“Why should you not have her, when you love her so dearly?” the tempter asked.
But he knew the voice and shrank from it. Then he murmured inwardly:
“Great and good God, I turn to you,” and before he knew it, his unaccustomed lips had framed a prayer.
With a feeling of renewed strength he took one last look at her and walked away. He had scarcely time to catch that midnight train. He was leaving heaven behind, but he was doing what was best for all. There was something in that, and Robert must never know what his poor services had cost him.
CHAPTER XXVI. LOST FAITH.
“For your own sake, if not for mine, Robert, do not begin drinking the first thing in the morning,” Cherokee pleaded.
“I must, I must; my nerves are all shattered. I will stop when I have won the laurels of art,” and he poured the fiery poison into the sugared glass.
“Does Marrion know breakfast is waiting?” he asked.