THE FALLS CITY TRIBUNE , FRIDAY , MAY 4 , 1906.
Ho observed . 'ler strolling toward
tliom.
"I shall be staying with Aunt Cor
nelia o few days after to-morrow. "
Shepler came ui > .
"And 1 shall be leaving to-morrow ,
Miss Milbrcy. "
"Ah. Bines , glad to see you ! "
The accepted lover looked Miss Mill -
l > rey over with rather a complacent
air with the nnrufllcd confidence of
assured possession. I'erclval fancied
I here was a look almost of regret In
the girl's eyes.
"I'm afraid , " said Shepler. "your
aunt doesn't want to be kept waiting.
And she's already in a fever for icar
you won't prefer the necklace she In-
Hlsts you ought to prefer. " '
"Tell Aunt Cornelia , please , that I
shall he along in just a moment. "
"She's quite impatient , you know , "
urged Shepler.
Pcrclvnl extended his hand.
"Good-by. Miss Mllbrey. Don't let
me detain you. Sorry I shall not see
you again. "
She gave him her hand uncertainly ,
an if she had still something to say ,
but could find no words for it.
"Good-by , Mr. Bines. "
"Good-by , young man , " Shepler
Hhook hands with hlmvordlally. "and
the best of luck to you out there. I
Hhall hope to hear good reports from
you. And mind , you're to look us up
when you're in town again. We shall
always bo glad to see you. Good-by :
He led the girl back to the case
where the largest diamonds reposed
chastely on their couches of royal vel
vet.
Perclval smiled as he resumed his
walk smiled with all that bitter cyn
icism which only youth may feel to its
full polgnance. Vet , heartless as she
was , he recalled that while she talked
to him he had imprinted an imagin
ary kiss dellbeiately upon her lull scar
let lips. And now. too. he was forced
to confess that. In spite of his very
certain knowledge about her. he would
actually prefer to have communicated
it through the recognized physical
media. He laughed again , more cheer
fully.
"The sprplng has gotten a strangle
hold on my judgment , " he said to him
self.
CHAPTER XXVIII.
HOMi : PlinXOMUXA PKCUMAH TO
SPUING.
He awoke early next morning , re
freshed and Intensely alive. With the
work done he became conscious of n
feeling of disassociation from the sur
roundings in which he had so Ions
been at home. He was glad the busi
ness was off his mind. He would now
go the pleasant journey and think on
the way.
His trunks were ready for the car ;
and before he went downstairs his
handbag was packed , and the prepara
tions for the start completed.
When , after his breakfast , he read
the telegram announcing that the car
had been delayed 24 hours in Chicago ,
he was bored by the thought that he
must pass another day In New York.
He was eager now to be off. and the
lime would hang heavily.
He tried to recall some forgotten de
tail of the business that might serve
to occupy him. Hut the finishing hail
been thorough.
He ran over in his mind the friend *
with whom he could spend the time
agreeably. He could recall no one lit
cared to see. He had no longer an In
terest In the town or its people.
He went aimlessly out on to Broad
way in the full Hood of a spring morn
ing , breathing the fresh air hungrily
It turned his thought to places out ol
the- grime and clamor of the city ; tc
woods and fields where he might resi
and feel the stimulus of his new plans
He felt aloof and sufficient unto him
self.
IIo swung on to an open car bourn :
north , and watched without Interesi
the early quick-moving workers
thronging south on the street , am
crowding the cars that passed him. AI
Forty-second street , he changed to i
Boulevard car that took him to th <
Fort Lee ferry at One Hundred am
Twenty-fifth street.
Out on the shining blue river he ex
panded nis lungs to the clean , swce
air. Excursion boats , fluttering gaj
streamers , worked sturdily up tin
stream. Little yachts , in fresh-latin
dcred suits of canvas , darted acres !
their bows or slanted in their wakes
looking like white butterflies. Tin
vivid blue of the sky was llecked will
hits of broken llcere , scurrying like tin
yachts below. Across the river was !
high-towering brtnk of green invitini
him over its summit to the languorou
freshness beyond.
