The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1907-07-26

back to have another look here"
Il hava it, Come straight up to the
room yoli We're IN this afternoon"
lie appeared to hesitate.
.You--you are not aloneg
But Claire had left the window and
was waiting impatiently at the open
door. How long he kept her! II 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
slow to cross the threshoid-in fact
the inyeterate conventionallty of the
male was not little tiuttered 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 lovelight In his hon.
est eyes. IL
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 aud hero.
ism. For u space she could but stand
and gaze upon him with burning eye.
balls. Then. with the noble uncon.
sclousness of woman stirred to the
soul. she took him by both hands aud
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
brusqueiy asked her what he had 70
forgive.
II thought YOU guilty." she sobbed.
II said so--and you were innocent all
the timel Oh. thank Cod
"wait" he interrupted. How do
Won know that"
What you lost I found. have u
here. oh. Tom. ! have read every
word Oh. why lid you not send 4
at the time? You were innocent-ln.
nocent, Can you ever forgive uev"
Get up" he said. "You have for
gotten something"
Nothing" she answered. Your
marriage has 10 more 70 do With Il
than m.ne" .E#
My marriage With whom. prayr'
"The wife VOC applied for-at some
factory"
She could not help her tone. n
stung Tom Into telling her the facts
and so inadvertently exposing DaIn.
trees chicanery. He instantly defend.
ed II as the accepted course.
But that's not what I meant at an
he added hurr!edly You must have
forgotten what ] told You the other
day in the boat shedi''
My Lero" she whispered. You
thought Il best that I should never
sncw. and so you said you were moi
an innocent man."
Nor was L. be faltered. "You soon
saw that for yourself. They may hang
me yeti"
"And you wouldn't have me think oil
you any more" continued Claire, g
snas:n Of pain crossing her face az hl:
words. But I WILL will! I'll thini
Of You TIL die--my own hero.' w.
lie fidgeted horribly. looking toward
the door. She would compromise her
self. she would do herself harm. Thai
was still his first thought. She saw
II. and II fioated her 10 the crest oI
that emotional wave In whose trough
he trembled
IL believed you guilty God for
give mer' she cried. "But-shall I tel
you something's
"wellr'
II loved you all the sameT'
II won't believe It." be said, nj last
II did: I know IL now"
'Then forget IT," he cried hoarseiy
For Gods sake. remember nobody
but the man you are 10 marry tomor
row morning. WHAT claIre?" IT.
started from her. she had shaken be-
head. She shook II more passionatel,
for that, but she did not speak. 81
he besan-hardly knowing what b.
saId-but pleading for his best friend
pleading for her honor-pIeading fOi
sacred duty n his male eye saw II
She was going TO marry generous
and brave man. 10 whom be owed. no
only his life twice over. but any goot
that was left In him. Yet neither wa
the other a fauItless man. though u
generous and 20 brave. and his on,
great anchor 10 good sense and goot
living was his love for Claire. Ton
spoke plainly. even eloquently. AZ hs
went on. Ito would have gone On
longer. but there was no need. Clair,
sat tneekly weeping. He bent over be-
his face wrung with anguish nou
that hers was hldden-and 10 took hei
hand In his for the last time. .
God bless you always" he whisper
ed IN q broken voice. "and make yol
good TO hlm-and make him good q
you:'
She chung passIonately to his hand
She held Il 10 her bosom and locke
piteously ~ Into his face. The tear
spsrkIed In her eyes and on her cheeks
Her sweet lips quiverei. IL was NOR
than man could bear. lie fell upon MI
knees. he threw bis arms about her
and for A varv fIftIa aoare fhaao 90.