The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1910-08-01

OIlNt y UOllt NOulh bN Nttll ptlNttAl
the trees. The peaCefulness and
beauty of the scene seemed to affect
him. A look of wonder came into
his eyes. and there was an expires
sion on his face difficult to de
scribe. But it quickly passed away.
NO. no." he crieG, there is no
hope for me- There is nothing worth
living for now, save that oh, how
| hate her
When he came back to breakfast,
he was still the same polite, but
cynical man whom Mrs Briggs had
grown accustomed to-
Beautiful morin, sur. 'Tes lovely
ere in the summer
But the winter will come, Mrs.
Briggs"
Then let us enjoy the summer
while we've a-got er, sur"
You are a philosopher Mrs
DIlSSS, DuI tdCh must enjoy III MS
own way"
'Iss, thas true; but d often feel
as how Vale Linden must be some
thin like the Garden of Eden where
our first parents lived together"
But the serpent came in Mrs.
Briggs
"Iss, he died. But you knaw the
promise. The seed of the woman
shall bruise the serpents head And
it did va knaw, it did
The serpent seems to be pretty
much alive" remarked Ricordo
Throughout the whole day he
tramped the moors. Taking with
him a pasty which Mrs Briggs had
baked. he stayed the entire day
alone, and did not return until the
sun was beginning to set the west
ern hills. At precisely the same
time as he had visited Vale Linden
Hall the night before, he again ap-
preached the house. He was on
the point OF ringing when he saw
Olive sitting beneath the broad
spreading branches OF a great tree.
Eagerly he walked towards her.
'Signorna,' he said eagerly, 81
come to know my fate. On your
answer depend the ISSUES of my life.
Am | to be lifted into paradise, or
am | to he cast away into outer
darkness?"
Olive was silent for a moment,
then she said:
Before | can answer you, sig
nor, have a confession to make"
"A confession" he said. oh but
shall be very lenient confessor.
II at the end--but you know what
| would say, 1t would weary you
to repeat what | said last night,
neither is there need that | should.
Surely you know what is in my
heart. Since | saw you last night,
no sleep has visited me. Half the
night l tramped the moors, the other
half | tossed sleeplessly on my
bed How could | sleep when | do
hot know what my future will be?
Never mind the confession, signorina
tell me to be happy"
Il do not think | can" she re.
piled.
But you must, you must" he
cried imperiously. Il tell you | will
sweep away your objections like the
wind sweeps away thistle-down You
dG not know what your refusal would
mean to me-"
There is something | must tell
YOU she said quietly. Last night
you asked me to be Your wife; at
least let me tell you why-why do
not think | can"
A strange smile passed over Ri.
cordos face.
Yes, tell me- he said quietly.
Il cannot marry you, because
promised | never would"
Promised you would never marry
me-" he cried Promised who?"
She told the story which we al
leady know, little thinking of the
effect it had upon the hearer. She
omitted no detail which had anv
Importance in the story The mans
presence caused every incident to
come back to her with painful vivid
ness Tae past lived again Some.
times it seemed TO her that not
sianger, oI; Leicester, stood beside
her while sae spoke
And yea loged this man--thii.-
this leicester" he asked presently.
yes, | think so-that is, must
have loved him, or l should never
have promised to be his wife"
And you gave him up because