Ho walked off the boat on the far
ther side and climbed a series of stee ]
wooden stairways , past a tiny catarac
that foamed its way down to the river
When he reached the top he walkei
through a stretch of woods and turnci
off to the right , down a cool shadei
road that wound away to the nortl
through the fresh greens of oak an
chestnut.
When he came to a village with a
electric car clanging through it , h
skirted its borders , and struck ol
through a woodland toward the rivei
Even the village was too human , to
modern , for his early-pagan mood.
In the woods he felt that curlou
thrill of stealth that impulse to cat
r
tious concealment , which survives In
man from the remote days when ene
mies beset his forest ways. On a
southern hillside he found a. dogwood
tree with its blossomed firmament f
white stars. In low. moist places the
violets had sprung through the thatch
of leaves and were singing their pur
ple beauties all unhearn. Birds weic
nesting and squirrels chattered ard
scolded.
Under these more obvious signs and
sounds went the steady undertone of
life In root and branch and unfurling
leaf provoking. Inciting , making Hw-
less whomsoever it thrilled.
Ho came out of the wood on to an
other road that ran not far from the
river , and set off again to the north
along the beaten track.
When he came to a "wheelman's
rest , " he ate many sandwiches ami
drank much milk
The face of the maid that served
him had been no heaven for the souls
of dead flowers. Still she was a girl ;
and no girl could be wnolly without
Importance on such a day. So he
thought the things he would have said
to her If matters had been different.
When he had eaten , he loafed off
again down the road. Through the
] long afternoon he walked and la/.ed.
turning into strange lanes and by
roads , resting on grassy banks and
looking far up.
When the shadows stretched in the
dusky languor of the spring evening ,
ho began to take his bearings for .the
return. He heard the hum and clang
of an electric car off through a chest
nut grove.
The sound disturbed him. bringing
premonitions of the city's unrest. Ho
determined to stay out for the night.
It was restful his car would not ar
rive until late the next afternoon
there was no reason why he should
not. lie found a little wayside hotel
whose weather-beaten sign was ancient
enough to promise "entertainment for
man and beast. "
" .lust what I want. " he declared.
"I'm both of them man and beast. "
Together they ate tirelessly of youns ;
chickens broiled , and a green salnd.
and a wonderful pic , with a bottle cf.
claret that had stood back of the dingy
little bar so long that It had attained ,
at least as to its label , a very fair an
tiquity.
When the man and the beast had
been appeased they sat out under a
blossomed apple tree and smoked to
gether in a fine spirit of amity.
At ten o'clock he went In from un
der the peering little stars and fell
asleep in an ancient four-poster. He
dreamed that he had the world , a fnot-
> all , clasped to his hreabt. and HJS
running down the field for a gain ol
100 yards. Then , suddenly , in place
of the world , it was Avice Milbrey In
his grasp , struggling frantically to hr
free ; and instead of behaving like a
entleman he flung both arms around
ner and kissed her despite her strug-
; les ; kissed her time after time , until
she ceased to strive against him. and
lay panting and helpless in his arms.
CI1APTKU XXIX
AN fNTSUAI. PLAN OP ACTION IS
MATUUK1J
Ho was awakened by the unaccus
tomed silence. As he lay with his eyee
oj > en , his first thought was that al
things had stopped the world had
come to Its end. Then remembrance
came , and he stretched in lazy enjoy
ment of the stillness and the sofl
feather bed upon which he had slept ,
rinding himself too wide awake foi
more sleep , he went over to the little
gable window and looked out. The
unfermented wine of another spring
day came to hi1 * eager nostrils. Tin
little ball had made another turn. IU
cheek was coining once more into tin
light. Already the east was Hushing
with a wondrous vague pink. The little -
tlo animals In the city over there , in
thought , would boon be tumbling GUI
of their beds to begin another of theii
funny , serious days of trial and fail
ure ; to make ready for another nigln
of forgctfulness , when their absurd little
tlo ant-hill should turn again awaj
from the big bla/.lng star. He sat .
long time at the window , looking on
to the east , where tl e light was show
ing ; meditating on many Idle , littli
matters , but conscious all the Urn * < :
great power within himself. He fel
ready now for any conflict. The nee.
for some great immediate actloi
pressed upon him. He did not identify
it. Something he must do ho inns
have action and that at once. Hi
was glad to think how Uncle Pete ;
would begin to rejoice in him secretlj
at first , and then to praise him. Hi
was equal to any work. He could no
begin it quickly enough. That queei
need to do something ai once was btil
pressing , still unidentified.
