The Palatka news and advertiser., 1917-09-14
PAGE NO. THREE.

not. Even more to me than my love
for you is this oath which have kept
for so many years."
He turned and walked the length
of the room, then back to her. What
was left for him here?
"You" say that you care more for
it than you do for life and my love-
for endless life, eternal lovew He
was rather speaking to himself
than to her. No longer did he plead,
but his voice was low and anguished.
81 cannot stay along here, | cannot
stand ito see it!'
Quickly, he laid hold of and held
her with one long look, did it as an
exile would give the homeland a lin
gering, cling'img farewell; then, be-
fore she had realized it, he was gone.
Blindly wondering at the sudden
ness of it, she pulled herself together
Had the Angel of Hope also with
drawn?
F. S. drew closer than he had ever
strength, my dear. l see that you
will never repudiate a promise. You
have stood a strong test of character
the family honor is certainly safe
in your hands" and he seemed inches
higher than when she had last looked
at him.
at is at least something to live
for" she murmured without spirit
and slowly. Crossing, she put the
nightlatch on the door by which the
m3n of forgiveness had gone out.
The midnight hour passed, also one
-two-three Still she sat.
at is late, Mary, dearest" said he
at her side, "and somehow, tonight,
| feel that | cannot sleep until you
Sleep! That was the idea she want
ed-slcep. But it must be everlast-
ing! The minister had used that
word-No, it was F. S. who had wish
ed that very night for the thing call
ed Everlasting Life. She turned and
looked at him with 8 new curiosity,
and then, ere she realized it, she found
herself drawing a little away from
him. In sensitive alarm, he quick
ly came closer, and leaned upon her.
What a contrast between him and
John! John had that which the 9TH
er wished for. John had Everlasting
Life.
F. S. sowed a growing restlessness.
His knees shook with soundlcss clat-
ter. and he put one arm about her,
beginning again about the family hon
or.
As on q sudden impulse, she got up
and went quickly toward the outer
door. He barred the way, but brush
ing him aside, she went out and pull
ed the door firmly to, and only the
thought of what she had lost forever
went out with her,
The night was thick with blackness.
Not stan penetrated, not light
was burning; but there was no sense
of fear. She pressed hurriedly on.
She had come out on the river road,
and the increasing roar and the
swish-swish of the water guided her.
She ran into sOmeone-perhaps anoth-
er night-driven soul. But she paid
no real heed. not even when a step
behind came to her cars, a sound as
of someone approaching and cautious.
She had not thought that the day
would ever come again But far
over in the east, light began to steal,
soft and majestic, marshallirg silent
ly on the horizontal clouds. A great
solemnity began to wrap the earth in
grey-whitc truth and reality. The
songs of the awakening birds added
no frivolous note to the prepara-
tions for another day. She never
remembered to have seen the early
dawn before, and the sadness of it
brought strange, breaking thoughts to
ker alc ccady besieged heart. She
could feel the remorseful stiffness
God was everywhere! Oh thus must
seem the LIST morning of all time!
SudddQly, in view Of the greayl yly-
wondering pursuer, her arms went up
to Heaven: In desperate gesture, her
appeal was sharply silhouetted
agr'rst the growing light.
Tho sound of the water was plain
er. She was gaining on the river.
But no longer could she be hidden,
end halting, she looked apprehensive-
ly behind her.
Quickly reaching her side, but not
)n"wing how she would receive him,
Tol0 Aliens ewes seHrchcd the very
lotion Of her, and hers hung on
h~morul thought
- hove been watching over you,
Mary"
81" mode no reply
.'S'we+Njn~ impeled me to follow
Come, child, let's get home before the
town is up."
u cannot 90 back there-I am 60
'r~ "wav,"
Il will 90 with YOU" and noticing
I-NH- rl,- how, ho ,Iroy,r l.,