Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-10-03

confession of my own weakness. ii
my own evil thoughts. | paid Blur,
ton to be silent, not because | wished
TO save you from him, but because
wished to possess your secret, be-
cause | wanted to have you in my
power"
Il understand he said simply. 'At
least ! think I understand"
DO you understand what it costs me
to tell you this?" she continued. "What
confession it is of impotence, and
evil purpose, and shame?"
There is no shame in confession. -
he replied. But will you tell me why
you have come here to confess? I am
no longer in your power You have
told me the mans name, and I know
his address. I can buy his silence.
and pay him more than you could
ever afford to pay him.
Again I will tell you the truth -
said Leonore, "and this time you must
not dlsbelieye me, merely because the
truth is to my credit. l. have come
here because I do not want to have
you in my power, because am afraid
OF myself, of what I may do, of what
may say. ] have come here be-
cause She stared at him for a
moment with piteous eyes and parted
lips. Then she buried her burning
race in her hands, and sobbed AS
though her heart would break.
"Leonore, said the man gently. "be-
fore you came, was thinking of You,
thinking of myself, of my future life,
and how l can use it to the best ad-
VANTAGE 7 houa CT til,
make amends. Leonore will you be
my wife,
Your wife?' she said slowly as
though she could not understand his
words. Then she raised her tear.
stained cheeks from her hands and
looked at him with frightened eyes.
The hour for which she had schemed
had come and yet there was no tri.
umph in her face
Yes, Leonore,' he said gently. "if
you will marry me, it will bring hap
piness into my life
No. moi" she cried fiercely, rising
to her feet. you do not ask because
you desire me for wife. 1t is be-
cause ] have shown you what is in
my heart, because you pity me That
~ 'h' Joo eleh iil0 W De YOUR vile.
He also rose to his feet, and took
one of her hands in his
You are mistaken. Leonore,' he re-
piled. ut is for my own happiness
that ] ask this You know what lit
tie love have to give, but will give
you all that a man can offer to
woman he respects and admires-'
=
led passionately.
Yes he answered. all that a
good husband gives to his wife after
the first hot blaze of love. l am a
lonely man. and your love will mean
much to me. Together we will d.
good in the world, and will atone for
the past, if God will let me make
atonement. 1t is for selfish reasons
that I wish to marry YOU
"selfish?' she cried joyfully. "An,
that is what l want. That is all l ask.
| want, to know that you have real
need of me, and that you are not try
ing to force your pity on me-
Il have real need of you,' he re-
piled. ''You may save me from
great sin, for I cannot live this life
alone
Il will marry you,'' she said tender
ly. Il will take what love you can
give me. l am content"
He moved closer to her side, and
took her in his arms He could do
no less. Her white face looked up to
his, and her eyes glowed with passion
Then he bent his head and kissed her
on the lips. He had intended that
kiss to be a mere Formally, seal of
the compact made between them. But
Leonore endowed it with the strength
of her passionate love, and chung to
him with the frenzy of woman who
has gained the desire Of her heart
Then at last her arms relaxed their
hold on his neck, and she sank back