The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-08-13
(Continued.)

pose | were to go to ner now anu tell her everything-everythin What would she do? She would drive me away as though I were a leper She told me that she did not love Radford Leicester, and that she would never marry him, even if he came back repentant and worthy. How much less would she love him, then.Sif < were to tell her the whole truth2 If I was unworthy of her six years ago, how much less am l worthy of her now. Let me think, now. There are three things l could do. First. I could go away and send to her telling her that Sig nor Ricordo was an adventurer and had to fly for fear of his life. Then all would be as though I had never come. No, it would not. Then hated her; but now, yes, I believe l hate her still. But I should give up my scheme of vengeance, and let her remain to live her own life. That is the first. Then, second, I could carry. out my scheme. l could go on ase I had marked it out. l could leave her, wounded and disgraced, as I should know she would feel her. self wounded and disgraced. And oh, the thought of revenge is sweet. Then, third, could go to her, cap in hand, and tell her the whole story that Leicester was dead, but that he has risen again. But in either case I should have to leave her; l should go away, and never see her again. And could I bear this? No. And that reminds me, there is an- other way. I, Signor Ricordo, could marry her. I could live here. I could play the squire; could be happy. But could I? To know all the time that I was a living lie. Be- sides, the truth would be bound to come out. No, there would be no rest nor peace. that way"
 Everything he scarcely knew why, was changed. The thing he had Ionged for was within his reach, and yet he did not want to stretch out his hand and grasp it. The kiss which still burned on his lips some how roused within him new feel ings. The story of the country woman changed the course of his thoughts. He still 1onged for re- venge, but the sweetness of it was gone.
 There was a change in the look of the sky. Right in front of him, and behind the tor, a great blue black cloud was rising rapidly. In a few minutes it seemed to cover the whole of the southern horizon. The wind blew colder, the air seem- ed charged with sulphur. Not that he minded. Indeed, he scarcely mo- ticed the change of the atmosphere. Presently the sun seemed to change color First it shone through a great purple haze. and then it was plotted out.
 He found himself shivering. Across 
 heard a moan like the moan of some despairing monster. He knew it was only the wind, but to him there was a kind of personality behind it. breathing across the broad expanse, just as he had heard the spirit of the desert breathe across the great wastes of sand.
 A few minutes later he. heard the distant rumbling of thunder, and al- though it was yet day, it became al- most as dark as a winter evening. The thunder came nearer, and then he saw a flash of lightning. He still trudged on The weather did not matter The storm in his heart drove away all thoughts of the storm that was coming upon him.
 Again the thunder rolled. This time it was nearer, while the flashes of lightning were more vivid. The rain began to fall. too. not rapidly but large heavy drops splashed against his face.
 NO. can't give up the scheme ot years" he cried. 'I won't be the pIaything of a passing fancy. She might have made a man of me; bui instead she sent me into outer dark ness. I might have been a good man Tiff she had-but should I: Was my reformation anything but a passing mood? Might I not, if had married her, dragged her dowr into the mire even as I have planned to do since? After all, I was but a straw in the wind. The moment she gave me up I flew to the drink and to the devil. What right had I, after all, to expect anything else?'
 In spite of himself, he gave a start. 1t seemed as though right above his head the heavens were torn in twain, while the whole sky was lit up with blue vivid flashes ot light. The rain fell in terrents.
 How relentless Nature is, after all." he thought. What can men do in face of such forces as this ? Is God behind it all, I wonder? Ii so, what is the use of our working