Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-01-15

imagine for moment that after what
nas happened here ! can stay anolhcr
hour
/ stared al her in amazcment.
This is madness" ! cried. 'YOn
who have been i'll 80 long, who have
but now arisen as II were from the
dead Won talk OF going from here,
afool and in this Storm
She nodded
Il do because | must" she replied
My strength viii suffice As for The
. storm, that matters nothing must
20
For all answer | turned, walked to
the door ol she surgery. and locked II.
You must not and shall not"
prohibited her. 60 bSck INTO the
ward, Alexandra
She turned look OF extraordinary
f, and Irresistible command on me, Her
eyes seemed 10 darken. Her head went
up in IN attitude OF imperial dignity
Her beautiful mouth drew straight
and firm.
"Myrah," said she in different
voice from any | had ever heard her
use, no one has ever yet said mist
10 me. Unlock that door am going
going a once,
i'or momenl our eyes met in con
dict. Our souls faced each other.
Nine weakened. | could not stand
asainsi he woman or meet her gaze.
Against my will, yet driven by Il re-
sstle,s force, turned the key and
flung he dool wide open.
Saying 10 other word, Alexandra
passed through
A quarter OF an hour later | heard
her call me from The hallway. With
redeemed eyes for | had been weep
ins, alone there in The surgery with
I toe BODY OF Andre | went al her
summons. She was standing at the
open outer door. with the wind and
r; Il driving at the lone cloak that Ell
Ncloped her i'll sweeping lines OF splen
did dignity
"Myrah." said She gently taking
my hand. thank Heaven YOU are q
plain Woman, undistinguished and mol
cursed as am cursed with this tatal
gift Of beauty. Quietly you will live
and peacefully die. while / Al
what tempests. what sriefs. what tra9
cdics may MOI yet lie in store for No
How long? do not know, Can 'hoS,
misguided men have lowered me viii
the curse OF immortality rs well n
with beauty such as no human crea
lure ever should possess
She drew me to her and pressed 3
l. upon my Quiyerin. mouth
Good by. Myrah." she ended
"Neycr try 10 lind me or 10 see IN,
over any more Try only one thing
10 forget me.
Who | am YOU shall never know
You may perhaps hear OF me at times
but even of this YOU canno b. sure.
The deadly curse Of beauty IS upor
me The blessing OF death has beer
denied me- As | forgive Andre an,
Vital, 40 ! ahsolye you too--tor Vol
knew not what YOU did FAREWELL"
Trembling tried TO hold her hacl
moment longer. had come vagu'
Mild idea even then OF quesHonirg
her. of forcing her 10 answer me, %
she meant by her strange words, il
conflict viii, her, All my powers seem
I'd to Nag and fail. Win ana force
were lacking
she put me from her. easily as Z
child Is put away; then. with a las
look into my eyes IA strange. deep, IN
scrutable look such as see today aEl
ever shall as long as life cndurcS
turned and took her leave OF the ole
house forever.
Trembling with exhaustion and chill
as | stood there in the porch, with mS
skirts whipped about me by The wind
| watched her 20 down the long, wind
ing drive in the gray murk Of morn
ing. She moved rather slowly. az !
tired, bur with perfect pose, and VIII
Kind of latent force which nohn!
could withstand.
Her ficure crew dim among The box
hedges in the uncertain light. hopet
she might turn il only once, ana way,
her hand at me; but steadily she KEEP
or and on, never even looking back q
the scene Of all those hopes and Ieari
Of all that fatal success, that TRACED.
llat death
~ last she reached the end OF IN
driveway; she passed behind the higl
or hedge tina, bordered the high road
.ae vanished forever from m
sight
For while still remained there
,a,aining my eyes through the eloor
10 catch some sight of her. but no'l
ing could be distinguished. Nhi,he
she went. or how, know not. All tina
krow is this; that from that momen
inti, this my eyes have never resle
GA her face again, nor have ] hear
h,l voice, nor yet had any cctiaI
news OF her
WHO might She have been?
Through what strange ways ma
fate have led her since that parting
Iusoluble mysteries,