By five ho was downstairs. The girl
fresh as a dew-sprayed rote In the gar
den outside , brought him breakfast o
fruit , bacon and eggs , coffee and waf
lies. Ho ate with relish , dellghtini
meantime in the girl's florid freshness
and even in the assertive , trlumphan
whistle of the youth busy at his task
outside.
When he set out he meant to read
the car and go back to town at once
Yet when he came to the road ov :
which he had loitered the day before
he turned off upon it will slower step-
There was a co"fiifclntr whirl of idei
i ) < M brain , a u.iis that required all
in energy to feed It , so that the spring
vent from his step.
Then nil nt once a new-born worl'
ohorod out of the nebula , and th
Ight of Its measured , orderly whlrllrg
In/.ed him. Ho had been seized with a
vlsh almost an Intention , so stunning
n its audacity that ho all but reeled
nuler the shock. It seemed to him
hat the thing must have been gcnuln-
ited In his mind without his knowledge
edgeIt ; had lain there , gathering foiee
vhllo ho rested , now to burst forth and
lazzlo him with Its shine. All that
indlmmcd freshness of longing ho had
felt the day hoforcall the ttnimmed ,
inldontillcd , nameless desires had
looded back upon him , but now no
ongor aimless. They were acutely
lellnlte. He wanted Avlco Mllbrey
vanted her with an Intensity as un
reasoning as It was resistless. This
vas the new world be had watched
swlmnilng out of the chaos In his
iiind. taking Its allotted orbit In a
ihinetary system of possible , rational ,
nnttor-of-course proceedings.
And Avlco Mllbrey was to marry
Sheuler. the triumphant money king.
He sat down by the roadside , well-
ilgh helpless , surrendering all hip
forces to the want.
Then there came upon him to rein-
oreo this want a burning sense of de-
'cat. He remembered Uncle Petcr'p
Irst warnings in the mine about "cull-
board love ; " the gossip of Iligbee : "If
von were broke , she'd have about as
niich use for you " all the talk hr
tad listened to so long about marriage
for money ; and , at the last. Sliepler'F
uords to Uncle Peter : "I was uncer-
aln until copper went to fil. " Those
were three wise old men who had
alkcd. men who knew something ol
women and much of the world. And
hey wore so Irritating in their ccr-
alnty. What a fine play to fool them
ill !
The souse of defeat burned Into him
more deeply , lie had been vanquished ,
cheated , scorned , shamefully flouted.
I'ho money was gene all of Uncle
Peter's complaints and lilting sarcasms
nine back to him with renewed bitter
ness ; hut his revenge on Undo Peter
would bo in showing him a big man
it work , with no nonsense about him ,
But Shepler , who was now certain ,
ind Hlgbee , who had always been cer
tain especially Shepler , with his easy
sense of superiority with a woman
over any poor man. That was a dif
ferent matter. There was a tiling tc
think about. And he wanted Avicc
Mllbrey. He could not. he decided , gc
back without her.
The great wild wish narrowed itself
into a definite plan. Ho recalled the
story Uncle Peter had told at the Old-
alters' about the woman and her hnlr ,
A woman could be coerced If a man
knew her weakness. Ho could coerce
lier. Ho know it instinctively ; and the
instinctive belief rallied to its supporl
a thousand little looks from her , little
Intonations of her voice , little turn
Ings of her head when they hod boor
together. In spite of her calculations
In spite of her love of money , ho ciiuli
make her fool her weakness. Ho was
a man witli the power.
It was heady wine for the morning
Ho described himself briefly as a lu
natic , and walked on again. But tin
cra/.y notion would not ho gone. Tin
day before he had been passive. Nou
ho was active , acutely aware of him
self and all his wants. Ho walked ;
milo trying to dismiss the idea. II <
sat down again , and it flooded bad
upon him with new force.
