Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1908-01-09
CONTINUED.

uaus leafS, ana now AFTER
months her tears We're raining, raining,
on the same paper, on the same words,
that bore the blots of his.
This postscript remained:
"Reprieved at the last moment! l
shall not send this now, but I hope
that it may reach you when 1 am
gone"
Claire went to the window, and the
rings ratified along the rod as she flung
the curtains back.
The hotel garden lay very still be-
low. 1t was the back of the house, and
now the hour was late. Suddenly there
was a movement on the gravel under
meath.
claire, is it your voice?"
BE whispered-it was Tom.
EYES," she said at last. "Come up. 1
want to speak to you"
"Now?"
eyes! How is it you are still in the
town."
Il lost something. 1 have been hunt
ing for it on the beach. l have come
back to have another look here"
Il have it. Come straight up to the
room you We're in this afternoon"
He appeared to hesitate.
"You-you are not alone?"
But Claire had left the window and
was waiting impatiently at the open
door. How long he kept her! 1t seem
ed an age before his halting 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 threshold-in fact.
the 1nveterate conventionality of the
male was not a little 1uttered 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.
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
race and her own new and binding
realization of his innocence and hero
ism. For a space she could but stand
and gaze upon him with burning eye
balls. Then, with the noble uncon-
seriousness Of a woman stirred to the
soul, she took him by both hands and
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 n%ervously and then almost
brusquely asked her what he had to
forgive.
II thought you guilty" she sobbed.
Il said so-and you were innocent all
the time! Oh, thank Cod
"Wait" he interrupted. How do
you know that?"
"What you lost / found. 1 have it
here. Oh, Tom, l have read every
word! Oh, why did you not send it
at the time? You were innocent-in-
nocent! Can you ever forgive meT"
"Get up" he said. you have for
gotten something"
Nothing" she answered. "Your
marriage has no more to do with it
than NINE"
"My marriage! With whom, pray?"
"The wife you applied for-at some
factory"
She could not help her tone. 1t
stung Tom into telling her the facts
and so inadvertently exposing Dam
trees chicanery. He instantly defend
ed it as the accepted course.
"But that's not what / meant at ALL"
he added hurriedly. "You must have
forgotten what I told you the other
day in the boat shed!
"My hero!" she whispered. "You
thought it best that l should never
know, and SO you said you were not
an innocent man"
"Nor was l." he faltered. you soon
saw that for yourself. They may hang
me yeti"
"And you wouldn't have me think of
you any MORE" continued Claire, a
spasm Of pain crossing her face at his
words. "But l will will! I'll think
of you till l deny w hero"
He fdgeted horribly, looking toward
the door. She would compromise her
self, she would do herself harm. That
was still his first thought. She saw
1t, and it floated her to the crest Of
that emotional wave in whose trough
he trembled.
II believed you guilty-inay God for
give mel" she cried. "But-shall 1 tell
you something's"
"Well?"
II loved you all the samer
II won't believe it." he said, at last.
II did; / know it now"
"Then forget itr!' he cried hoarsely.
For Gods sake. remember nobody
but the mar you are to marry tomor-
row morning. What! CAirey' He
started from her. She had shaken her
head. She shook 1t more passionateiy
for that, but she did not speak. 30
he began-hardly knowing what hc
said-but bleeding for his best friend
pleading for her hsnes-DAsediNg for
saczsd lu1 ~ IL naIs ~ saw It.
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