The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1914-08-10

stained heaG-Danuage. and ION rne,
stairs that led up to the deck dead men
we're lying, hideously hacked and
manned | looked into the face of the
one nearest me. In those liyid ana
twisted features | recognized all that
had been mortal of the Greek Zeuxis.
Leopold waved back the men as they
approached, and we entered his cabin.
Inside the table was overturned; pill
lows and blankets strewed the floor, |
and there were all the signs Of a des-
perate battle. / placed Leopold upon
the couch and sought to cleanse his
wounds. But he declined all my efforts
and beckoning to me to kneel at his
side, spoke in low whispers.
It's no use--I'm dying, Anne" hel
murmured q only want your forgive
ness. Don't let me go down to hell
without your pardon, Anne. My love
for YOU was the one not wholly self
ish Get of my life You knew that,
Anna?"
nodded, seeia5 him through a mist
Of binding teas When he began toI
speak I unders God how my words of
the evening had wounded him | think
tnat in my horror and hatred for the
man had overlooked the human quail
tiles that lay buried deep, but existent,
in his ha.-.t-
am dying, Anne, he whispered,
grasping for my hand and holding it'll
fast IN his, as though seeking to tindI
some clasp upon that life which was
slowly ebbing away "Do YOU remem-
Der your words last night? That II
could know love no more than a toad
can know beauty? And that | seemed
to YOU the incarnation Of all evil?l
Well, think you were right, Anne
made no answer, but sat SILENTLY
beside him, while his grasp tightenedI
cruelty on mine. I knew the struggled
that was taking place in his soul.
Il want to tell you something. AMI
ne. he said after a while. q was notl
quite so bad as you imagined me to be.
/ You always Influenced me for good
Are you glad to hear that, Anne?"
Very glad, ! answered.
- always planned, when / had wonI
you, 20 turn over Il new leaf, as my fa-
ther would have phrased IT, I've beenl
bad lot. but was playing for highl
stakes, Anne. and-and I've lost. And
now lm going to make amends Wei
must get YOU to Paris before the trial. y
My hopes, so long abased, leaped upI
incredilously again With Zeuxisl
dead l had net dared to think that any-I
thing could stay the fate which oyer-l
| hung my lover But now-if Leopold
should take the place Of the Greek, i'll
he should confess
lie smiled weakly, as il in anticipas
ton Of my thoughts.
DO YOU see that little cabinet in Che
corner, AIMEE he whispered. Under
that pile of papers near it you will find
key Unlock the cabinet and bring
me what you find inside"
rose and obeyed him. | fitted the
little key into the lock and. opening
the cabinet drew forth a bundle of
manuscript. ] placed it in Leopold's
hands.
These papers contain my confes.
| sicn, Anne" he said Il wrote it once
when under the influence of good
thoughts--of you. often / have been
| tempted to destroy it, But / felt that
if YOU should escape me and carry out
your purpose it would be but fair to
give you the means with which to free
your lover, the cheyalier These pa
per5 viii eXonerate him completely.
even after / am dead, for they contain
an entire history OF the plot to secure
'he treaty and give the names of those
who were behind us. No officers of the
court could read it aud condemn your
lover Now touch the bell, Anne"
/ rang, and instantly two sailors re-
appeared from the passage without.
They stood impassive and mute before
u.s. Leopold spoke a few words to
them. in their own language
Continued Tomorrow