Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1908-11-19

he and Mr. Blake had put personals
In the city papers al over the country
making inquiry for the missing man
but months had gone by and they had
heard nothing.
My heart says no, she replied ONLY
when he had finished.
Love cannot remain hidden. Whom
Cora chose Fred Nevius. Burns had
put his love away. But now, believ.
ing his rival dead, ii had come back In
greater volume. And SO, though she
ever put him aside, lie sued persistent.
" for her hand.
One day she told him if he would
put like inquiries for Nevius in the pa.
pers again and in six months no It'd
ings came she would give him an an
swer.
When the time was past and he fal.
teriugly reminded her of It she said /.
''Nlr Burns, you have been a true
friend to me when such were very
few | respect you, honor you. but
the love which you deserve is not mine
10 give Living or dead, Fred Neyius
still has my heart"
al will be content If you will but say
yes" he urged.
And thus the compact was made
Now that it was settled Burns beg
ged for an early marriage, and, being
abettcd by Mrs. Dixon, Cora consent
ed. Listlessly she did it as If II mat
tered not to her, as indeed II did not
So in the days after Burns noted the
same apathetic agreement with every
suggestion from her mother or him
self 1t cut him to the heart for.
though counting 1t 1rth's choicest
blessing to have her by his side on any
terms, he could not escape the convic-
ton that he was requiring too great a
sacrifice Of her
One day when she was more than
usually distlaif he offered to release
her She told him that while she
could not give him what his truth and
devotion deserved, she would be true
to him if such was his desire.
at is my hearts dearest wish" he
answered fcrvently. And love like
mine must have its reward by and by.
1 VIII ne patient.
Deeply touched. even more by his
tone than the words. she answered
gently, Godfrey, / wish | might do
more, but all that | can give shall be
yours"
After this for his sake she stroye TO
bring back some of her old time cheer
fitness. And when she succeeded as
in part she sometimes did, his happy
face paid her for the struggle But
when alone In her room where she
could be herself. her sore heart cried
out against the fate which forced this
hollow life upon her.
On the evening of the day before
that set for her wedding she was sit
ting in rustic chair on the lawn
Wrapped in the contemplation Of her
strange position, she did not know that
man was approaching her until he
had called her name. As she turned
the face of Fred Nevius, full of a hun
CRY longing, met hers.
With little cry of gladness she
sprang up, and the next moment his
arms We're about her. How long they
remained thus they could not have
told, when they saw the grave eyes of
Godfrey Burns, not in anger, but full
of unutterable sadness, resting on
them
Tearing herself from Nevius' clasp,
Cora went to Burns and put her hand
upon his arm
Forgive me- Godfrey" she said
humbly Forgive me. forgot" Then,
turning to Fred. she added. "Tomor
row night l am to be his wife"
Neyius recoiled as if she had ST. mex
him and, like one dazed. stood, with a
dumb misery on his ashen face look
Ing from one to the other At last he
broke the painful silence.
Great God" he cried passonately,
''dld ever man have such bitter fatef
On a scrap of paper a few days ago !
saw an account of the cruel jest which
ruined my life. | hurried home, hop
Ing to find what evil fortune had
snatched from me- / thought ! had
but oh, my Cod His words ended
with wall OF despair. and, turning
he staggered away like one who had
lost all hope.
Burns, watching them, saw that
while Cora still kept her hand upon
his arm her eyes followed the retreat
ing form, and all her heart went with
them.
Impatiently the guests, sitting in
Mrs. DiXons parlor waited the COM
ing of the bridal party. The groom
had been with Cora fully half an hour,
and the clock had announced the hour
Tor the ceremony more than that long
ago.
Presently it was whispered they
were coming. The organist made
ready. touching the initial chords, The
clergyman took his place All eyes
turned on the door saw Godfrey Burns
come in alone
The establishment Of the assembled
company found expression in one
smothered murmur Then all grew
Silent ms the chamber OF death as they
saw Burns was about to speak.
With mighty effort 10 be calm. he