The Falls City tribune., 1911-05-19

photograph upon the glowing Goals,
Then she rose, white and trembling:
the voices of the choristers still
hmynlng In the grey old church,
came to her. She stood listening.
with the roses crushed to her breast,
After n while she went into the
room beyond. and. kneeling down,
drew from a drawer an oblong pack.
age. She shook out the folds of a
white muslin gown and smoothed 1t.
ea~ressingly.
You child" she whispered to her
self, you ehlldl" But she went on
smoothing out the crumpled folds.
Laughing softly, she slipped out Of
the heavy, silken gown and donned
the simple white one. She let down
her heavy hair and braided 1t In n
long plat, washed the rouge from
her checks. and pinned the white
roses In the laces at her throat.
Then she went back to the sitting
room and stood before the mirror,
regarding, with grave eyes, the face
that looked back at her; no longer
that of a world.worn woman, but of
a radiant girl.
The little maid stared when she
entered with a card, but Margaret
was too engrossed to note her sur
prise.
Il will see him." she said, and there
was 4 hard note in her voice.
She was standing with her back to
the door and at first he did not recog.
nize her, but as she turned and ad.
dressed him, he went forward drama
tically.
"Ah, 1t Is you, Madamoiselle? It
is a new role, then? 1t Is something
that | have not seen before, is 1t not
so? 1t is not Elsa, nor Marguerite,
nor any OF those others, and yet
All, Madamoiselle, you are always
beautiful, but tonight you are more
than beautiful, you are"
She held up her hand. NO" she
said, at is not Elsa nor Marguerite,
nor any of those roles that you have
seen me play SO many times. 1t Is an
old role which | discarded years ago,
but which | have resumed tonight,
and which I hope to continue In
throughout my life. 1t is a role which
l have played many times, the only
requisites of which are simplicity and
truth, and the applause, the only ap-
plause worth while, the appreciation
of truth and honest hearts"
when | came to the city," she
went on, "this great, throbbing city,
with It's beautiful, sad, wicked life,
l was a young girl, untutored In the
hard lessons of the world. I had lived
among people whose women we're
good and men honest and I thought
all men and women good and honest.
When I think of the simple, untrled
girl | was and the dangers that men
aced me, I shudder, even now.
But the world was good to me-,
My voice and the beauty men say !
possess, stood me in good stead. The
world offered me It's poor best, and |
was dazzled with its glitter and CLEAN.
l was like a fly, caught in a golden
web, fascinated and yet afraid.
To-day, Monsieur, yoa asked me-
you did me the honor TO ask me to
become your wife; you offered me
wealth and position"
And my love, Madamoiselle."
And your love. Tonight | give
them back to you with these" She
held out the great string of diamonds.
You did me a great honor, and !
thank you for it, but tonight an In
luence that has exerted itself
throughout my life has spoken to my
heart In a voice which cannot be
silenced. And so | am going away,
| am going back to the old role again,
the role of the simple, happy, quiet
life. | shall marry a mar who Is not
great, perhaps, as the world counts
greatness, but who
But Madamoiselle, what of me?
Do | deserve no consideration? Am
I to be thrust aside so? Surely /"
You cannot say anything of me-
you cannot accuse me more merci-
lessly than | accuse myself. But be-
cause I have wronged you, would you
have me make my wrong still deeper?
My heart is far away In tho south
land tonight where these little white
blossoms came from" She touched
with gentle fingers the roses on her
breast.
The Frenchman stood with bowed
head. For the first time 1t came to
Ler that 1t was given, even to this
wording, to love sincerely. A great
pity, born of the new beauty and light
in her own life, stirred within her
heart.
She layed her hand for a moment
on his.
Forgive me- she said.
He raised her hand and kissed It,
reverent1y.
"Madamoiselle,' he said earnestly,
do you know what you are relin-
gushing Are you prepared to fore
go all the luxury, the pleasure, the
s%plendor of your present life-to give