The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-02-01


Horror closed In on me. cast one
searching glance about us. but there
was no place TO turn; Ia every direction
the way was blocked, There was no
choice possible. must let the ma
chine run straight on.
knew then that | could no longer
conceal the truth from Elsa She must
know the fate that threatened. looming
CHASTITY, inevitable.
turned and spoke to her softly,
pityingly prayer Tor forgiveness in
my voice
ELSA, dearest, cannot stop the
autor'
I In the one glance / gave her saw
the pallid agony Of her face, and my
! heart was near broken with despair.
/ One cry came from her lips. sound,
half sob, half moan, breathed and was
| broken. She had tainted. lying inert
! against me.
| We were on the bridge now. The
seconds Of our time were numbered.
| Leaving the machine to run straight,
with tense rapidity threw myself
over its back and rudely dragged Elsa
to a place beside me on the box that
contained the power There | knelt,
facing forward. Then. still kneeing,
| gathered up my love in my arms,
holding her close to my bosom.
There were shouts Of wonder and
alarm from others on the bridge The
time that now remained before the
crash could be only seconds. straight
ened myself on my knees, then leaned
back abruptly. Elsa still in my arms.
In an instant was falling backward;
then my feet touched the flooring of
the bridge.
fell heavily on my side. My last
thought was that at all costs she must
not suffer harm. Then blackness closed
in on me, and | was lost in nothing
ness.
They told me afterward that the
crash Of the motorcar against the rail
and its headlong rush into the river
below were wonderful and terrifying.
AS for Elsa and me, we knew nothing
of it all When | regained conscious
ness. however, Elsa was kneeling by
me, her eyes beaming tenderness and
pity.
Clumsily rose to my feet. | was
aching in every bone, but | was not
seriously harmed.
| was soiled with the dirt of the
street. a little bloody from bruises
here and there. very weak and trem-
bling. but after a moment my brain
cleared. and / was able to climb into
a hanson AS | leaned YEARLY against
the cushions Elsa's hand stole TO mine
and clasped it gently. She turned her
face to me, and / saw that her eyes
were filed with tears.
Thank you." she said
There was a beautiful kindliness in
her voice, a soft. womanly apprecia-
ton of the service | had rendered.
restrained emotion of tenderness But,
weak, suffering, dazed, | yet perceiv-
ed that here there was no passionate
fervor.
made formal answer, then rested
silent Elsa, in sympathy for my
mood. said no more.
The next morning ! went 10 her.
She met me with eager solicitude as TO
my condition after the accident. | am
swered briefly
ELSA. come TO release you from
your engagement TO me"
The color faded from her face. and
she stared al me in amaZement
YES" ! continued; Il believe you
thought you loved me. You have been.
you are. my friend, but ! have seen
the passion you can feel. the depth.
the ardor, of your heart, and | know
your love is not for me. So / release
you"
you have seen? where2 wheng"
she stammered wonderingly.
II have seen you on the stage, In
Ansteed's arms. bis Juliet. his Mar
garet in the new play. oh. and 1t
has broken my heart TO see you lying
SO willingly I'm his embrace. your eyes
blazing love into hts, Yes. Elsa; il is
death TO give you up. but know
have no choice. for your heart is not
mine. but his"
Elsa laughed. recolled I'm mingled
Indignation and sorrow
"You are amused by this I cried
Forgive me" she said very seri-
ously. But you are SO foolish. dear.
sst Let me tell you something. You
nave given me the greatest comnli-
nent ] have ever received as an nc.
ress. And you were really jealousl
)h. you darling. Almost ! am glad %
L. Hear me. on the stage ! play my
lart my part. DO You undestandg
Nothing more on the stage. with
-ou, am not artificial: am only
iaturai To my lover on the stage I
i'm bis heroine. silly. passionate.
weeping. mad. anything the part de-
thousand things. With you
am only one thing. natural. simple
woman who loves who ioves-youl
Ire You content? with you | show
MS what I feel. Isn't that enoughFT
somehow. as she Epose the scales
30 from my ewes saw there IN her
emile tenderness the profounder pas
lon ~ sincerity ~ abiding love.
rev her 20 me. my heart beating n
eveilie - joy
"As g. Ansteed have asked our
Ianarer 10 discharge him. Tie leaves
be week on such n man. "a rnfh-
! rant 10 4 stick And you. sweet
"a Z 49, go. a. rssrr.aH - -.