Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1909-10-07
] Love s Conquest
Rx CHARLES CARVGE
y CHARLES CARVEE


male figure approaching. His hear
beat fast and he put one hand upol
the tree to steady himself. Befor'
she came up close to him he say
that it was Lucille.
She was dressed in colors tina
| seemed to indicate half mourning
| but round her neck she had throw
soft scarf ruby, whichc lit III
the pale face that had never ever
| In it's moments Of happiness, seem
ed to him more lovely.
With her hands holding her shaw
close to her bosom and her eyes
fixed sadly, wistfully before her, she
came on slowly, dreamily. 1t was
like the ghost of herself reVisitine
her former haunts in search of bel
lost happiness. But TO rail- her sad
ness and paIIor it was Lucille, and
Harry's heart Ieaped and throbbet
at sight Of her.
Should he let her pass, let hel
90 on her way ignorant of his pres
ence? AS he asked himself the
question Lucille stopped to draw the
shawl more closely round her, and
drew a long sigh. 1t was so full OF
sadness, so eloquent of her void
empty life, that his heart seemed to
cry out to her, and coming forward
he whispered her name.
"LuciIIe!"
Sh4 started, looked at him as il
she thought it was a vision, then
with a low cry, shrank back, his
name upon her lips.
Harry"
He cursed himself for his stupid
ity and abruptness as he saw her
pale face, white as snow, and the
lids droop over her glorious eyes
and fearing tina tshe was going to
faint, he took a step toward her
with his arms OutstTetched.
But she shrank still further away
from him, and held up her hand as
if to keep him back.
'LucilIe," he breathed gently. do
not be frightened"
"You here?" she painted, turning
her eyes upon him eagerly, and yet
fearfully. Don't speak to me for a
moment! Not for a moment! All"
and she drew long breath.
He stood watching her with all
his soul in his eyes. It seemed not
months, but a day, a few hours
only since they had stood side by
side-ay, heart to heart.
'Why--why did you Gomez" she
asked at last, and the words drop
ped from her tremulous lips inaudI
bly,. "Ah! why did you Gomez
q came" he said, then he stop,
ped. How could he tell her without
going into the whole story, and re
vealing her husband's-her husband S
-viIIafny! 81 came for one last
look at my old home, marchioness,
he said.
She shuddered at the title, and
turned her eyes upon him with pit,
eous enreaty, reproach, accusation
all in one.
'How-how dared your" she pant,
ed.
The blood rushed to his face and
his eyes flashed, hot words came to
his lips, but he choked them back.
Dared" he breathed. ''Well. it
was for the last time"
THE last time" she echoed-'I
thought you were abroad"
He shook his head.
She tried to keep her eyes from
but his eyes seemed to draw her as
a magnate does the needle.
you have not been out of Eng
land: Why not? Why did you run
such a risk? For her sake you
should have put the ocean between
this place and you"
For her sake.-for whose?" he
said.
The color rose to her white face
and died away again, as she shud-
dered.
''For your accomplice's," she said,
weakIy-"for the girl you tempted
to her ruin"
He stood silent, battling with the
rage that threaened to burst out.
The girl I tempted?" he said,
hoarsely.
Are you married to herr" said
Lucille, after a pause. He remained
silent; his head seemed to spin
round, the trees, Lucille, herself,
fioated vaguely before him.
Are you-going to be?" she asked.
The color rose to his face. Did
she mean Marie? How did she Know?
LuciIIe's head dropped.
Il am glad to hear it." she SAID,
almost too low for him to catch the
words; at is the only atonement
you can make. Be-be good to her,
poor girl, Tell her
she paused and drew a long breath
that l forgive her-that, for the
sake of old times, try and think
kindly of her"
And of me-" he said, the rage
rising like a hot flame in his throat.
She cast divine look of forgive
ness upon him.
And of you? Yes"
1t was more than he could bear.
Great Heaven," he cried; Il can
endure it no longer. Lucille-why
do you treat me like this? What
have I done-whom have I tempted
and ruined speak, can bear ii
no longer-no longer"
She shrank from him. putting W
her hands. white and trembling.
"Dont-don't speak to me, Il