breaking between a an he
gush and bitterness. AT least, you d may NJ
satisfied In knowing tnat am not inuineie"'
~ Il do not want to excuse my conduct" she
TO TeI have y remembered that was nothing to
YOU at that time, and so tried to forgive.
You had never asked me to be your our, wiI ron we
yes / was-but / was not heartiess ana
false, as you called me in your passion: !
seemed helpless to defend myself against your
anger: now it is too late-too late J!
Eyes. too late! ! am pledged to another.
Therefore. we must part; our paths may not
lie together. l suppose that l can bear II.
/ have borne 1t all these weeks Of miserable
torture. We're made of hard stuff, we men.
you do not think of me-" she cried, net.
tied. ,,.o
,,oris They are not on the surface III
attempted to think of all that lies before me
II, should only remember you, my love, not
INV honor. Let us go back to the others.
Agatha sank down on the fallen trunk OF a
tree the foliage and thick underground ma
her from view. She heard the ecno on tne ir
footsteps die away in the distance. Her eyes