EVEN AS YE SOW.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 11727, 20 January 1900, Page 1 (Supplement)

EVEN AS YE SOW.

CHAPTER I. Oscar Howard stood before Isabel Lome pleading wiih her for a word of hope as th<-> condemned mi^ht plead for life at the foot of the gallows. Accustomed as she was to snch things, even she was startled by the 'fierce eloquence of the impassioned - words that fell from his lips. « I onnnot give yon what I do not possess,'' she said, coldly withdrawing her hand from his too ardent clasp. " I have no heart. Do not mistake me," -she added, as she noted the fierce iaalonsly aroused by these words "It is rot that I have bestowed it on any one I ■ aye no heart to give. I don't think I ever had 'any. Men hav fi come to me, asking of me what yon ask and telling me the same story. They spoke, as you have spoken, of feelings and emotions which are utterly incomprehensible to me, and which I could not share if I would." Young Howard turned his eyes steadily upon the face of tf<e speaker, so rarely beautiful in outline nml colorins, now as calm and pa=sinnless $w a summer lake. He raided his hand to heaven, a3 if invoking upon her head a voiceless curse. .<< Yoar time wi'l come !" The door closed upon the speaker, but there was something in that haggard face, in those despairing ey*. that haunted Isabel for some moments after. , , , '< I wonder if I shall ever love ? she murmured, as, drawing the Pofa cushion . under her head, she settled herself for the afternoon nap wUh wliich she usually refreshed herself for the evenin?. " I >«>P e not » if ?t is e ?j n X t0 ■affect me as it does some people." « Hew very shocking !" The sun had disappeared behind the hills, and, refreshed' by the quiet sleep B he had hail, Isabel slopped ont upon the verandah, when this exclamation fell upon her ear, uttered by one of the excited group that had gathered in one corner of it. \ • ,

. "What is it?" " Young Howard has shot himself ! Fortunately, thfa gathering .shades of twilight concealed the face that suddenly blanched at these words, and those present were too much absorbed in their own feelings of astonishment and horror to notice the unsteadiness in Isabel's voice as she said : " What could have induced him to do that ? ' . " He was, without question, insane, said a grave, pompou3-looking man araonc the pronp. " Insanity is hereditary "in his family ; his mother died -insane."

Isabel drew a sigh of relief. " Ob, that accounts for it, then."