Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1908-02-13

CHAPTER NN.-(Continued.l


Alas for Guy he could not believe he
aeard Alright when, turning her head away
for a moment while she prayed for
strength, Maddy's answer came, Il can
not, Guy, l cannot. | acknowledge the
love which has stolen upon me, l know
not how. but l cannot do this wrong to
Lucy. Away from me you will love her
again. You must. Read this, Guy, then
say if you can desert her"
She placed Lucy's letter In his hand,
and Guy read it with heart which ached
10 its very core, 1t was cruel to deceive
that gentle, trusting girl writing so loving
ly of him. but to lose Maddy was TO his
undisciplined nature more dreadful still,
and casting the letter aside he pleaded
again, this time with the energy of de-
spair. for he read his fate in Maddy's
face. and when her lips second time
confirmed her first reply, while she ap-
pealed to his sense of honor, of justice, OF
right, and told him he could and must for
get her, he knew there was no hope and
man though he was, bowed his head upon
Maddy's hands and wept stormily, mighty.
choking sobs, which shook his frame, and
seemed to break up the very fountains
of his life. Then to Maddy there came
a terrible temptation. Was it right for
two who loved as they did to live their
lives apart right in her to force on Guy
the fulfillment of VOWS he could not ht-
orally keep? As mental struggles are al
ways the more severe, 50 Maddy's took all
her strength away, and for many min
utes she Law so white and still that Guy
reused himself to care for her. thinking
of nothing except TO make her better.
1t was a long time ere that interview
ended, but when it did there was on Mad
dy's face peaceful expression which
only the sense OF having done right at the
cost of fearful sacrifice could give, while
Guys bore traces of a great and crush
ing sorrow as he went out from Maddy's
presence and felt that to him she was lost
forever. He had promised her he would
do right had said he would marry Lucy
being to her what a husband should be;
had listened while she talked of another
world where they neither marry nor are
given in marriage, and where it would
not be sinful for them to love each other,
and as she talked her face had shone like
the face of an angel.
For many days after that Guy kept his
room. saying he was sick, and refusing
to see anyone save Jessie and Mrs. Noah.
the latter of whom guessed in part what
had happened and imputing to him far
more credit than he deserved, petted and
pitied and cared for him until he grew
weary of it. and said to her savagely
You needn't think me so good, for L am
not. | wanted Maddy Clyde, and told her
so, but she refused me and made me prom
ise to marry Lucy; so I'm going to do
that very thing-going to England in
few weeks, or as soon as Maddy is bet
ter, and before the sun OF this year sets
I shall be a married man.
After this all Mrs Noah's sympathy
was in favor of Maddy, the good lady
making more than one pilgrimage to
Honedale, where she expended all her ar
guments trying to make Maddy revoke
her decision but Maddy was firm in
what she deemed right. and as her health
began slowly to improve, and there was
no longer an excuse for Guy to tarry. he
gave out in the neghborhood that he was
at last to be married. and started for
England the latter part of October, as
unhappy and unwilling a bridegroom, 1t
may be, as ever went after a bride.