The leader-enterprise. [volume] (Fitzgerald, Ga.) 1912-1915, 1913-01-24
row long ara you stay with him p

Until I called YOU"
"And you gave him the medicine IN
the absence of the nurse?"
"Only one" she answered. hesitat-
ingly, "a particular kind the doctor
had not prescribed, but which he
asked for TO relieve his pain.
"He asked you for medicine. Nan?
he went on remoEselessly. "A poison
GUS powder-and you gave him oneY
Yes"
"And you're sure you gave him but
one?"
"He WINS begging for : two-1 might
have given them both-it's possible. OF
course"
He gazed at her with look OF pity.
IT know that ysu did. Nan, know 1t
as certainly as II stood by your side
and saw you press 1t to his lips"
"You know. jim 2" she cried feebly.
her head dropping low.
And you feel ne remorse"
"Why should 1? His death seemed
only a question of Gays
From the bottom Of my heart pity
you" Stuart broke in softly. 'SThe state
will never reach your act with the law.
But the big thing is you have no con-
seriousness of guilt and feel no remorse
because you have no soul. You have
only desires and impulses That's why
you couldn't wait for me to earn my
fortune honestly and so betrayed me
for gold. + can see it all now. Your
beauty has blinded me-"
For Gods sake, Jim," she cried
fercely, ''don't-don't talk like that!
can't endure 1t! You don't mean, you
can't mean that you are going to turn
from me now. just when I've found
your love, did it for your
Stuart looked at her through a mist
of tears.
"rhe spell is broken. Nan. dear; our
romance is ended / don't say it IN
pride or anger: say it in sorrow-a
great deep, pitying sorrow that cuts
and hurtsr'
The woman understood. She had at
last passed out of his world. Only the
memory of a girl he had once loved
and idealized remained, and that mem
ory was now unapproachable. The liV-
ing woman was no longer the figure in
the mental picture The struggle was
over.
He extended his hand. clasped hers,
bowed and kissed it. turned and
walked quickly toward the door. With
a half smothered cry she followed.
"Jim"
He paused and turned again, facing
her with a look Of infinite sadness.
Remember" she said brokenlr. '1
never expect to see>you again-we can
not meet after this. l am looking into
your dear face now with the anguish Of
a broken heart strangling me. You
cannot leave like this-we have been
too much to each other"
He took her in his arms and held her
close
"Forgive me, dear" he whispered
reverently kissing her as he would
have pressed the lips Of the dead. Il
didn't mean to be cruel-goodby."
The door of the great house softly
closed and he was gone. A few mo-
ments later the servants found her
limp form lying IN SWOOn on inc
koor.
Strangers no longer live in the cot
tage Stuart built on the hills. A jaunty
sailboat mods at the buoy near the
waters edge. The drone of bees from
the fruit &trees in full bloom on the
terraces promise luscious harvest in
the summer and fall. The lawn is
wilderness Of flowers and shimmering
green The climbing roses on the
southeastern side of the house have
covered it to the very caves OF the
roof. Stuart has just cut them away
from Harriet's window because they
interfered with her view of the bay
and sea and towering hills they love
so we'll And the grooming Of little
mother over a babys cradle fills the
home with music sweeter to it's builder
than any note ever. heard In grand
opera.
nnnR ANgn
THE END