Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-09-03

| look at me, speak to me forgive
me for what have done l was blind
with passion. did not intend was
too late. | did not know what was
! doing. | was too late-surely God will
| forgive me forthose few moments, and
you surely you will forgive me,
Laura"
Il was not thinking of that" she
replied slowly 4 was thinking Of
what might happen, OF whether the
| truth will be known. Forgiveness?
There in nothing for me to forgive.
| The blow was struck for me; any hon
orable man would have struck 1t; and,
az for what followed" She paused,
not knowing how to choose her words,
4 and the face of Ben Holland seemed
4 to leer at her from the heart OF the
flames.
4 And as to what followed" the man
echoed
4 She raised her head and looked at
. him. His pleading eyes were fixed on
;. her and his face was haggard with
; the agony of his soul His strong
hands We're clasped together, almost
in an attitude of prayer.
| And as to what followed" he re-
peated those few moments when l
}, let a man die without stretching out
;. hand to save him. We must face the
, truth, Laura, you and |. 1t is no use
shutting our eyes murdered Ben
Holland"
: She rose to her feet with look OF
: horror on her face. The word murder
2 had not yet passed between them. 1t
2 was almost too brutal word for a
l woman's ears.
= Yes" he cried, springing to his
feet and facing her. that is the truth
: and we must face it,
l. She came close to him and laid her
4 hand upon his arm.
r God alone Is the judge of ou1
$ thoughts and actions" she said quiet
: ly. But as for myself see, do not
y shrink from you"
d Her calm voice, and the look of love
a on her face, brought fresh hope to the
d mans heart. He bent down and kissed
/. her reverently on the forehead.
r God shall Judge me and deal witt
l. me as | Deserve" he said gravely. :"
8 will put myself into the hands of m!
It fellow-men, and they, too, shall
Il judge
It No" she cried sharply, as though
/, the words had stung her, you mus
If not do that You must keep silence
r What has been done has been done
l. Confession is not atom ement. God viii
e Judge you, not your fellow-men."
70 The man stared at her in amaze
k ment He did not understand hoy
+. such words could fall from the lips O
= an honorable and principle
sr woman He did not realize that tn
ID first natural instinct Of a woman !
8 to shield and protect those whom sh
8 loves, and that she will do this wit
of her life and even with her honor.
81 would rather confess" he sal
s. lamely. 1.-The truth must come t
a light some day"
I'd "You must not confess" she az
h swered firmly; you must keep S
g, lence- for my sake. God, not you
lie fellow-men, must Judge you. Promis
e. me that you will keep silence
le IT promise" he said in low voic'
Ill Then. clasping her in his arms, b
Us kissed her on the lips and left tn
room without another word
I'd And when he had gone the woman
w calmness and courage broke down VI
Of der the strain, and she sobbed bitterl
e, in the silence, praying to God thu
I'D he would be a merciful Judge.
to CHAPTER III
or On the Altar Of Love.
For more than an hour Laura Van
i'd sat before the FIRE. aching under tn
re blow that had fallen upon her. HI
to fine, sensitive nature shrank from Il
I'D truth. But the sturdy courage ST
I'D had inherited from long line
at clean-living yeomen gave her tt
of strength to face the situation. Ments
is ly her back was against the wall, ar
IN. her womanly nature was up in arm
-, to DO battle for the man she love
:e. Excuses for his conduct were reai
ed to her hand, and she flung them OF
nd after the other against the stern, IL
he movable fact Of his sin.
&C. In argument she was Worsted. TT
SIX truth remained unshaken. John ST
mt had killed Ben Holland. Yet VIII
Id woman care for argument? All b
feelings were enlisted on the side
lly her lover, and she flung defiance
- the face Of truth. Yet strange as
e may seem, she could not face t.
he Judgment Of men. Her only fear W
ne that the world might know the fac
ok and that John Shil might be broug
ap- to the bar of human justice.
i&S luIS DaliIS Will 1Sl o"A "
al science was interrupted by anoth
,ht knock on the hall door; there was
lrd imperious voice In answer to wo
he ans protest, and then, few secon
lir. later, man flung himself uncerimc
wn iously into the room and closed t
ar. door behind him.
she Laura Vane rose to her feet WI
by flaming cheeks and angry eyes. T
clip man advanced towards her with
the air of easy assurance, and held {
'hn his hand.
DIS. Good evening, Miss Vane," he ST
or coolly. Surely you will not~refuse
rst hand of an old friend of one W
wishes, and has always wished, !
tly, we'll" He paused and smiled with
an air of man who holds the best cal
Why in a game of chance.
and What is the meaning Of this int
of sion, Mr. Tankerlane?" she cri
lew stung for the moment out Of her s
in possession. How dare you come h
the after-after- But thank heaven,
NJ ,tkA ~ dc ohol I