Her people were gone. She had evfi
Intimated a wish to talk witli bin
again It could bo done quickly. H <
knew. Ho felt the primitive superior
ity of man's mere brute force ovei
woman. He gloried in his knoitei
muscles and the crushing power of hi
desires.
Afterward , she would reproach hh
bitterly. They would both bo unhai
py. It was no matter. It was th
present , the time when he should b
living. Ho would have her , and Shej
ler Shepler might have bad the On
Girl mine but this girl , never !
He crossed the ferry and wont t
the hotel , where he shaved and fresl
ened himself. He found Grant , tli
porter , waiting for him when ho wer
downstairs , and gave him written d
rcctions to the railroad people to hav
the car attached to the Chicago exprot
leaving at eight the next morning ; al ?
instructions about his baggage.
"I expect there will be two of u
Grant ; sco that the car is well stocked
and here , take this ; go to a florist
and get about four dozen pink roses-
La Franco can you remember ? pin
don't take any other color , and 1
sure they're fresh. Have breakfa :
ready by the time the train starts. "
"Yes , Mistali Puhs'val ! " said Gran
and added to himself : "Yo1 suttlny il
cn'y yo'se'f mighty han'some , Mlsta
Man ! "
Going out of the hotel , he met Lain
ton Oldaker , with whom be chatted
few moments , and then bade good-b :
Oldakcr , with a sensitive regard f
the decencies , refrained from exprei-i
ing the hearty sympathy he felt for
man who would henceforth be con
polled to live out of the world.
Perclval walked out to Broadway , n
volving his plan. He saw It was si
o'clock. Ho could do nothing for r
least an hour. When he noted this 1 :
became conscious of his hunger. II
had eaten nothing since morning. I !
turned Into a restaurant on Madlso
square and ordered dinner. When li
had eaten , ho sat with his coffee fe
a final smoke of deliberation. 1
wont over once more the day's argi
ments for and against the novel en
prise. Ho had become Insensible , however
over , to all the dissenting ones. As
last rally , he tried to picture the dill
culties he might encounter. He face
all he could imagine.
"By God. I'll do It ! "
"Out , iiionsleMir said the waiter ,
who had been standing dreamily near ,
startled into attention by the spoken
words.
"That's all give mo tincheck. . "
Ho drove first to the Mllhrey house ,
on the chaiico that she might ho at
homo. Jnrvls answered his ting ,
"Miss Mllbroy IB with Mrs. Van
Gelst , sir. " .larvls spokeregretfully. .
IIo hnd reasons of his own for believ
ing that the severanceof the Mllhrpy
relationship with Mr. Bines had been
nothing short of calamitous.
Ho rang Mrs. Van Gelst's bell , five
minutes later.
"Tim ladles haven't como back , sir.
I don't know whcro they might be.
Perhaps at the Valuers' , In Fifty-sec
end street , sir. "
Ho rang the Valuers' bdl.
"Mrs. Van Goht and Miss Mllbrey ?
They left at least half an hour ago ,
sir. "
"Go down the nvonuo slowly ,
driver ! "
At Fortieth street ho looked down to
the middle of the block.
Mrs. Van Gelst. alone , was Just
alighting from her coupe.
He signaled the driver.
"Go to the ether address again , In
Thirty-seventh tit root "
larvis opened the door.
"Yes. sir. thank you , sir Miss Mll
brey IB in , sir. I'll HOC , sir. "
He crossed the Uublcon of a door
mat and stood In the unllghted hall.
At the far end ho saw light coming
from a door that be knew opened Into
the library.
Jnrvls came Into the light , llohlnd
him appeared Miss Milbrey In the.
doorway.
"Miss Mllbrey says will you enter
the library. Mr. Bines ? "
CHAPTI3H XXX.
SOMI : urmHUIIAVIOU , OP WHICH
ONLY A WKSTHUX MAN COUM )
HItimipy. .
Hi- walked quickly back. At the
doorway she gave him her hand , which
lie took in silence.
