The Colorado statesman. [volume] (Denver, Colo.) 1895-1961, 1915-04-10

is there anything, dear, that
makes you sad? Do you think me un.
worthy to become your wife? If you
think so, it is not for me to hold you"
He strained her to his heart for an
swer, and Rose forgot her doubts and
fears And meanwhile Captain Allen,
seated at home in his manor at Wild
Crag, awaited a fateful message with
fevered impotence
At last it came, and with trembling
fingers he tore open the envelope and
read. Then, with a groan, he let the
letter iutter to the ground and bowed
his face upon his hands.
Your wife may live on indefinite
ly," was the gist of the message.
Years before, when little more than
boy. Allen had become entangled
with woman whom honor had com
PEELED him to marry. There had been
no love on either side, and only
Indebtedness for the man. AS for
the woman, her position as chatelaine
of the manor house had been an ade-
quate recompense for her bondage
She had little heart, and none for
Roderick.
The cramped heart, and the little,
narrow brain had failed her. She had
become hopelessly insane and was
confined in an asylum. Roderick Allen
had done all in his power for her.
But her disease was a progressive one
and he looked forward to her re-
lease by death, for both their sakes.
When he met Rose and loved her he
had not the heart to tell her of his
past. He had resolved to ask her to
become his wife when the release
came. Then she should know. But
the letter told him that the specialists
had erred, and that there must be
years of wretchedness to come.
And in their favored trysting place
he broke the news to his sweetheart.
1t broke her. She bent forward, as
Allen had done. and hid her face in
her hands.
Forgive mel" he pleaded. Forgive
me for the unhappiness that | have
brought on you"
Then Rose Farley raised her head.
at has not been unhappiness," she
whispered TREMENDOUSLY. 1T has been
oy-immeasurable joy
Thus he left her. And she knew
that life had disciplined her nature
at last.
He left her and went secretly away,
and Rose, distracted, haunted the ma
nor grounds dreaming of the days of
her too brief romance. Doubts of her
sanity spread among the villagers.
Some pitied her, but judgments are
apt to be hard, and more pitied the
man, whom they considered to have
been led astray by willful girl.
'If he comes back I'll put the black
curse on him. mavourneen," her old
aunt mumbled. Sure. why don't you
think a little about Terence Mccoy.
who's dying for love of you?"
Rose had not heart to answer her.
Daily she wandered about the manor
grounds, and now it seemed as If
her brain had really begun to fail her.
The memory of those sacred moments
haunted her, she could not bear to be
away from that trysting place where
Roderick had told her of his love for
her. and she would repeat his words
over and over, hugging their bitter
sweetness to her soul.
Meanwhile Terence McCoys hopes
ran high. The girl avoided him no
longer. She only looked at him with
haggard eyes when he spoke to her.
He had an ally in the good priest of
the village. who could not understand
Roses caring for a man who seemed
to have deceived her and to be wholly
unworthy. He urged Rose to accept
Terence, who was well endowed with
| cnan1ah n
deed, to be an excellent match.
But Terence McCoy's patience was
not inexhaustible, and he hit upon a
way of bringing his suit to a success
full close When he met Rose he
ceased to WOO her; instead, he began
to feign sympathy with her in her dis
tress.
81 love you, Rose" he said. but
heaven knows l wouldn't be the one
to stand in the way of your happi
ness. Perhaps the woman will die
Rose. / know where the captains
gone. and l know that he cares fol
you"
And love him, Terence" said
Rose. raising her eyes hopelessly. so
shall always care for him. But I like
your sympathy. We must be friends
Terence"
Nov, that's better" said Terence
gayly, linking his arm in hers. You'll
never have better friend than Ter
ence Mccoy, or one who wishes yot
happiness more"
When he had won Roses confidence
Terence developed his scheme, which
consisted in letter addressed to him
self, purporting to come from one o
+ the captains servants, announcing hi
. death abroad. He contrived to drol
the communication in the girls pres
encp