The Brownsville daily herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1897-1910, 1909-12-14

D~f0A 80 AAAAI0 oE4N W " Cl0 o4l4 70
be dead. It's not my business, and If
you choose to go on living under an
other name, now that you are rich
again, shall not betray you, and few
people will recognize you, at least in
England, 50 long as you wear that
beard But you had It when we were
married, and I knew you at once, and
when ! heard you were to be of the
party here, made up my mind at
once that / would accept the invita-
ton and come too. and speak to you
as I'm speaking now. When I be-
lieved you were dead forgave you
everything, though I was glad you
were gone; frankly, did not wish
you alive again, but since you are.
God forbid that l should wish you
dead. You owe me two things in ex-
change for my forgiveness: First,
yours, if I treated you ungenerously
or unkindly; and, secondly, you ought
to take back every word you ever said
to me about Mr. Van Torp. for there
was not shadow of truth in what
you thought VIII you do that? I
ask nothing else"
Indeed I will, my dear Maud" said
Count Kralinsky, in a voice full of
emotion.
Lady Maud drew long breath, that
trembled a little as it left her heated
lips again. She had done what she
believed most firmly to be right, and
it had not been easy She had not
been surprised by his patient silence
while she had been talking; for she
had felt that it was hers to speak and
his to listen.
Thank you" she said now. q shall
never go back to what / have said,
and neither Of US need ever allude to
old times again during this trip. 1t
will not last long, for shall probably
go home by land from the first port
we touch, and it is not likely that We
shall ever meet again. If we do, l
shall behave az if you were Count
Kralinsky, whom 1 have met abroad,
neither more nor less. I suppose you
will have conscience enough not to
marry. Perhaps, if 1 thought another
womans happiness depended on it, |
would consent to divorce you, but you
shall never divorce me-"
NO power could make me wish to,
Kralinsky answered, still deeply
moved Il was mad in those days,
Maud; 1 was beside myself, between
my debts and my entanglements with
women not MT to touch your shoes
I've seen it all since That is the chief
reason why chose to disappear from
society when l had the chance, and
become some one elsel l swear to
you, on my mothers soul in heaven,
that l thought of nothing but that
to set you free and begin life over
again as another man. No thought OF
marrying has ever crossed my mind
Do you think l could be as bad as
that? But I'm not defending myself
how could I? All the right is on
your side, and all the wrong on mine
And now would give heaven and
earth to undo 1t all and to come back
to you!"
Lady Maud drew as far as she could
into the corner where the farmhouse
joined the engine skylight. She had
not expected this; it was too much re-
pentance; it was too like real at
tempt to win her again. He had not
seen her for more than three months;
she knew she was very beautiful; his
neeting passion had come to life
old naNl
sion for him was ten times stronger
than when they had parted, and she
shrank back as far as she could, with
out speaking. From far below the
noiseless engines sent quick vibra-
ton up to the ironwOrk Of the sky
light She felt it, but could hardly
tell 1t from the beatings Of her own
heart He saw her shrinking from
him and was wise
Don't be afraid of me-" he cried, in
a low and pleading tone. Not that!
Oh, please not that, ! will not come
nearer; l will not put out my hand to
touch yours, I swear it to you, But
] love you as I never loved you be-
fore: I never knew how beautiful you
were till I had lost you, and now that
have found you again you are a
Thousand times more beautiful than in
my dreams! No, l ask nothing! l
have no right to ask for what I have
thrown away, You do not even pity me,
think Why should you? You were
free when you thought me dead, and
have come back to be a burden and
weight on your life. Forgive me,
forgive me, my lost darling, for the
sake of all that might have been, but
don't fear me! Pity me, if you can,
but don't be afraid OF me, Say that
you pity me little, and shall be sat
isfed, and grateful, too"
Lady Maud was silent for a few sec
Onds, while he stood turned towards
her, his hands clasped in a dramatic
gesture, as if still imploring her com
miseration
81 do pity you" she said at last,
quite steadily, for just then she did
not fear that he would try to touch
even her hand. q pity you, if you are
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