The Fayette falcon. (Somerville, Tenn.) 190?-current, 1921-05-20

never knew how passionately / loved
you until you became the wife of an
other. Isabel, love you passlonately
STILL"
Lady Isabel felt 1t her duty to repel
his advances, but there still remained
that undercurrent of feeling for him
that she could not comprehend. Fear
full lest she betray herself, she dis
missed him abruptly, sent for her hus-
band to take her home, and made
pltiful attempt to drive all thoughts of
Francis Levison from her mind.
1t was well-nigh impossible. Her
plans to forget him were completely
frustrated when her generous husband,
innocently enough, merely thinking to
repay Captain Levison for his kind at
tentions to Lady Isabel on the French
coast, invited that profiigate to East
Lynne as place of shelter where he
might be safe from his creditors until
something could be arranged.
Like a serpent LevisOn boldly took
every occasion to whisper into Lady
Isabel's ears all the meetings that he
spied between her husband and Bar
bara Hare. Under a misapprehension
that her husband was giving bis love
to Barbara and frantic with the jeal-
Gus belief that the two were uniting
to deceive her, Lady Isabel finally
yielded to Levison's pleadlngs and
eloped with him.
No sooner had she taken the fatal
step than she was filled with remorse.
Almost Immediately she discovered the
true character of this insincere rake
for whom she had given up her all. In
a year he deserted her, leaving her I'M
born child nameless.
Too proud to accept help from rela-
tives, she decided to become a COVER
ness. When she CHANGED to hear of
the opportunity to return to East
Lynne as the governess to her own
children she could not withstand the
temptation, so great was her longing
to see them again. 1t was desperate
chance to take, for she might be rec
ognized, though illness and the rail-
road accident which had killed her
child had altered her entirely. Her
disguise was complete, as, heartsick,
she rode again along the familiar road
toward East Lynne. When the dear
old house doomed up before her, its
gay and cheerUy lighted windows a
contrast to her own downcast spirits,
she began to wish she had never under
taken the project. But for the sake
Of seeing her own children again she
would have turned back. Her fears of
being recognized were allayed when
she saw that no one suspected for
moment that the gray, saddened and
disfigured Madame Vine" was Lady
Isabel.
East Lynne had a new mistress now
none other than her fancied rival of
old, Barbara Hare. Not until she real
lied for the first time that Archibald's
love could not longer be hers did lsa-
bel feel an intensity of love for him
that she had never experienced as his
wife. And yet she became almost
happy again In winning the affection OF
her children, though her joy In being
with them was tempered with sorrow
in caring for delicate little William,
her second born, knowing as she did
that he could not long be with them.
Events moved along fast. There
came the time when Francis Levison,
returning to West Lynne to seek cleo
ton to parliament, only to be defeated
by Carlyle, was convicted Of the crime
which had overshadowed Richard
Hare for so many years. At East
Lynne, after the death Of little Will
liam, a sudden illness came upon Lady
Isabel. When she realized that she
was failing rapidly she begged upon
her deathbed to be allowed to see Ar
chibald Carlyle.
81 could not die without your for
giveness," she murmured. do not turn
from mel Bear with me one little
minute! Only say you forgive me. and
I shall die in peace"
Isabel Are you--were you-Mad-
anne Vine?"
"Oh, forgive me for disgracing your
home! And forgive me for coming
back! / could not stay away from
you and my childrenl The longing for
you was killing me. / never knew a
moments peace after the mad act |
was guilty of in quitting you. Not an
hour had / departed when my repent
ance set in. Oh, forgive mel My sin
was great, but my punishment was
greater"
"Why did you GOT"
ibid you not known ! grew suspi.
cious of you. I thought you were de-
celtful, and in my sore jealousy / lis.
tened to the tempting of him who whis-
pered to me of revenge. 1t was not
true. was it?" she feverishly asked.
"Can you suggest such thing, know.
ing me as you did then, as you must
have SINGER Isabel, / never was false
to you In thought, word or deed. Yes,
/ forgive you. fully, freely. May God
bless you and take you to his rest In
heavenl-
She raised her head from the pillow
and chung to his arm, lifting her face
with its sad yearning. Tenderly he
laid her down again and suffered his
lips to rest on hers.