Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-10-31
breath of scandal has touched her rep.

Il S
! Don't speak of me-" he exclaimed.
| though 1t would serve her. But Leo
more, tell me why you went out of
your way to persuade Laura to marry
Tankerlane?''
81 did the right thing" she replied
angrily; there was nothing else that
she could debut l did not come
here to be cross-eXamined. l came be-
cause l wanted to see you, and to help
you: because thought you were in
trouble, and lonely, and that you
would like the company-of friend
| Her voice faltered, and her eyes
filled with tears. The man, bent and
rugged, still stood before her, and his
great body lowered above her, as
though he were going to strike His
hands were clenched, his face was
hard and cruel, his voice cold and
judicial.
you will best help me-" he said
quietly, 'by telling me the truth. You
persuaded Laura to marry Tankerlane
In order that she could not marry me.
Is that not so?"
She covered back from him, as
though he had struck her in the face,
and placed her hands over her eyes
ooh, this Is cruel,' she sobebd, this
is brutal, inhuman, monstrous.'
"Yet 1t is the TRUTH" he continued
sternly; land 1t is also true that
Tankerlane swore an oath to you
never to speak of what he saw in the
wood at Laverstone, and that you paid
him a price for that oath, and the
price you paid was this-you divorced
him SO that he should be free to
marry Laura Vane.'
"Oh this is horrible she shrieked,
rising to her feet, and pressing her
fingers to her ears "Sit down, and
turn your face from me- Be silen,.
Even if all this were true, you should
be the last to reproach me-you, for
whom ] would do anything. Hasn't
God punished you and brought you to
the dust. and taught you charity, and
Kindness. and honour. I am the wom-
an, you asked to be your wife. Is
that not enough to protect me from
your insults? Is not my love for you
worthy of some respect. some consid-
GRAFTON, some tenderness? Have you
no shame, no though for one who has
given you all her heart and soul?'
Steady, Leonore," he replied gently.
81 do not reproach you. | am only
asking you these questions in order
that | may learn the truth
You are asking them in order to
make me feel ashamed OF what | have
done. But l do not care. | would do
1t all again. use your own words
! I Il n hi ~
In the name Of love-
You do well to rebuke me with my
own WORDS he replied But God
has punished me for them already
| He turned away from her, and
cropped for his chair. This time she
did not offer to help him, but watched
him with blazing eyes. Her small
and frail body trembled with passion.
She had offered him so much, and he
had cast it all back in her face.
Il suppose you think that Laura
will leave her husband again" she
said fiercely, "and that she will come
to you again and ask for protection.
Has it not occurred to oyu that she
has perhaps learnt lesson from adj
lversity?'
IF she has not he replied. 81
have already done SO. You may rest
| assured. Leonore, that I and Laura
Tankerlane will never meet again in
this world, unless she comes to me. l
shall never seek her out. I shall stay
Oh here-alone."
| He found his chair, and flung him
self YEARLY on the soft leather cush-
ions. The excitement of the inter
view had left its mark upon his face.
The lips were almost white, and
twitched nervously. The anger died
from Leonores eyes, as she looked
upon the wreck of strong man, and
the sight moved her once more to
pity. Besides, had she not heard from
his own lips that he would never
seek out Laura Tankerlane again? 1t
was not because of Laura that he had
tried to drive her from his side.
She moved forward timidly, as
though his blind eyes could see her
every movement, and when she reach
ed his chair, she once more sank on
her knees, and touched his hand with
her fingers.
Jack" she whispered softly
yes, Leonore"
W ny Wv VIC tGih VI IilluSS rludI Call
only keep us apart Is there so little
pain and sorrow in the world that
one has to seek it? Have we not both
suffered enough?"
81 shall suffer yet more" he replied
in low voice; "the cup is not yet
full"
Il love you she whispered tender
ly. Can l not be near you to help
you in your sorrow, to tighten your
darkness? Let me devote my life to
you. You shall see with my eyes. and
l will be your second self. If you
need proof Of my devotion, surely you
can see it now. I have stifed nv
pride, l have forgiven the bitter words
you used to ME. am here pleading
on my knees to you. No woman
could humble herself, save with the
humility of love. Let me serve you
with my whole life
"Leonore, Leonore," he cried
piteously, mo woman should speak to
man like this. 1t is | who should
plead. The sin is mine. RI is T who