"Why Mr Ulncs ! you wouldn't
have surprised mo last night. To
night I pictured you on your way
west "
Hei gown was of dull liluo dimity.
She still wore her hat , an arch of
straw over her face , with ripe red
cherries nodding upon it as she moved.
He dosed the door behind him.
"Do eomc in. I've been having a
solitary rummage among old things.
It Is my last night hero. Wo'ro leav
ing for the country to-morrow , you
know. "
She stood by the table , the light
from a shaded lamp making her color
glow
Now she noted that ho had not
spoken. She turned quickly to him
as if to ( mention.
Ho took a swift little step toward
her. still without speaking. She
stepped back with a sudden instinct of
fright.
Ho took two quick stops forward and
grasped one of her wrists. Ho spoke ,
in cool , even tones , but the words came
fast :
"I've come to marry you to-night ; to
take you away with mo to tiiat west
ern country. You may not like the
life. You may grieve to doatli for nil
1 know but you're going. I won't
plead. I won't beg , but I am going to
take you. "
She had begun to pull away in alarm
when ho seized her wrist. Ills grasp
did not bruise , it did not scorn to bo
tight ; but the hand that held it was
Immovable.
"Mr Blnos , you forget yourself.
Heally. this is "
"Don't waste time. You can say all
that ncods to be said I'll give you
time for that before * wo start but
don't waste the time saying all those
useless things. Don't waste time tell
ing mu I'm crazy. Perhaps 1 am. Wu
can settle that later. "
"Mr. Blnos how absurd ! Oh ! lot mage
go ! You're hurting my wrist ! Oh !
don't don't don't ! Oh ! "
When he felt the slender wrist try
ing to writhe from bin grasp he hud
closed upon it moro tightly , and thrust
ing his other arm quickly behind her
had drawn her closely to him. I lot
cries and pleadings were being smoth
ered down on his breast. Her strug
gles mot only the unbending , pitllcsi
resistance of sfcel.
"Don't waste time , I tell you can'i
you understand ? Ho sensible talk II
jou must only talk sense. "
"Let mo go at onre I demand It-
quick oh ! "
"Take this hat off ! "
Ho forced the wrist ho had been
holding down benvee.ii them , so tluil
she could not frco the hand. and. will :
his own hand thus freed , he dr < w oul
the two long hat pins and flung ilu
OH !
Cut fitorm tOEseS
icross the room. Still holdlm : her
Igblly , he put tllo free hand on her
trow and thrust her head back , so that
she was forced to look up at him ,
"Lot mo see you I want to sco your
eyes -they're my eyes now , "
Her head strained against his hand
o be down again , and all her strength
was exerted to bo away. She found she
could not move In any direction.
"Oh , you're hurting my neck. What
shall 1 do ? I can't scream think
what It would moan ! you'ro hut line
ny nock ! "
"You are hurting your own nock-
stop ill"
Ho kissed her face , softly , her
chocks , her eyes , her chin.
"I've loved you so don't ' what's
the use ? Bo sensible. My arms luivo
starved for you BO do you think
hcy'ro going to loosen now ? Avlco
Mllbroy Avlco Milbrcy Avlco Mil-
irey ! "
His arms tightened about her as he
said the nnniu over and over.
"That's poetry -It's all the poetry
tnero Is In the world , it's a verse I
say over In the night. You can't un-
lorstand It yet it's too deep for you.
It means I must have ; you and the
next verse means that you must luivo
me a poor man bo a poor man's
wife and all the other verses mil
lions of them mean that I'll never
give you up and there's u lot moro
verses for you to write , when you un-
Icrstand moaning that you'll never
give mo up and there's ono In the be
ginning means I'm going to carry you
out and marry you to-night now , elo
you understand ? right off this very
night ! "
"Oh ! Oh ! this Is so terrible ! Oil ,
it's so awful1 !
Her volco broke , and ho foil her
body quiver with sobs. Her face was
pitifully convulsed , and tears welled In
lior eyes.
"Let mo go let mu go ! "
Ho released her head , but still hold
lier closely to him. Her sobs had become -
como uncontrollable.
