The Washington herald., 1907-01-13


What a splendid night" he said.
What grand hOrlzon!"
They stood upon a slight elevation. and
they looked down the street and out
upon the prairie, which Tippied away,
silver In the moonlight. Ike the waves
of the sea. a wind, faint, like a happy
sigh, was blowing
An evening for lovers" said the can
didate, and he smiled as his mind ran
back to some happy evenings IN his own
life Now. why should such a moon
light rs this ever be spoiled by d po
litical speech?" he continued.
= was thinking OF lovers myself, said
Harley. because here is the Anderson
House before US Don't you see its white
walls shining through the trees?
Poor girIr' said the candidate. 1T is
Il terrible thing for n woman to be
separated from the man she loves. \
woman, / think. can really love but once.
And yet her fathers pride IS natural:
young Lee has not even made start in
life
AN he needs is chance. which he will
get-when it is too late. said Harley.
The house and its grounds. surrounded
by a stone wall not more than three
feet high, occupied an entire square in
the outskirts OF the little city, and the
candidate and Harley followed the least
frequented Of the streets-one running
beside the stone wall which was shaded
presently by thick and arching bOughs
Of trees that grew within. As they en-
tered the shadow they saw man leap
over the low barrier and disappear in the
Anderson grounds.
a burglar" exclaimed Harley. His
first thought was Of Helen Anderson and
her beautiful. appealing face. and with
out a moments hesitation he spranG over
the wall 20 pursue. Jimmy GrlysO1
looked at him in astonisbment. and then
followed
Harley stopped for an instant inside
the grounds. and saw the dark figure
just ahead Of him, but now w,iIking with
such slOwness that pursuit was easy.
Evidently she burglar was making sure
Of the way before he sought 20 enter
the Anderson mansion; but Harley was
surprised. in q few moments. to notice
something familiar ip the shoulders and
bearing Of the man whom he followed.
His burglar never looked back, but en-
tered an open space; and then Harley.
his surprise increasing, stopped when he
saw him approach a little summer-house
Of lattice work. The hand Of the can
diddte fcll ~ that moment upon his arm.
ana n deep voice said in his ear:
Il think we have gone far enough, don't
you. Harley?"
Il do. replied Harley. with convic-
ton
\ woman was coming. a woman with a
beautiful. pale face. more lovely and
sad than ever in the moonlight and the
two men knew ut once that Helen was
about 10 meet her lover. They would
have turned and fed from the grounds.
because a woman's pure love was sacred.
n be hidden from eli eyes and ears save
those OF one. but her face was toward
them and had they stepped from the
shadow OF the oak she would have seen
the two
"Ah. Helen said Lee. as he met her
and took her hands IN his
Arthur, fer the last time" she ex-
claimed
yes. I know il is for the last time. "
said Arthur. and there was moving sud
ness in his voice.
Their faces were turned toward the two
there IN the shadow of the great oak,
although unwitting that others were so
near. and neither man dared 10 move.
The moonlight in softened silver. fell
upon the faces Of the lovers, disclosing
all the beauty of the woman's and all
the loftincss Of the mans. Harley
thought he had never seen a n0bler pair
The man took both the girls hands in
his and held ihcm for few moments.
Then he walked back and forth. taking
quick little steps. Every motion of his
figure expressed agony and despair. The
girl stood still. and her face clearly
shown in the moonlight was turned
toward Harley; il, too. expressed agony
and despair. but her stiffness showed
resignation Lees fierce movements were
full Of rebellion.
II am going away. Helen said Arthur
'I have decided upon il. 7 shall not be
here more than q week or two longer.
I cannot be ia thc same town, seeing you
every DAY and knowing that you cannot
be mine ! could not stand it,"
4 suppose IL is best" said Helen: but.
Arthur, I love you I have told YOU that
and I am proud Of it, I shall never love
any one else. II is not possible"
Her beautiful. pale face was stnl turned
toward Harley. and he saw again upon il
that touch OF iBeffablc sadness and resig-
nation that had moved him so deeply.
Lee stopped his despairing walk back and
forth and looked AT Helen. Then ne ut
tered a little cry and seized her hands
again.
Helen. ne said, 7 cannot 90 it! 7
came here to give you up forever. TO tell
you that l was going away. and I meant
90 go, but ! cannot do It. We love each
other-then who has the right 10 separate
US? l thought that I could stand this.
that I had hardened myself 90 endure IT,.
but when the time comes ] find that it
is too much Ny right 10 YOU is greater
than that Of father or mother Come
with me. we can go TO LOngfOrd tonight.
ard in three hours We shall be man and
wife
He stil held her hands in his. and his
face was flushed and his eyes shining
with an easer but noble passion.
Harley and the candidate. in the shrub
berry. never stirred. They listened. but
they forgot that they were listening
The girl lifted her eyes to those Of her
lover, and there was in them no reprOach
only a high. sad courage.
You do not mean what YOU say now.
Arthur" she said 'I have given my
promise to my father. and you must help
me 10 be strong, for alone / am weak.
very weak. None can help me but you.
You must go, as you said you would go.
but your face shall always be with me
4 here. Though 7 may not be your wife, 1
shall be true TO YOU all my life"
In such moments as these the woman
{ IS always stronger than the man.
breathcd Jimmy Grayson.
Lee dropped her hands again and
walked a step or two away.
Helen" he said. forgive me. and for
set what I said. I was base when I
spoke. But have found it too hard-too
hard."
Her eyes still expressed no reproach:
there was in them something almost di-
, vine. She loved him the more because
, Of his weakness, although she would not
yield 10 il.
1T is hard, very hard for US both, she
whispered. but 1t must be done But,
Arthur l love YOU. I have told you that.
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