Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1911-01-13

1t was a short hundred yards, and
there were many abroad In the grav-
eled walks: lovers in pairs, and groups
of young people penslve or chattering.
So 1t was not until they stood on the
very battlements of the western cliff
that they were measurably alone.
Has no one told you what happen
ed last March--on the day of the ice
storm?" she asked, coldly.
NO"
Il used to think I knew you" she
said, faltering but l don't. Why don't
you despise hypocrisy and double-deal-
Ing as you used to?"
Il do; more heartily than ever"
Tom, 1t Is terrible thing to say
and your punishment will be terrible.
But you must marry Nancy!"
He was standing on the brink OF the
cliff, looking down on Paradise Valley,
spread like a silver etched may far
below In the moonlight The flare and
sough OF the furnace at the iron works
came and went with regular intermit-
tency; and just beyond the group Of
Chiawassee stacks a tiny orange spot
appeared and disappeared like a will
the curious spot when he said:
IF / say that have no duty toward
Nan. you will believe 1t Is a lie-as
you did once before. Have you ever
reflected that 1t is possible to trample
on love until it dies-even such love as
bear you?"
TT Is shame for you to speak OF
such things to me, Tom. Consider
what l have endured-what you have
made me endure People said l was
standing by you, condoning a sin that
no right minded young woman should
condone. 1 bore 1t because l thought,
l believed. you were sorry. And at
that very time you were deceiving me
-deceiving every one. You have drag
ged me in the very dust of shame!"
There is no shame save what we
make for ourselves" he retorted. "One
| day, according to your creed, we shall
stand naked before your God, and be-
fore each other. In that day you will
know what you have done to me to-
night. No, don't speak, please; let me
| finish. The last time we were together
you gave me strong word, and-and
you kissed me. For the sake of that
word and that kiss l went out into the
! world a different man. For the little
fragment of your love that you gave
Inc then, 1 have lived a different man
from that day to this. Now you shall
see what shall be without it."
Before he had finished she had turn
ed from him gasping, choking, strang-
ling in the grip of a mighty passion,
newborn and yet not new With the
suddenness Of a revealing flash Of
| lightning she understood; knew that
she loved him, that she had been low
ing him from childhood, not because,
but in spite of everything, as he had
! once defined love. 1t was terrible,
heartbreaking. soul destroying She
called on shame for help, but shame
had fed. She was cold with horrible
fear lest he should find out and she
should be forever lost in the bottomless
pit Of humiliation.
1t was the sight of the little orange
colored spot glowing and growing be-
yond the Chiawassee chimneys that
saved her.
Look" she cried isn't that a Are
down in the valley just across the pike
flom the furnace? 1t is trel"
He made feldglass of his hands
aro looked long and steadily.
you are quite right" he said cool
ly. ITS my foundry. Can you get
back to the hotel alone? If you can,
I'll take the short cut down through
the woods. Good might and-good-
by" And before she could reply, he
had lowered himself over the cliff j
edge and was crashing through the un-
derbrush on the slopes below.