Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1908-08-19
Only a 6'rl's Love
By CHARLES GARVTcE


stella!" and she put her arm round
SteIla's neck.
Kiss me, dear, once!"
Stella bent and kissed her.
"Once-and for the last time" SIZE
said. in a low voice. "Henceforth we
must be strangers"
Not that Stella; that is impossible,
knowing what we dol"
yes, Il must be-" was the low,
calm response. 81 could not bear it.
There must be nothing to remind me
of him." and her lips quivered
Lilian's head dropped.
"Oh, my poor boy!" she moaned
Stella" she said, in a pleading whis-
per, give me one word to comfort
him-one word?"
Stella turned her eyes upon her;
they had reached the gate, the carri-
age was in sight.
There is no word that / can send"
she said, almost inaudibly. NO WORD
but this-that nothing he can do can
save us, that any effort will but adj
to my misery. and that ! pray we may
never meet again"
Il cannot tell him that! Not that,
stella!"
1T is the best wish can have.
said Stella. Il do wish it--for my
self, and for him. | pray that we
never meet again"
Lillian chung to her to the last. even
when she had entered the carriage,
and to the last there was no tear in
the dark sorrowful eyes. White and
weary she stood. looking out into the
night, worn out and exhausted by the
struggle and the storm of pent-up emo
ton, but fixed and immoyable as only
a woman can be when she has re-
solved on self-sacrlfce.
A few minutes later, Lillian stood
on the threshold OF Leycester's room.
She had knocked twice, scarcely dar-
ing to use her voice, but at last she
spoke his name. and he o1aned the
door.
Lillian" he said. and he took her
In his arms.
Shut the door" she breathed
Then she sank on 10 his breast and
looked up at him, all her love and
devotion in her sorrowful eyes.
oh, my poor darling" she muir
INJURED.
He started and drew her to the
light
What is it! Where have you
been?" he asked, and there was a
faint sound OF hope in his voice, a
faint light in his haggard face, as she
whispered
II have seen her!"
Seen her-Stella?"
And his voice quiyered on the
name.
yes: Oh, Ley! Ley!"
His face blanched.
Well he said, hoarsely
Ley. my poor Ley. there is no
hope
His grasp frightened on her arm.
No hope!" he echoed YEARLY.
She shook her head
Ley. | do not wonder at you loving
her! She is the type OF all tha. is
beautiful and noble"
"You--you torture mel" he said,
so good and true and noble" she
continued, sobbing; and because she
is all this and more you must learn
to bear il. Ley"
He smiled bitterly
You must bear it, Ley; even as
she bears it"
Tell me what II is he broke IN.
hoarsely. Give me something tang.
ible TO grapple with. and--well, then
talk 10 me of bearing IT."
Il cannot--she cannot" she replied,
earnestly. solemnly. Even to me,
heart TO heart, she could not open her
lips. Ley, Fate is against you-you
and her. There is no hope. no hope!
| feel 1t; who would not have be-
lieved II, did not believe 1t even from
you! There is no hope. Leyl"
He let her sink into a chair and
stood beside her. look on his face
that was not good TO see.
Us there not?" he said, in a low
voice You have appealed to her.
There is still one other to appeal to-
| shall seek him"
She looked up. not with alarm but
with solemn conviction
DO not" she said, unless you wish
to add to her sorrow! No. Ley. II
you strike at him, the blow must
reach her"
she told you that ?''
Yes; by word by look. No. Ley.
there is no hope there. You cannot
reach him except through her. AMI
you viii spare her that. Tell
him, she said, that any effort he
makes will add to my misery. Tel
him that / pray we may never meet
again" She paused a moment Ley
know no more OF the cause than you.
but | know this, that she IS right"
He stood looking down at her. his
face working, then At last he ans
wercd
You are a brave girl, LII he said
You must so now. even you cannot
help me 30 bear this. Pray that We
may never meet again and this was
30 have been our marriage day."