The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1917-02-08

AND at last ner udppIHSSS was ~
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; and
which was now a 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 sexi
II can't stand it any longer, David"
she said breathlessly, ito see you suf-
fer. I know you are suffering, because
I-becauSe because it hurts me so u
What a glorious crash the tower
made!
David took a quick step toward her.
His pulses throbbed ungOvernably.
"Toinette, what do you mean" His
AdCS was law JON w ~
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, 1.-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 1 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 SLAM
der against his loyalty?
mo, Toinette." he said, as gently as
he could, II have not forgotten your
charge against me. 1 can never for
get it until you say that you were
wrong"
The tower of pride reared itself up
again from it's dust. Why must he
ask her to humble herself still further,
when she had already said so much?
She was silent. He waited for her
answer, but none came; and at last,
he bowed gravely.
"Then it is useless to talk Of-fOr-
getting. Please let US end this foolish
play"
He moved as though to go on with
his work.
'Wait, David !" she said TREMENDOUSLY.
Her eyes were blinded with tears. Her
fingers had been plucking nervously at
a purple ribbon which hung from her
| bodice.
wait, 1 want to give you--a re-
membrance." She lifted the great
| shears from the counter and clipped
the silken cord from it's fastenings. A
tear ran down and stained it with a
darker color. Her fingers twisted the
sorry token, quickly twisted it into a
wistful emblem such as happy lovers
| laughingly give each other-a lovers
| knot. She raised her face and her
blue eyes smiled wanly through the
mist that clouded them.
"Here, David, take thiS-juSt to be
foolish, just to be foolish for once"
He took it. His hand was trembling.
| But his face was steel, unforgiving.
All his yearning for her burned in his
breast, a white caldron of passion
but around it closed the unyielding
| walls of his cold passion for his honor.
He could never forget that she had
| doubted him once. Until that stain
had been washed away, he could not
| forgive. He remembered the young
| Sir Philip Sidney of whom her father,
old Patrice, had so often told him-Of
his proud guardianship of the white
shield of manly honor; he himself had
| been only a wearer, but here, in this
new country, he was a man; and his
| honor must be firsti
"Toinette," he said in q low voice,
"who told you that 1 had acted as a
spy?"
Ehe blood rushed to her cheeks.
This, too, she would give him.
Doctor Elliott" she whispered, with
bent head.
"Who is he?" cried David in a fury.
"That young doctor who comes here
from Louisville? In Gods name, what
has he against me? I've never seen
the man! But do you believe him
stillY'
You have never-never denied
never" she stopped miserably. She
could not raise her eyes to face him.
"Then nothing else matters, Toin-
ette."
"Oh, David, that doesn't matter Ell
ther!" she cried. Nothing matters
I want you in spite of that!'
But he shook his head.
She became very pale again.
II have offered all have" she said
proudly, II have nothing more to give"
~ can take nothing from you while
you believe me guilty. My name is all
have to give YOU
Her answer scarcely reached his
ear:
"Oh, David, let our love be enough"
The light had faded from the sky.
David looked down at her bent head
and trembled.
where is this man Elliott now?'
he demanded suddenly.
81 do not know" faltered Toinette,
but, oh, David"
"Good-by!' he said.
She did not answer, but held out
her hand. He paid no heed. With a
fol IL o.