"Here " ho reached for the llltlo
lace-edged handkerchief that lay be
side her long gloves and her purse , on
the table.
She took It mechanically.
"Please oh , please lot mo go I beg
you. " She managed It with difficulty
between the convulsions that were
rending her.
Ho put his lips down upon the soft
hair.
"I won't do you understand that ?
Stop talking nonsense. "
IIo thought thcro would no end to
the sobs.
"Have It out. dear there's plenty of
time. "
Once she seemed to have stopped the
tears , lie turned her face up to Ills
own again , and softly kissed her wet
eyes. Her full lips were parted before
him. but ho did not kiss them. The
sobs came again.
"There there ! It will soon be
over. "
At last she censed to cry from sheer
exhaustion , anil when , with his hand
under her chin , ho forced up her head
again , she looked at him a full inltinto
and then dosed her eyes.
IIo kissed tholr lids.
There came from time to time the
involuntary quick lit tlo Indrawings of
breath the aftermath of her wooplng.
He hold her HO for a ( line , whllo
neither spoke. She had become too
weak to struggle.
"My arms have starved for you so , "
ho murmured. She gave no sign.
"Como over bore. " Ho led her , un
resisting , around to the couch at the
ether side of the table.
"Sit hero , and wo 11 talk It over sen-
Blbly , before you got roadj. "
When ho released her , she started
quickly up toward the door that led
into the hall.
" ' don't ba
"Don't do that please
foolish. "
Ho locked the door , and put the key
In his pocket. Then ho wont over to
the big folding doors and satisfied
himself they wore locked from the
other side. Ho wont back and stood
in front of her. She had watched him
with dumb terror in her face.
"Now wo can talk but there Isn't
much to Iiu said. How noon ( an you
lm ready ? "
"You are crazy ! "
"Possibly bellevo what you like. "
"How did you over dare ? Oh , ho\\
awful ! "
"If you Imvon't passed that , stagc ,
I'll hold you ngnin. "
"No. no please don't please stum
up * again. Sit over there I can thinl
bettor. "
"Think quickly. This is Saturday
and to-morrow is their busy day. The ;
nia > not hit up late to-night. "
She arobo with a llltlo shrug of dcs
iioratlon that proclaimed lier to be il
the power of a mad man. She lojkei
at her face In the oval mirror , wlpinj-
her eyes and making little ; passes uui
pats at lier disordered hnlr. He wenl
over to her.
"No , no please go over then- again ,
Sit down u moment lot me think. I'l
talk to you presently. "
There was sllenco for live minutes
He watched her , while hhe narrowed
her eyes in deep thought.
Then ho looked at his watch.
"I can give you an hour , if you've
anything to say before It's done nol
longer. "
She drew a long breath.
"Mr. Bines , are > ou mad ? Can't yoi
bo rational ? "
"I haven't been Irrational , I give
you my wonl , not once since I came
here. "
He looU-d at her steadily. All al
once he- saw her face go crimson. She
turned lier eyes from his with an effort ,
"I'm going back to Montana in the
morning. I want you to marry mo to
night I won't even wait one more
da > ono more hour. 1 know li's a
thing you never dreamed of manylng
a poor man. You'll look at It us the
most disgraceful act of folly you could
possibly commit , and HO will every our
else here but you 11 do It. To-morrow
at this time you'll bo half-way to Chi
CHKO with me. "
"Mr. Bines I'm perfectly rousonablo
and serious I menu It arc you quite
sure you didn't lose your wits when
you lost your money ? "
"It may bo considered a witless
thing to marry a girl who would marry
for money but never mind that I'm
used to taking chances. "
She glanced up at him curiously.
"You know I'm to marry Mr. Shepler
the tenth of next month. "
"Your grammar Is faulty tense Is
wrong You should say 'was to have
married Mr. Shepler. ' I'm fastidious
about these little things , I confess. "
"How can you jest ? "
"I can't. Don't think this Is any
Joke , ilo'll find out. "
"Who will find out what , pray ? "
"Ho will. Ho' already said he wai
afraid there i. . . .1 have boon some
nonsense between you and mo , because
wo talked that evening -at the Old
nkors' . Ho told my grandfather he
wasn't at all sure of you until that
day I lost my money. "
"Oh , I see and of course you'd like
your revenge carrying mo off from
him JuBt to hurt him. "
"If you say that I'll hold you In my
arms again. " Ho started toward hor.
