Rocky Ford enterprise., 1907-03-08

II IL impossible to describe the
scenes which followed my return 10
the De Tavenier mansion.
As I entered the yard ! saw Marie
standing near the fountain. where
she had SO often stood In those hale
yon days when We two alone had pre-.
sided over that old home. where tho
flowers bloomed always and the birds
never ceased to sins-where she had
stood when I hrst saw her. where my
heart had been resurrected by ono
glimpse Of those matchless eyes.
And now there was an eager. ex'
pectant look upon her face. y terror
OF anticipation In her eyes-was she
reading my thoughts? tried to smile
as ! drew near her. my heart on hre
with passion and my soul filled with
the horror Of the message ] had 10
deliver. would sooner die than say
these awful words. but with great
effort l hurried forward.
For n moment her face lighted and
her greeting was full of solicitude-
full Of love. I expected to sec her
swoon away. but Marie was as brave
as she was beautiful. and II seemed
thnt she was In measure prepared
for the worst. for her manner. though
under wonderful control. plainly indi.
Gated to my watchfui eyes the tense
strain OF hcr nerves.
Speak" she said. II know what
you will say. but spcak-rpcak! I'm.
piore. you. know you would spare
me. Y can read Il In your eyes"
Her face had become iivid. and her
cntrcatins voice was full Of eager
despair.
told her with ms much dclicncy ns
possible what had to tell. and knew
that the cruel words pierced her heart
like kccn.cd.cd knife. was amazed
Mt her wonderful scifcommand. for
when had done speaking she placed
her hand In mine and together VIC
entered the house without Q word:
| but as We reached tho parlor she
threw her hands wildly above her and
abandoned herself to the overwheln
Ing sorrow Of her devoted heart. cry.
Ing out. 20 dear God. IL knew I'll
dreamed that Of all who entered that
cave only you would rcturn-only
you. my iovc!" and her tender white
arms were about me. In that ccstatie
moment forgot the fires Of that
awful night. ! forgot the roaring wa
tcrs that dcluscd those dark passages
I forgot the staring eyes OF the second
member. I forgot the Death Commit
tee. and God forgive me! I even for
got the words Of NJ. De Tavenier. II
seemed that had left He'll behind
me. and. by 4 sudden. incxplicabls
transition. had walked into the realmi
Of Paradise.
Then kissed her face md led hcl
to the great chair In the recess Of the
window and there by her side told
her all that had previously omitted
| I told her how I had held the hand
Of her dying father for he only had
been a father to hcr-how he had
blessed her In his last prayer. told
her that (had OWNED our love. and
that II was the Joy Of his last mo
ments. and he died with a smile upon
his lips. mingled with a prayer that
might escape and come to her. and
"Oh." she cried. land that prayer
has been answered. and now We car
never. never part-you will never
leave me now. will you-never?'
And her eyes were upon mine. and as
I kissed away the tears cried out in
the infinite Joy Of my heart. "Never!'
And there In the gloaming our
spirits grew calm. Out among the
magnolias the birds twittered their
evening vespers. the great bell in the
cathedral pealcd forth. the hounds
bnyed in the rear yards. the world was
aglow with golden light.
Above the easements hung n wreath
Of snowwhite roses. and Marie plucked
the fairest Of these. and. kissing It,
she pressed It to her heart. And then
as by an inspiration, I reached far out
and plucked little pink flower from
n verdant tree. She blushed. and as
she pinned the flower above her heart
I looked again-it was an orange bios.
som!
Standing side by side we looked
afar into the sunset sky. and as |
searched with a lovers eyes the shift.
ing clouds. I fancied saw an army
OF goldephaired cupids with their ar.
rows pointed at my heart. and thus
we watched another sun die in the
west.
THE END.