Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-09-05
go. You must see that must

to 60" !.
fiercely, Gin new country, perhaps.
But l cannot breathe the air of this
place. wished to tell you this at
once, and to ask you If you will marry
me within the next month, unless -
unless anything should happen at the
inquest tomorrow"
She was silent, and looking out
across the valley of the Steyne. she
prayed silently for strength to carry
out her purpose
will you marry me, Laura?" he re-
peated, laying his hand on her shout |
der. "You know what I am. have told
you ALL You did not shrink from me
then. You spoke brave words of COM
fort thought that perhaps you had
| forgiven me = Laura, for Gods sake
answer mel"
| But still the woman was silent. She
had not the courage to speak the
words that would have to be spoken;
to tell the lie that would have to be
told.
Laura" he cried, you do not mean
you cannot mean that" He gripped
her hard by the shoulders with both
hands, and turned her face to his.
She closed her eyes with little moan
Of pain and would have fallen to the
ground but for the strong fingers OF
the man who held her. But he could
read the answer in her white face.
She opened her eyes and he knew
the truth. He took his hands from her
shoulders, and looked away from her.
There were deep lines about his
mouth, and his face was no longer the
face Of a boy.
And then the woman found the
strength to speak.
81 cannot marry you, Jack" she said
slowly. ut would be impossible after
what has happened. This thing would
always lie between us. l have been
thinking over many things in the
night. have decided that can never
marry you 1t will be best for both Of
us to part and part forever"
do you mean," he cried hoarsely.
"that you do not love me because Of
of this?"
81 still love you, Jack" she replied.
81 shall always love you, but our ways
? must lie apart. A great shadow has
! fallen on our lives, and l shall be in
the darkness as well as you"
, For answer he reached out his hand
5 to open the gate SO that he could
l pass through and come to her side;
+ but she laid her hand upon his arm.
! do not come this side of the gate,
J. she said "Do not make the parting
harder for me-"
He dropped his hand from the
Y latch and laughed bitterly.
v 'This gate, then" he said with a
t CHASTITY smile, "is the symbol Of life
that is to be. But 1 could break il
0 down; I could wrench it from its
), hinges and splinter it, and reach your
a side Laura, tell me what is this bar
g rier between us, and why, if you still
+ love me, you will not marry me?"
1 II have told you," she replied Gear
/ you not understand? You have made
our marriage impossible. There is
J, nothing in my heart but love and pity
;, for you, Yet if married you, this Sc
!. cret, shared by us two by us two
!, = alone would divide us so surely, 81
! completely, that life would be hell tt
= both Of us. Good bye, my dear lover!'
She held out her hands to him ant
:, :, he pressed his lips to them. Then thu
- madness Of a great passion seizet
: ping the gate with both his hands, h
= literally tore the woodwork ava.
! from it's iron hinges. 1t came apar
= with loud crack of splintering wood
~ and he flung the fragments far from
6, him on to the grass. The whole actor
- was instantaneous, brutal, terrible t
- witness. Before the girl could NOV
from the spot on which she stood, h
q had clasped her in his arms and wa
1uith
u kisses.
te "You are mine," he cried hoarsely
IS land l will hold you against all tn
81 world ay, In spite Of yourself, in tn
9, face Of every obstacle You love me
Of and | will do anything to make you m
or wife. l will suffer anything. will ris
n anything. You are mine, Laura = til
~ DEATH"
is The girl trembled in his arms, bu
Re her courage was great in the hour {
her temptation.
e, 81 have said that will not MARI
lie you" she replied softly, "and nothin
Is. you can say Or do will force me to 6
in back on my word"
ill "Nothing?" he asked, straining he
e, to him in his powerful arms. Are 20
MT sure, Laura?"
Id 81 am sure" she replied quietly.
it. am quite, quite sure, Jack"
ne He LET go of her, and striding ava
ct a few PAGES, came back to her side
e. IF your decision is final,' he sal
as in hard voice, my life is nothing
X me. l am yours and if you cast m
sr- away from you am nothing I viii
tie, therefore, act the part of an honorab
lie. man and make peace with my ow
Cd conscience. Tomorrow at the inque!
&c which is to me held on Holland
90 body, shall SPEAK the truth. I sha
~, ID tell the jury what happened and lea,
q them to Judge whether l am anu
at derer. Do you understand me, Laura
81 understand YOU" she reptile
"You are using this as threat. Yc
OF think that by this means you will tut
us me from my purpose. But you al
lte mistaken, Jack. will only tell W
as that you have fallen in my estim
lis ton. You know how much your life
II your happiness, means to me, ar
au knowing this, you use your knowleds
IN onhiaya your ouu 1asirae -