The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1910-08-04

But in either case | should have
to leave her; ! should 80 away, and
never see her again. And could !
bear that? No. And that reminds
me, there is another way l, Signor
RicordO, could marry her could
live here. | could play thes quire,
could be happy. But could /? To
know all the time that l was a liv-
ing lie. Besides, 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 long
ed for was within his reach, and
yet he did not want to stretch out
his hand and grasp it, The kiss
which sti.l burned on his lips some
how aroused within him new feel
ings. The story of the country-wom-
an changed the course of his
thoughts. He still longed for revenge
but the sweetness of it was gone.
There was a change in the look Of
the sky Right in front of him. AMI
behind the tor, 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 seemed charged
with sulphur. Not that he minded.
Indeed he scarcely noticed the
change of the atmosphere Presently
the sun seemed to change color First
it shone Through a great purple
aaze, and then it was bloued out.
He found himself snivering.
Across the wild wastes of the moor
he heard moan like the moan of
some Gespairing monster. He knew
1t was only the wind, but to him
there was a kind of personality be
bind it. The great spirit of the moors
VAS breathing across the broad ex-
ranse, just as he had heard the spir-
it of the desert breathe across the
great wastes of sand.
\ few minutes later ne heard the
distant rumblng of thunder and al
though it was yet day, it became
almost as dark as winter even
ing. The thunder came nearer and
then he saw a flash of lightning. He
still trudgel on. The weather did
rot 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 flash
ea of lightning were more vivid. The
!ain began to fall, too no4 rapidly.
but large heavy drops splashed
against his face
No, ! can't give up the scheme
OF years, he wied. Il won't be the
plaything of a passing fancy. She
might have made a man of me; but
instead she sent me into outer dark
ness. ! might have been a good man
lift she had-but should /? Was
my reformation anything but a pass.
ing mood? Might | not, if | had mar.
riei her, dragged her down into the
mire even as | have planned to do
since? After ALL ! was but a straw
in the wind. The moment she gave
me up | flew to the drink and to the
devil. What right had !, after all.
10 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 Of
light The rain fell in torrents.
How relentless Nature is, after
all he thought. What can man
&c in face of such forces as these
Is God behind it all, / wonder? If
so, what is the use of our working
against him? Let the breath of The
Almighty touch a man, and he shriv-
els like the leaves in autumn. I'm
less he works in unison with Nature.
Nature crushes him. Have | been
trying to do battle against God al
these years, ! wonder"
The rain continued to fall, but he