Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1909-06-02
WE'D PIX


ingly. as if to fsqN .r from saying
any more; but shs, 1did no heed t,
the gesture, and went on hurriedly:
Il do not wish you to go-i wisl
you to stay!"
Huge drops gathered on his brow
and his lips trembled. She stood be
fore him, a vision of loveliness-mor,
woman melting in the fire of wo
mans passion. Something, some evi
devil, whispered to him, "She is yours
take her to your heart, oh, fool!
And for second he seemed to b,
yielding to the tempter's voice; then
with an effort that seemed to rive hi
soul, he said:
mo; / cannot stay-I must go!"
do not go!" she whispered again
scarcely knowing what she said
speaking just what her heart prompt
ed. 81 wish you to stay
you wish me to stay!" he said
slowly, huskily. "You wish, now you
know Miss arracourt-Lucille-
| With thrill at the sound of his
voice uttering her name, she raised
her eyes to his. Their glances me-
for a moment; then, with a cry, he
sprang forward and caught her in his
arms.
ooh, my love, my love!-what have
| done?' he cried in an agony of re
morse. What have l done?"
Lucille looked down at him, with
heavily dropped lids and tremulous
lips.
what have l done?" he repeated
like the cry of a man in the agony Of
despair. ooh, my love, forgive me!
l am not worthy to touch your hand
and I have dared! Lucille, I have
won your love- and am lower than
your hate! Oh, Heaven forgive me!
Heaven forgive mel" and he bowed
his head upon her hand.
Harry! Harry!" she murmured.
mo, no! Don't speak to met he
groaned. ucille!-Miss Darracourt
Oh, Heaven! how shall I tell you?
am not worthy even to kneel at your
feet! love you! 1 love you! But
you-you must not look at me-
touch me! There is a gulf between
us that even such love as mine can
not cross! Lucille, am lower than
the lowest of your servants-there is
stain upon my life"
He broke off, painting and breath
less, and for all response she muir
INJURED once more:
''Harry!"
"a stain which death cannot wipe
Quit" he went on, hurriedly, almost
fiercely. Don't tempt me, Lucille, or
I shall forget that 1 am an outcast-
and-nameless!"
She shrank back, more from the
vehemence of the words than any
significance which they conveyed.
do you hear?" he cried hoarsely.
"Nameless! Do you know what that
means? Do you know the depth of
degradation in which l am sunk? And
do you think will drag you down in
to it? No! Rather than that | would
bear your scorn and contempt! Lu-
ellie, have pity on me! Send me
away in anger, with the contempt
deserved Don't tempt me!''
With a low cry, she shrank still
farther from him and leaned against
the tree in almost her old attitude.
Lucille for l will call you so for
this once-listen to me- Don't speak
to me, don't look at me, or / am lost!
Lucille, did not know, 1 did not
dream that-that you loved me! If I
had l would have cut my tongue be-
fore it should have uttered a word
to betray you. Lucille-oh, my darl-
ing, how can l tell you? All, I cannot!
can. only tell you that we must part!
A cruel fate divides us! I love you'll
In those words all my wretched
story is told! love you, so truly, so
deeply, that even though I have won
your love l will not drag you down to
my leveli No; there is enough of
manhood left in me still for that!
What! drag my goddess to the level
of my mire! No, Lucille! Others will
tell you what l am. Spare me the
story from my own lips. Enough that
any love between you and me is i'm
possible. Oh, Heaven! how hard it is!
but, hard as it is, | shall save you
against myself-yourselfi I will go at
once-tomorrow the day afterward.
You will see me no more. Dearest, let
this day be blotted out of your mem
DRY; let it be as if it had not been!
You will never see me again. Forget
that ever such man as Harry Herne
existed. Be happy dearest, and / shall
be happy! Ay, though thousands of
miles divide us, though we shall
never look into each others eyes
again, I shall be content. For l have
this to comfort me, Lucille-that if
Fate had been less cruel to me,
might have won you'll
He stopped, heartbroken and
crushed by the struggle.
"Come!" he said at last, pale and
trembling, still but firm and infiex-
ible in his noble resolve to save her
from herself. Come. This shall be
as if it had never been. You-you are
the Lady of Darracourt, and | am
do-well, Harry Herne."