Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1912-11-14

thought It possible. for had not his
very soul died that night! Yet there
was the pain, the terrible crashing
agony. Could men suffer like that and
live on?
Aye, man had done It and would. He
drew a sharp breath. The pain dead
ened into apathy. and the broken fan
slipped from his fingers to the door.
He saw a full southern moon shift
ing light through honeysuckles and
roses while he watched with passionate
ardor the shadows pickering across a
beautifully dark face with soft black
eyes and rose leaf lips There was
the rise and fall Of her low toned con-
tralto as they talked. to the sound Of
whose music he could listen forever.
He saw a warm southern sun she'd
ding light on long delightful days
when life was intoxicahngly blissful-
days wherein care nor apprehension
nor any doubt found place. days when
his upright. honorable. clean soul re-
joiced In the love of woman. in the
glory Of perfect womanhood that was
without flaw. Poets and historians
were base revilers to the contrary: be.
Stephen Wade. knew.
He saw moonlit night. heavily
scented with Jasmine, when his very
heart ached with the perfect Joy Of
uving-when. in the pale shadows of
archfng palm alleys. his perfect Joy
turned to agony. bis strong hand
clinched abont the fragile toy Of lace
and pearl. had crushed 1t as his hopes
were crushed under the flaying scorn
Of her voice. under the Indifferent
mockery of her softly luminous eyes
Bewildered with pain. he had turned
away with ashen fnce He had walk
ed miles through the brilliant night
every star hanging like n lamp in the
sky. while the clinging perfume of the
Jasmine flowers that rioted the wayside
hedges overpowered his senses and
numbed his agony for the time.
When the first pink flush Of dawn
had spread into the pale morning sky
he had stopped beside fern edged
pool Hot eyed and weary. he lifted
one hand and looked ut the fan nj
first stupidity, then with growing ap
prehension and then realization. He
shuddered now as he thought Of the
hours. days. months. years that had
followed.
Then had come his meeting with
Constance vardemond. his warm ad
miration for her beauty and her sweet
sound disposition. They had become
the best of friends. They understood
each other perfectly. but he had never
dreamed of marriage He did not want
to marry any one-now. But some one
had whispered word. or 1t material
lied in the air, for 1t had never evolved
from his modest inner consciousness
that Constance cared.
Stephen Wade did not hesitate. He
held out his hand and his heart and
his life. and she took them gracefully.
as one who thankfully receives a great
boon. and between them had come
perfect peace and understanding.
To Stephen, Constance vardemond
represented the highest type Of wo-
manhood that he believed could exist
Beyond that his nature. which had
been hammered into cool. calm. even
ness Of temperament. did not inquire.
Tomorrow they would be married with
all the pomp and brilliant pageantry
that was part Of such occasions in
their circle. This was the last night
be could open the book of the past
A deep toned clock chimed the hour
he passed a hand YEARLY over his
eyes. "of course It Il near dinner