Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1908-01-03

nv DaI ~ 10 ~ ldlu W appear uL-
grateful, to give nothing in return for
so vast a gift"
Then it is true that you do not
love me-"
The blood famed suddenly up into
her face, but ,.ere was no lowering of
the eyes, no shrinking back. She was
too honest to play the coward before
him.
Il shall not attempt to deceive you,"
she said. with a slow impressiveness
instantly carrying conviction. This
has already progressed so far that |
now owe you complete frankness.
Donald Brant, now and always, living
or dead, married or single, wherever
life may take US, l shall love you"
Their eyes were meeting, but she
held up her hand to restrain him from
the one step forward.
mo, no; | have confessed the truth;
have opened freely to you the great
secret of my heart. With it you must
be content to leave me. There is moth
ing more that can give you, absolute
ly nothing. l can never be your wife;
| hope, for your sake and mine, that
we never meet again."
Brant stood like statue, his face
grown white. He did not in the least
doubt her full meaning of renuncia-
ton.
You will, at least, tell me why?" It
was all that would come to his dry
lips.
She sank back upon the sofa as
though the strength had suddenly de-
serted her body, her eyes shaded by
an uplifted hand.
Il cannot tell you. l have no words,
no courage. You will learn some day
from others, and be thankful that /
loved you we'll enough to resist temp
tation. But the reason cannot come
to you from my lips"
He leaned forward, half kneeling at
her feet, and she permitted him to
clasp her hands within both his own.
Tell me, at least, this-is it some one
else? Is it Hampton" g
She smiled at him through q mist
Of tears, smile the sad sweetness of
which he would never forget. IN the
sense you mean, no. No living man
stands between US, not even Bob
Hampton"
Does he know why this cannot be-"
He does know, but l doubt II he
will ever reveal his knowledge; GER
tainly not to you. He has not told me
all, even In the hour when he thought
himself dying. am convinced Of that.
It is not because he dislikes you,
Lieut.. Brant, but because he knew his
partial revealment of the truth was a
duty he owed US both"
you leave me so completely in the
dark" he said; is there no possibil.
ity that this mysterious obstacle can
ever be removed?"
None. 1t Is beyond earthly power
there lies between US the shadow Of
q dead man"
He stared at her as II doubling her
sanity.
"A dead man! Not Glllis?"
| mo, 1t is not ellis. | have told
you this much so that you might COM
prehend how impossible 1t is for US
to change our fate. 1t is irrevocably
fixed. Please do not question me any
/ more. cannot bear it,"
! Brant rose to his feet and stood
( looking down upon her bowed head,
her slender figure shaken by sobs.
! MAZDA, as you have asked 1t, will
go; but l go better, stronger, because
I have heard your lips say you love
! me. am going now, my sweetheart,
but II / live | shall come again.
know nothing Of what you mean about
a dead man being between us, but
shall know when come back, for,
dead or alive. no man shall remain be-
tween me and the girl l love-"
"This-this is different" she sobbed.
different. it is beyond your power"
81 shall never believe so until |
have faced it for myself, nor will
even say good-by, for, under God, am
coming back to you"
He turned slowly and walked away.
AS his hand touched the latch Of the
door he paused and looked longingly
back.
MAZDA"
She glanced up at him.
You kissed me once; will you
AGAIN."
She rose silently and crossed over to
him, her hands held out, her eyes up
lifted to his own. Neither spoke a
he drew her gently to him and their
lips met.
Say 1t once more, sweetheart
Donald, love you"
A moment they stood thus face to
face, reading the great lesson Of eter-
nifty within the depths of each others
eyes. Then slowly, gently, she re-
leased herself from the clasp Of his
strong arms.
| You believe IN me now? You do
not 90 away blaming met" she ques.
toned, with quivering lips.
There Ii no blame. for you are do
ing what you think right But am
coming back. MAZDA, little woman;
coping back to love and you"
An hour later N troop trotted across
the rude bridge and circlsd the blum
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