The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1917-03-03

fair.
And at last her Happiness" was so
perfect that she resolved to endure 1t
no longer.
She waited until she found him alone
in the shop, the little room which had
once meant to him the beginning OF
life's joyousness and life's hopes; anu
which was now prison house whence
ghosts of yesterdays Knocked him with
their memories.
He was about to close its doors FOR !
the day.
Toinette summoned all her strength. |
The tower of pride was lettering; 1t
| can be sent down in ruins so easily |
when a girl throws down the weapon
of her sex!
81 can't stand it any longer, David
she said breathlessly, "to see you suf-
fer. know you are suffering, because
I-because because it hurts me So!
What a glorious crash the tower
made!
David took quick step toward her.
His pulses throbbed ungovernably.
"Toinette, what do you mean" His
face was glorious. "Have you-do you
believe in me now"
You have blotted out all the past,
David" she said simply.
The Joy suddenly left his face.
"But the past" he said, in dread OF
what her answer might be, "the past
have you forgotten why you drove me
from you? Have you forgotten what
treason you charged me with?
She waved the words aside. "That
is all past now, David. 1t is the fu-
ture that is everything. And l know
now what you mean to me-"
He clenched his hands at his side.
He would be patient. Was it possible
that she still believed the empty SIAN
/, der against his loyalty?
? mo. Toinette," he said, as gently as
/ he could, 81 have not forgotten your
8 charge against me. I can never for
a get it until you say that you were
0 wrong"
e The tower Of pride reared itself up
f again from its dust. Why must ne
( ask her to humble herself still further
il when she had already said so muchi
e She was silent. He waited for heI
d answer. but none came; and at last
O he bowed gravely.
e "Then it is useless to talk of-for
e getting. Please let us emu TINS Ioolsl
q play"
e He moved as though to 60 on witt
his work.
10 "Wait. David =! she said TREMENDOUSLY
% Her ewes were blinded with tears. He
fingers had been plucking nervously q
If purple ribbon which hung from he
lr bodice.
Is "Wait, I want to give you-a re
d. membrance." She lifted the grea
" shears from the counter and clippe'
e. the silken cord from its fastenings. !
TO tear ran down and stained 1t with
,e darker color. Her fingers twisted tn
I'd sorry token, quickly twisted 1t into
o. wistful emblem such as happy lover
as laughingly. give each other-a lover
er knot. She raised her face and ne
as blue eyes smiled wanly through tn
e- mist that clouded them.
he "Here, David, take this-just to b
Of foolish, just to be foolish for once"
x He took 1t. His hand was trembling
IS But his face was steel, unforgivini
Is. All his yearning for her burned In nj
he breast, a white caldron of passion
lrt but around 1t closed the unyieldin
of walls of his cold passion for his homo
ad He could never forget that she ha
ID doubted him once. Until that stat
gs had been washed away, he could NJ
nd forgive. He remembered the your
ew Sir Philip Sidney of whom her fathe
yer old Patrice, had so often told him
nd his proud guardianship Of the viii
We. shield of manly honor; he himself ne
is been only a wearer, but here, in tn
'as new country, he was man; and
'ed honor must be first!
Vid "Toinette," he said in low voic
LED 'who told you that I had acted as
ing spyT ,
0a- The blood rushed to her cheei
ct This. too, she would give him.
she 'noctor Elliott" she whispered, wi
bent head.
her "Who is hep cried David in a full
to "That young doctor who comes ne
she from Louisville? In Gods name. VIII
Of has he against me? I've never Sc
nee the man! But do you believe n
she still?"
ach "You have never-never denied
d it never" she stopped miserably. s
lem could not raise her eyes to face nj
her "Then nothing else matters, TO
me- ette."
was "Oh, David, that doesn't matter
cad ther!" she cried. Nothing mattel
rks I want you in spite of that"
her But he shook his head.
GER She became very pale again.
lere 81 have offered all have" she s
and proudly, 81 have nothing more to Civ
her 81 can take nothing from you WI
you believe me guilty. My name is
nan, have to give you"
evil Her answer scarcely reached
and ear:
rom aOh, David, let our love be en2ut
An The light had faded from ~