The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1917-03-10

at a shrine.
An end of all things had come to
David. His long quest was over and
| the surf of his passion had spent itself
in foam. Had it been worth while to
forgive? All that he had lived for was
| torn from him. Toinette would know
| that she had judged him unjustly; but
would that knowledge bring back what
| he had lost of her? He had been a
| hot-tempered fool, he had insulted her
| beyond forgiving. The breach had
widened beyond bridging. He looked
across the gulf that lay between him
and Toinette and felt the bitterness OF
ruined hopes. He thrust his hand in
to his hunting shirt and drew forth
the dueling pistol he had taken from
] BlackfOrd's room. For long while ne
stood looking at it in silence.
| A light step rustled the dead leaves
underfoot and he turned quickly. Toin-
cite stood beside him, joyous smile
on her face.
II was sent to find you," she greet
ed him astonishingly.
He stared at her as though at mes
senger from the skies. Her silver
laughter rang out as 1t had in days
gone by.
do not deceive yourself" she
smiled. II am no angel-Fm
Toinetter'
David did not believe her denial;
never believed it.
Father sent me for you. He's go
ing to give a great dinner at the tav-
ern and you're to sit in the place of
honor. Come. you mustn't keep your
cook waiting"
And she held out her hand.
But David did not stir.
4 The look of haggard suffering had
returned to his face. Her loneliness
was an arrow that sent all the poison
of his despair once more burning
through his veins. For the first time
he found voice, voice trembling
with emotion.
II cannot cannot {.
please g0w
She opened her eyes wide and shot
blue radiance Of hurt surprise. at
him. Then she went swift and straight
to the point, a woman not to be put
aside by evasions:
"Indeed, I will not. You mustn't
stay here alone"
He had regained control of himself,
but the struggle left him deadly pale.
He could not bear to face her as he
spoke.
81 am going away. I cannot live
; without you" The words were hard
" more than whisper.
She took two quick steps forward.
Her hand fell upon his shoulder, light
as a floating strand of gossamer. But
he felt it and thrilled through all his
being. Slowly, slowly, he raised his
head and she saw his face, that he had
gone into the valley of the shadow of
death. In the hush of the wilderness
his scarcely audible words seemed to
fall on their hearts with the measured
beating of an memorable judgment.
What did she see in the wilderness
A dry reed, shaken in the wind OF de-
spair? But her voice rang like song
in the morning: .
SIT is not brave to turn back from
the blowing. have heard my father
say that courage should be lifted to
such height as to maintain its great.
ness even in the midst Of miseries
holding all things under itself"
David smiled.
II call the immortal truth to witness
that no fear, either of life or death
can appan me, having long learned to
set bodily pain in the second form OF
my being. And I do now think it the
act of a coward to die"
The girl had grown paler as she read
his determination in his face, white
and rigid as mask.
David was silent. In the morning
sunlight that dappled the little glade
the frozen branches of the trees stood
motionless. A white snowflake danced
across the space before David's eyes
and his vision followed it up, up, into
the cloudless blue beyond. In the quiet
IT seemed to Toinette as if she coult
hear her own heart beating. David
spoke again, slowly:
AUu VIC NC lkCutChhhtS W. 49, -
this troubled world, do you not thnl
then that we have right to choose new
station when he leaves us unprovidet
Of good reason to stay in the oidT'
'No, certainly I do not" she SAID
with a rebuke lovelier because 1t La!
liz her sweetly troubled voice, sine
1t is not for us to appoint that might.
ma, esty what time he will help us
the uttermost instant is scope enough
for him to revoke all things to one
own desire"
le And she sealed her lips with tn
s, moistness of her tears, which foiloWe
ID still one another like, a precious rop
,e Of pearls. David suddenly realize
IL how ineffably sweet life was; wonder
is full, tragic, joyous worthy OF music
worthy Of tears.
W The pistol fell to the ground unheet
he ed. David took step forward.
id But she checked him.
.No," she said, ''do not tell me. Do'
tor Elliott has told me all. He an
Lydia have gone. Forgive me, forgiy
- naxsdf Taf tho dreadful mast g