Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-10-26
She looked at him for second; then low


Vincent" she said slowly, "you don't
know what Won ask. And l have wished
thar Won would understand, without my
having to speak have wished that you
would understand-and go away-and make
or friendship a memory, something to
think over IN after years. For how can
tell YOU clearly without seeming cruel and
upcratelul to one who has through my
whole life been kindness and goodness to
me?-no! nor
She withdrew her hand; she turned away
from him altogether.
''Maisrie," said he, 81 don't want you to
say anything, except that you love me and
will be nv wife
Your wiie, Vincent-your wIte!' she
exclaimed, in a piteous sort OF way. "How
can YOU ask anyone to be your wife who has
led the lie that / have LED? Can you not
-Vineent-without my having to
speak?"
He was astounded-bua not alarmed;
never had his faith in her hinched for a
single instant.
''The lie you have led?" said he, rather
brcathlesslv; "Wny-a-a-beautiful life
an idyllic liie-constant travel-and always
treated with such kindness and care and
affection-an ideal llie-why, who would
not envy you?'
She was snhbinC-with her head averted.
Don't. Vincent, don't! l cannOt-1 will
not tell you, =" she SAID, in a kind of despair.
what Is the use? But 1t is YOU who have
made me think-it is YOU who have shown
me clearly what l have been. IL was
voung-I was only child; my grand 'atber
was everything to me; whatever he did was
right Aud now l have become woman
since knew you-I can see myselt-and L
know that never, never can be your vile. "
''Naisrie!"
But she paid no heed She was strangely
excited. She rose to her feet; and for Il
moment he thought he saw look of her
grand iather in her face.
And vet even in my degradation--my
degradation" " she said, repeating the words
with cruel emphasis, Il have some pride. 1
know what your friends think of me, or [
can guess. Perhaps they are right. Per-
haps the stories YOU spoke OF were all to be
believed. That is neither here nor there,
now. But, at least. they need not be afraid
that am coming to them as suppiiant. L
will not bring shame upon them; they have
nothing to fear from me"
He regarded her with astonishment, and
with something of repro&ch also; these
proud tones did not sound like Maisrie's
voice. And all OF a sudden she changed.
why, Vincent, why" she said, SHOULD
YOU put yourself in opposition to your
friends? Why give up all the splendid
future that is before you? Why disappoint
all the hopes that have been formed OF
you-?'
IF need were, for the sake of your love,
MaiSrie.'' he said.
NV love?" she said. "But you have
that, Vincent-and-and you shall have
that always
And here she burst into passionate fit of
weeping; and in vain ne tried to suOthe her.
Nav, she would not have him speak.
Let this be the last" she said, through
her bitter sobs. ''Only-only, Vincent,
don't 90 away with any doubt about that in
vour mind. love you'll shall love YOU
alwavs!-I will give my lie to thinking OF
vou-when YOU are far too occupied-ever
to think of NE. VILE you believe me, Vim
ceni,-Will YOU believe, always, that l
loved vou-that 1 loved you too well to do
what you ask-to become a drag on you
and a shame"
The tears were running down her cheeks,
but She kept her ewes fixed bravely and
piIeouslv on him. as she uttered her wild,
iBcohereut sentences. MY dearest-m5
dearest in all the worlG-will YOU remember
will YOU believe that always? Will you
say 10 Yourself. Wherever Malsrie is at this
moment, she loves me-she is thinking o;
me- Promise me, Vincent, that you will
never doubt thati No-you need not put it
true And now, Vincent, kiss me!-kiss
me, Nincenti-and then goodhy %
She held mp her face. He kissed her lips
that were salt with the sea foam. The tan
, gles o: her wind-blown hair touched his
cnack-l-d thrilled him.
4 did not speak for a moment, He was
overawed. This pure confession of a maiden
soul had something sacred about it; how
could he reply with commonplace phrases
I. l. 4 Il,
here was NIaisrie on the point of departure;
she only waited for word of coodby; and
her ewes, that were now filled with strange
sadness and hopelessness, no longer re-
garded him. The farewell had been spoken
on her side.
"And you think 1 will let you 60, after
what you have just coniessed?" he said 10
her-and his calm and restrained demeanor
was sort OF answer 10 her trembling vehe-
mence and her despair. You give me the
proudest possession a man may have on this
earth; and l am to stand idly by, and let it
be taken away from me. Is that likely
thing?'
He took her hand. and put her back into
the sheltered corner.
''SIt down there, Maisrie, out of the wind.
! want TO talk to yoT. l was fool when i
mentioned those stories the other dav;
could have cut my tongue out the next mo-
ment. Aud, indeed. l thought you took no
notice. Why should you take any notice?
Iusensate trash! And who escapes such
things? and who is so childish as TO heed
them? Then, again, l remember your say
ing that | knew nothing about your grand
father or yourself. Do YOU think that is SO?
Do YOU think l have been all this time con-
stanJly in your society watching YOU,
studying you-yes, and studying YOU with
the anxiety that goes with love; for, of
course, you want the one YOU love TO be per-
feet Do you imagine, alter all this, that 1
do rot know you and understand youe
Degradation!-very well, accept that degra-
dation; l welcome all the degradation that
is likely to be associated with YOU. If
were TO wash my hands in that sort o. degra-
dation 1 think they would come out a little
winter know YOU 10 be as pure and noble
as the purest and noblest woman alive; and
what do l care about your-your circum-
stauces?"
Don't, ViDcentl-don't be kind to me.
Vincent" she said. piteously. sit will be
all the harder TO think of when-wnen we
are separated-and lar away from each
other"
Eyes, but We are not going to separate"
said he. "Yonr grandfather has left YOU to
decide for yourself, and surely after what
you have said to me this morning, surely
have the right to decide for you. We are
not going 10 separate, Maisrie-except for a
few days. W nen l am up in London /
mean to look round and see what dsposi-
tons can be made with regard to the future.
Yesterday / explained to your grandfather
how l was situated; | need not bother you
with these things at present. OF course, 1
could get plenty of money if L wished-on