The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-10-28


 shall pass out of your life as have passed out of the lives of Laura and William Tankerlane. Ishave much to be thankful for. I might have l5een ;l poor man, dependent for my livelihood on my work. As it Is. I have only to sit still and do nothing. shall not starve."
 "0h. this ia brutal. horrible" she cried, rising to her feet. T cannot bear 1t. Have pity on me. Jack.p You will forget. Leonore. you will forget. You have your work to do. You are famous already, but time will only add to your fame. You wiil live to thank heaven that you never became the wife of an ob- scure country gentleman. As for me. I shall stand my darkness as long as I can. and there is always way out of it."
 You must not speak like that" she cried fiereely. 'tOh, cannot leave you. It is as thought. as I feared. You intend to take your own life will not leave your' He rose slowly to his feet--so slowly that he might have had all the weight of the world on his shoulders. 'Leonore," he said calmly. twice since I last saw you has God given me back my life. spoke idly just now. You may be quite sure that ] l shall never be so wicked, so ungrate- full. as to do the thing you fear. still have some manh ood left in me will try to show the world how q man can bear the punishment he has justly deserved"
 l "Rut you said it. you said it,'' she cried, clinging to his arm and look ing up into his face. Tt was in your mind"
 sIt was moments madness,s he repeated. Tt was only a thought. and am still strong enough to control Lmyself"
 "Yet you win grow weaker" sht continued. 'Day by day you will grow i weaker. The darkness and the ione- Illness will sap your strength. You Hwii1 brood over your misfortunes and over all you have lost. The long dreary days will leave their mark upon your brain. You will cry out. and nc one will answer you. At last you will give way"
 Tt is not a. pleasant picture.". said Shii calmly. Yet he knew well enough that 1t was not overdrawn.
 ''Yet all this might be changed" she pleaded. "With someone to love you and look after you, and cheer you up 1t might all be so different. fmplort you, Jack, to keep your word to me- the word of an honorable man. I will do so much for you; I will devote all my life to you, every moment of It.
 That is a more pleasant picture he replied. 'but will not allow myself | to look at it. I have made up my mind Leonore, and nothing will turn me from my purpose. Is the landlord of the Blue Anchor waiting for you. or shall I send you hack to Pinge in one oi my own carriagese''
 She let go of his arm and walked away from him. She had used every argument at her disposal, and had used them all in vain
 "Is it all over?" she whispered, Sd faintly that he could scarcely hear her voice.
 "It is all over" he replied. Good bye. Leonore." And he held out hit hand. She came slowly forward, and took it in both of hers.
 Am never to see you againp sht faltered.
 T should always be glad to see yoI --as a friend. But I think you had better not come here again. People will understand--why our engagement is broken off,"
 She raised his hand to her lips. and he felt the warm tears on his wrist.
 God bless you, Leonore," he nut.