Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1910-07-01

49, OO0OAO SAS ~O0A4 SR~SA N~S
power end in this hour"
The woman looked at him ~piteously
and nodded her head. She realized
that the thread of destiny was taken
from her hands and forever.
Mr.. Langford, you will have to say
to me whatever you wish before this
man." she said at last.
why, tbs impossible" cried the
other.
"It must be-"
And" interposed the man, you
shall say nothing to her until you have
answered my questions"
here must be nc violence" cried
the woman, stepping between the two.
mo v~iolence!"
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
him justice he was not afraid-"what
is this man to your"
Il am nothing to her" answered
the man, except that I love her"
AAAO OO0s 0d1o AoASAOA
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 God" exclaimed Langford. us
it 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 If with the palsy He
reached out and caught the trunk of
n of the trees to steady himself.
What are you to this man, In Gods
name?" he cried.
Nothing. Ever since I fed from
the ship on that hateful night and
landed on this island, we have been
friends, good friends. He was a asst
away. He had forgotten his speech.
He had lived here since he was a
child. I taught him everything"
T love your" queried Langford in
hot and bitter jealousy.
THAT was one thing I learned my
self" answered the man. And yes
terday, you might call it chance, but
1 call it God" said the man gravely,
discovered to us the love we bore
each other and that is all"
Are you-forgive the question:"
said L%angford, addressing the woman,
and there was agony in his voice, "as
you were when I left you?"
81 am a different omar thank
God"
"Different?"
Yes, but in the sense in which you
mean the question, I am just as I was,
save that I love this man"
But you had no right to love him
or any one," burst forth Langford bit
terly.
And do you reproach me with
that"
DO II"
Think of your wife"
She's dead" said the mar hoarse-
ly. Il have searched the world for
you. I have come back 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 a I shall
live all that a man cal do"
AAICAO was sum AAOA P0OoAOA ~
his voice and in his appeal that the
most inimical and Indifferent would
have recognized it, but there was no
response to it in the woman's heart.
A greater love tina 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. 1 love this man,
not you"
Have you thought" cried Langford
m~eaningly, that you are not free to
love any one but me?"
"By heaven!" cried the man spring
ing forward, this time 1 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 you"
Eyes, to me-"
And by what tie?"
Langford hesitated. He was furi-
ously wrought up. He saw that it was
necessary to make a break, a rupture
between these two. He thought that
if he could do so, his own suit might
the better prosper. He was in deadly
earnest and therefore he tool the risk.
How frightful it was, he had no pre-
conception. He die not understand
that he was dealing with a primitive
man. How should he? He did not
understand what passions slept be-
meath the surface. And perhaps if he
had understood. to do him justice, for
he was a fearless man, he would have
ventured just the same.
"She was my mistress!" he said
through his teeth.
Shame! Shame!" cried the woman,
and then fell silent, clasping her hands
l--a ->sAiA- L. -hoA -i-AA AoAA IT,