San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-07-11
Ten Minutes to TW0IV&.
By M. G. MCLELLAND.

count for, and thought | couldn't see
that she was evading and slipping away
from the subject. When my eyes got
stronger got out the package of photo
graphs of himself my cousin had sent
me from time to time, and only the first
of which had ever seen. None of them
was in the least like you, and no stretch
of imagination would make them so.
You seemed a totally different man.
Then remembered blunders that you
had made, and which did not notice at
the time-blunders John couldn't have
made. 1t troubled me, for it was all
incomprehensible."
She paused moment, and Royal in a
dim way realized that it had been hard
on her His conscience smote him.
"One day." Phyllis went on, Nina
left letter of yours on the table when
she had finished reading it aloud. She
did not usually leave them around. l
slipped the bandage up and looked at
the handwriting. 1t was not bit like
Johns. He wrote delicate, students
hand. almost like a woman's, and you
use stub and write with large letters
and heavy stroke. | couldn't endure
it any longer then and made Nina tell
me-"
WAS that the reason you would not
let me come in the spring." Royal ques-
toned, light breaking in on him.
Yes. | wanted to get used to it all,
and to learn to separate you from John
in my mind. And wanted to be my
very self when we should meet again,
besides-not helpless and dependent any
more, but woman who could take her
life into her own hands if need were.
Do you understand?
ROYAL bent his head His brain was
in whirl, but it held fast to one joyful
fact; she had known the whole story
when she had written that note. His
heart leaped. but he held himself in
check.
When learned that John was dead
it seemed at first as though half my life
had been broken off and buried with
him" the soft voice proceeded "And |
dared not weep for him, even when my
heart was aching. That was hard, for
there was never time in my life with
out the thought of John. 1t seems
strange that he should have continued
to care for me so much through all those
years-that he should have shortened
his life through trying to provide for
me. II makes me feel so guilty, so self
ish, that after my sight began to fail
should have been more taken up with
my own hopes and fears than with
thoughts of him-that l never should
have loved him as he deserved to be
loved" The voice was wistful and very
tender. but the sweet gray eyes were
fearless.
Royal rose and came to her, unable
any longer to master his emotions. Bend
ing down he took her hands and raised
her to her feet:
You knew it all when you wrote that
note-knew that you were not, and
never had been, John Royals wife, but
were mine? And you asked me to come
to you! Phyllis, do you know what you
are doing? Do you know that you are
giving me hope of more than forgive
ness"
Her sweet eyes met his in all simple
ity. and her hands were not withdrawn
from his clasp. She was without the
catlike impulse which leads women to
play with men in moments of strong
emotion. And in her unworldlineSs,
her lack of self consciousness, it seemed
to her that so far from having aught to
forgive, no woman had been so loved so
hOnOred.
you have done so much-suffered so
much-for me, both you and John. 1t
hardly seems credible that men should
so sacrifice themselves to the helpless
ness of a woman. But''-with a proud
uplifting of her head-"you must not let
me hamper your hfe-must not feel
obliged to hold to the marriage. Nina
told me what you said. am so CRATE
full to you that to have you feel yourself
bound in any way She faltered
and broke down, for his eyes were on
her eyes, and she could not fail to read
their meaning.
With quick, almost passionate gest-
ure Royals arms closed round her and
drew her to his breast.
MY own 4ny own, at last" he MUIR
INJURED, bending his face and seeking her
lips with his lips. do you think will
let you go?-that can let you go?
Never, until death shall part US, my
love! my wifeT
And for a space there was silence.
After a while, when they had talked
the affair over from beginning to end,
and canvassed it extensively, Phyllis,
twisting and turning around her finger
a diamond ring new to the place, said in
a low voice:
..rEhnt ,nnurr.i 90 with rn1l was lanal |