The Mena weekly star., 1910-07-28

ner before she could speak, "but her
power ends In this hour"
The woman looked at him piteously
ana nodded her head. She realized
mat the thread of destiny was taken
from her hands and forever.
Mr.. Langford, you will have To saw
70 me Whatever you wish before this
man." she said at last
why, It's impossible" cried the
other.
1T must be-.
And interposed the man. ~you
shall say nothing to her until Won have
answered my questions
There must be no violence" cried
tne woman, stepping between the two.
NO violencei"
For answer the man gently. but
with Irresistible force, lifted her out
OF the way. She knew now where he
got the strength to tear down the
rocky wall, and while she trembled.
she thrilled.
Katharine" said Langford-to do
MIN justice he was not afraid-"what
Is this man to your"
Il am nothing to her" answered
the man, except that love her"
And your said Langford, holly.
still addressing the woman.
She loves me-" again answered the
other, and we were happy until you
brought the world to our shores.
Since then she has wept Look at her
now"
MY Cod exclaimed Lansford. "is
II possible?"
1t Is true" said the woman, finding
voice at last and looking steadily
from one to the other.
Langford's emotion now passed all
bounds. He had trembled before; he
shook now as II with the palsy. He
reached out and caught the trunk OF
one of the trees 20 steady himself.
What are you to this man, in Gods
manner" he cried.
Nothing Ever since | fed from
the ship on that hateful night and
landed on this island, we have been
friends, good friends. He was a cast.
away. He had forgotten his speech.
He had lived here since he was a
child. taught him everything"
ITO love your" queried Langford in
hot and bitter jealousy.
That was one thing I learned my.
SELF answered the man. Ana yes.
terday, you might call II chance, but
l call 1t God" said the man gravely.
discovered TO us the love We bore
each other and that Is ALL"
Are you--forgive the question, =
said Langford, addressing the woman,
and there was agony in his voice. "as
you were when left your
Il am a different woman. thank
God!-
"Differentr"
Yes. but in the sense In which you
mean the question, am Just as I was,
save that love this man"
but you had no right to love him
or any one." burst forth Iangford bit.
terly.
And do you reproach me with
that?"
do To-
Think of your wife,
"She's dead" said the man hoarse-
iy. Il have searched the world for
you. have come beck here to make
amends. to own my fault, to marry
you before God and man, to take you
back, to do for you as long as / shall
live all that a man can do
There was such genuine passion in
his voice and in his appeal that the
most inimicaI and indifferent would
have recognized It, but there was nc
response to II In the woman's heart
A greater love than his had come into
her soul The whole current Of her
being flowed to the man by her side.
NO." she said. Your words have
no appeal for me. They awaken no
response in my heart. love this man.
not you
Have you thought" cried Langford
meaningly. that you are not free to
love any one but me?"
by heaven," cried the man spring
ing forward. this time ! will be an
swered. Why is she not free to love
me or any one?"
Because" said the other resolutely.
before she came into your life she
belonged to me-"
belonged to your"
Eyes, to me-"
"And by what tie?'
Langford hesitated. He was furi-
ously wrought up. He saw that II was
necessary to make break. rupture
between these two. He thought that
II he could do SO. his own suit might
the better prosper. He was in deadly
earnest and therefore he took the risk.
How frightful 1t was, he had no pre-
conception. He did not understand
that he was dealing with primitive
man. How should be? He did not
understand what passions slept be-
meath the surface. And perhaps II he
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