The Washington herald., 1908-09-03
CHAPTER ".
The Courage of Despair.

] The next morning Ar- William Tanker
lane called and received his answer
I have decided 10 marry you" said the
girl. quietly. 1T is the least Of two evils.
and I must accept it, Your own common
sense viii ten you how much happiness is
likely 10 result from such a union-either
for me or you"
7 am prepared to take the risk" he re-
Piled. firmly. and you know I love you
Do not judge me hardly. Laura; I know
that I am driving a hard bargain. but I
would do worse things than that 20 gain
you DO you realize what love means
how IL grips the soul, how it fires the
mind TO madness, how II STILES con-
science. and drives men 10 that which
honor forbids them TO do? Do you under
stand that it is an angel with a flaming
I sword2'
Il understand" she said slowly. what
love means" She spoke very quietly, and
there was not even q tinge Of passion OF
bitterness in her voice. Her face was
pale. but save for its exceeding whiteness.
it bore no traces Of the storm that had
wrecked her life Yet, for all that, both
face and voice told William TankerIane
that she knew the true meaning Of a
great love. and that It was, Of very truth,
an angel with a flaming sword
He moved slightly toward her, with pas
Z sion burning IN his eyes. and with out
stretched hands. as though he would take
her IL his arms. But she shrank back
Z from him
4 viii marry you" she repeated c0Idly.
as though discussing a matter Of busi-
ness. but only On this corditioH-that the
marriage is kept secret. and that no
I one. and least OF ali John Shil. snail know
Of IL untI a year after il has taken
place
a sudden gleau came into the mans
eyes. and a IooS Of relief flashed across
his face Both were momentary. and es-
! c4ped the notice Of the girl She did not
know that William Tankerlane. for a
very different reason. had been about to
make the very same proposition
I 1T Is reasonable condition he an
swer5d after e slight pause. and I VIII
agree 20 it, I quite understand that you
do not wish John Sail 70 know I would
suggest that we be married IN London 90
Yes. London VIII do she said. and
now you must swear 10 say nothing OF
what YOU saw yesterday afternoon in the
Round Plantation. Here is a Bible
know you are not a religious man. but 7
think you viii appreciate the solemniJy
OF the oath"
He TOOK the sacred book from her hand.
pressed his lips 90 IT, and sr0re the oath
adding as a rider the words. 7 swear TO
do this SO Ions as you agree 20 live with
me"
The girls white face flushed
7 cd not agree 10 any such condition" "
she said sharply.
No" he replied. Out II IS a necessary
condition You uiSht leave ne az the
church door and refuse 10 live with ne
as my wife That would be a POOR rs-
ward FOR my silence
Very well she exclaimed. let Il be
SO 7 VIII meet you tn London ii q few
we=zs' time. Il you VII TX an hour and
a Place
He arranged the hoa- and the place.
ard then f-ublilE unsteadlly in his pock-
cts, he drew c-r four - notes
You Viii want money" he said.
I DO not want your money" she re
Piled calmly
He thrust back the notes into his
pocket. and held out his hand She shook
her head sadly and turned away from
h-n- She displayed neither anger no-
contempt IN her refusal 10 take his hand.
I Il almost seemed as though her spirit
Z had been crushed BY the blow that had
fallen upon her life The man was
/ equally calm. and accepted the insult
with good grace. But he had conquered.
and IL is easy for the victor 20 be sra
cious-
They have not yet found the body Of
Zen Holland" re said. IN q low voice,
and with these words he left the room
An hour afterward Laura Vaae had
climbed 10 the summit OF the StonewoId
HIS she had asce1ded by a path which
lay 20 the south of the road in which
John SlI had encountered Ben Holland.
and had reached a point nearly two miles
Of
Shortly after William Ta1kerlaue's de-
pa-tCre she had fed from her father
home, as from a prison foul with the
memories OF what had passed within its
walls As a rule, she worked hard al the
morning. but now the course Of her life
Z had been changed IN a few hours. that
lie had been snapped into two PARTS. and
the new section Of T. had been divided
from the old by guIf which could never
. be crossed She had sought relief from
T the shock and crash OF the disaster in
sheer physical exercise She had elm bed
q thousand feet without pause. and now.
T flushed ard painting with exertIon. she
stood with her back against q gate. and
. looked out across The valley Of the Steyre
; Il was a bright, sunny morning. and
al the wide panorama beneath her spar-
I kled with light The breath Of frost was
I in the air. and the white kiss OF il stfu
I fingered on the trees ard grass which
/ the sun had not yet reached a faint
mist, drawn out OF the ground by the
+ warmth hung over the more distant
/ parts Of the scene. and the great base
OF the hills which bounded the far side
Of the valley were Invisible Only their
SUBMITS stood out clear In the sunlight.
/ ike islands in a sea OF vapor.
The little village OF Laverstone. gray
and quiet, nestled among the bare trees
at the foot Of the EiIls. The smoke from
Z the ChImneys rose in straight, thin blue
lines into the stil atmosphere. It was a
peaceful scene a Perfect picture Of the
quiet content Of country life But Laura
Nane found no peace in the contempla-
ton Of IL For in the last twentv-four
hours she had learned that the quiet VII
lage. set under the clear sky. NAV hold
the elements Of as grim a tragedy as was
ever enacted in the seething darkness Of
a great city, and that. wherever men and
women cOngregate. there are lust and
cruelty and shame.
Her meCitati1ns were futerrrpted b--
the distant beat Of horses hoofs on the
hard ground A few minutes later a rider
appeared around a bend IN the bride
path She saw at a glance that It was
John Shi, and that he was riding flri-
ously
he drew rein on the other side Of the
gate and flung himself from his horse.
The animals jaws were white with foam
and the man himself was sweating pro
fusely; but IN spite Of his exertion his
face was very usfe. IT snau7ed - anna