"I've loved you so , I tell you all the
time all the time. "
"Or perhaps It's a brutal revenge
on mo after thinking I'd only marry
for money. "
"I've loved you always , 1 toll you. "
Ho came up to her , moro gently now ,
and took up her hand to kiss It. Ilu
saw the ring.
"Take bis ring off ! "
She looked up at him with an
amused llttlo smile , but did not more.
He reached for the hand , and she put
It behind her.
"Take It off , " ho said , harshly.
Ho forced her hand out , took off the
ring with Its gleaming stone , none too
gently , and laid It on the table behind
liliu. Then he covered the baud with
kisses.
"Now It's my hand. Perhaps there
was a llttlo of both these feelings you
accuse mo of perhaps 1 did want to
triumph over both you and Shoplor
and the ether people who said you'd
never marry for anything but money-
bill do you think I'd have had oltlior
ono of those desires If I hadn't loVed
you ? Do you think I'd have cared how
many Shcpleis you married If I hadn't
loved you so , night and day always
turning to you In splto of everything
loving you always , under everything
always , I toll you. "
"Under what what 'everything ? ' "
"When I was Hiiro you had no heart
that you couldn't care for any man
except a rich man that you would
marry only for money. "
"You thought that ? "
"Of course I thought it. "
"What has changed you ? "
"Nothing , I'm going to change it
now by proving differently. 1 shall
take you against > our will but I shall
make you love mo In the end. I know
you you'ro a woman , In splto of your
self. "
"You were entirely right about ine
I would even have married you because
of the money "
"Tell mo what it is you'ro holding
back don't wait. "
"Let mo think don't talk , please ! "
She sat a long tlmo silent , motionless -
loss , her ejes fixed ahead. At length
she ntlrrod herself to speak.
"You were right about me , partly
iind partly wiong. 1 don't think I can
make . \nu understand. I've always
wanted so much from life so much
moro than It seemed possible to have.
The only thing for a girl In my posi
tion and circumstances was to muko
what Is called ti good marriage. I
wanted what that would bring , too.
I was torn between the desires or
rather the natural instincts and the
trained desires. 1 had Ideals about
loving and being loved , and 1 had the
material Ideals of my experience In this
world out here.
"I was untruu to each by turns.
Here I want to show > ou something. "
She took up a boi-k with closely writ
ten pages.
" 1 cnmo hero to-night I won't con
ceal from you that 1 thought of you
when I came It was my last time
here , and you had gene , I supposed
Among other tilings I had out this old
diary to burn , and I had found llil1 *
written on my eighteenth birthday ,
when I came out the fond , romantic
secret ideal 01 a luollsh girl listen1
" 'The Soul ol Love we'd the Soul of
Truth and their daughter. Joy. waa
born ; who was Immortal and In whom
they lived forever ! '
"You sco that was the feort of moon
shlno 1 started In to live. Two or
three times I was u grievous d < nap-
pointment to my people , and one or
twice , perhaps , I was disappointed
myself. I was neu-r quite SUIT x-.bat
I wanted. But if you think I was co i-
sistontly mem nni > > nu are mlataken.
"I shall toll you comething more
something no one knows. There was
a man I met \\liile that Ideal was s > till
strong and beautiful to mo but after
I'd come to tee that here , In this life ,
it was not easily to be kept. IIo was
older than 1. experienced with women
a lover of women , I came to under
stand in time. I was a novelty to him.
a fresh recreation ho enjoyed all
thobo romantic ideals of mine. I
thought then ho loved me. and I wor
shiped him. He was married , but con
stantly said he was about to leave his
wife , so she would divorce him , I
promised to como to him when it was
done. Ho had married for money and
ho would have been poor again. I
didn't mind In the leas ( . I tell you
this to show you that I could have
loved a poor man , not only well
sixough to niarrv him , but to break
( Continued Next Week )
