The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-10-31


 long as the man she loved kept her
 After Q while. when she had been
 crushed by the pain and
 wearfness of 1t. she resolved to seek
 the rest which she could never find on
 earth. And so. half crazy with sorrow. and feeble from the effects of her physical distress, Leonore had crawlcd down to Black Hall to die. She had chosen the place where John Shii had he'll her in his arms, and kissed her ips. She looked up at the cold moon and the keen frosty sky. and the clear out line of the trees. And. as she looked. she realized the vilvuess of the thing she was abou. 70 ic :. n am coward" she sa | to rorsr'E T win go back to London ani hght till the end" af But even as the thought came into her mind. cloud of darkness rushed down upon her brain; the moon, the trees. the sky vanished. Something
 roared in her eyes like the fall of many waters. She grasped at the air, swayed, tottered and lost her footing, For a moment the surface of the pool rocked in waves and foam. Then 1t gradually settled down into giassy stiffness Nothing rose from the depths.
 Laura Tankerlane stood alone on the summit of the Stonewoid Hills and
 gazed out across the valley towards tne
 setting sun. In the valley the great grey mass of
 Tankerlane Court showed out against Background of green parkiana. Laura looked at it without pride or affection. in a weeks time she would be no long cir mistress of it's slpendors. The new heir. Sir Henry Tankerlane. was to take possession of the estate. Laura knew that she would give up her position without regret. She intended to live with her father at the farm. For the truth about the Canedown Castle had come up to England at last. Tbe sole survivors, forty seven in nurn- Der, had been picked up off a small is- land in the South Atlantic. John Sbii was among them, but Sir William Tan keriane was numbered with the thous- and odd who had perished. Laura had received the news with that calm, white face and inward res ignation which had now become the marks of her daily life But before . few hours had passed, she was weeping bitterly.
 ..I sent him out 10 his death" she said. as she fell on her knees and prayed for the souls of those who had gone down into the deep. "Oh. Lord, pardon him all his sins. and forgive me all the wrong did him.. And then she had gone back to her work among the poor and suffering, and she had toiIed with redoubled vigor as though life held nothing else for her.
 She was returning on foot from some errand of mercy on the other side or the hills when she paused and watched the sun sink down behind the distant mountains.
 Then far down below she saw the figures of two men toiling slowly up the road from Laverstone. As they came closer. she recognized the great stooping body of one of them. He leant on the arm of his companion and the ascent seemed to tax all his physical powers.
 She moved down the slope to mes-
 them.
 eMr. shil." she said gently. as she came to his side.
 6Yes. it is l. Lady Tankerlnne,' he
 replied. Where is your handg"
 She gave it to him and he held it
 for moment. Then he turned 10 his companion.
 .PIease return to the village. Mar tin.p he said. ',and tell them to get supper ready at the inn" John shil and LauFa. were alone l4Aul4g il0 c<1la7 fAAANNAy 4O gOa know how it is that am here-alive2" She did not answer him. She did not understand the question, and it did not seem to require an answer.
 q am here" he continued. because your husband gave his life for mine. In the crash and confusion of the wreck
 he kept by my side. He gave me his life-helt. He told me there were two of them. I did not learn till after-
 wards from another ck the survivors
 that William Tankerlane was without q
 life-belt when the end came. He gave
 his life for mine. Laura"
 They were both silent for a few mo-
 ments. and looked out across the valley
 to the black rampant of the Welsh hills.
 T came here to tell you this" he
 continued. T thought you would like
 to know. I sent you<a telegram this
 morning, but I suppose you didn't get
 1t. They told me where you had gone,
 and came to meet you"
 T am glad you have come" she re-
 piled. Tt is getting dark. Shall ws re-
 turn7"
 "Yes," he said slowly. it is getting
 dark Laura. do you know. l ha@v' dared to think that your husband saved my life for your sake-because he kuew because he-
 Let us go home" said Laura gont- Iy.
 q shall return to Black Hall tomor.
 row" he said. Tn years time I
 should like to come back to Laverstone
 and see you again. May come back
 when year has passed?"
 Let us go home" she replied, it is
 getting dark"
 "In a years time," he persisted, may come again to Laverstone?"
 'Yes," she replied in low voice.
 q think he wished it."
 And together they passed from the
 sunlit hills to the twilight in the vaisey beneath