The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1896-08-14
WHENA WOMANWON'T

outh yesterday, and here | amp'
There was an appreciable pause; then
she said softly:
"Ah-h! ] have been here all the time. !"
what do you say to u sea voyageP
Wouldn't it bring back your roses in dou-
BILE quick timer"
"a sea VOYAGE" she echoed vaguely.
81 don't think Quite
Look herep' he said awkwardly, but
persuasively. 1--WE settled itall, subject to
your approval. When we're married-eh2"
81 didn't speak" she murmured brush
ing back her hair from her forehead with
, feverish gesture
"That is the first thing to be seen to of
I course. I've been TO W6Son Bakett al
ready, and he promised ne he would"
"Would whatp' she asked helplessly.
Marry lis, " he blurted ont.
"O-hW she exclaimed under her breath
and flushing painfully.
Then Lynn-good old chap he is--has
offered TO lend me the Aurora, and we can
start for the Mediterranean at once.
You've never been to AlgierS, have your"
"No, and-he is there She spoke
shamefacedly.
The man WINGED as If with sudden
smart.
elbow do you know2' he asked I6arply
"I-I forgot how. But he alw;Ea used
to rave about the place, and now, as soon
rs he-as soon as the case was over he went
out there They say he is building him
self IA villa"
"Well, then, we must skip Algiers in
our travels. Happily the world is wide.
Now | want you to tell me when we can
start"
"When we CAM
"Start You understands? How soon
will you join me in town and-and go to
church with me?''
They halted in their walk, and he took
possession of her hands.
Come" he said There's no possible
reason for delay. We have waited long.
Let us lose no more time"
She released her hands gently but deter
minedly
my dear" she said, 81 have something
to tell you"
'Well!" he questioned, with distinct
suggestion of Impotence.
"All this time, and, indeed, it has
seemed very, very long, have had moth
ing to do but to think. The first thing
realized was that was free--free to love
you as much as l could Perhaps man
cannot quite understand what that means
for a woman. tried not to think of my
past life-my life with him. You know
5 the blot the sin upon it. fell short in
my duty and my faith, and despise my
self. So must you"
She spoke deliberately, as was her habit,
and very low, with her bands tightly
D clasped.
e Dearest, he assured her, "you are
q like all women
"Oh, no! Some of them are good.
n have been weak and wicked. Perhaps
e was tried too far. l used to say so in the
= days when made excuses for myself.
: Its over and done with, said the man
doggedly. why rake it up again?'
: Eyes. felt the uselessness of doing So
: and turned my thoughts to the future. +"
It ooh, sweetheartP'
"There / saw my salvation.
= "Of course
i "But not in the way you mean"
!. SIN what way?"
It ~ should not have allowed you to come
r back, " she said wistfully. "Will you for
t give me?"
IL - on speak In rluuleS.
C 81 must send you away, she said, meet
ing his gaze for the first time and without
j. flinching
He burst into laugh of genuine amuse
: ment.
Don't make it harder for me than it il
l. already" she said, her lips quivering ire
e pressibly 81 am in earnest indeed. Fo
how can 1 allow myself to marry you?
1t a creature of no account now, whose nam
has been banded about as common
d thing And deservedly Oh, OLE can
e pretend to the contrary.
p whats all this?' he asked, his moutl
twisted into the semblance of a smile un
1t der his short, dark mustache.
lie "You must admit that all say is true
TT I am not fit woman to become a wifi
y again"
d "You mean, " he said, "that you don
care for me any longer.
] the night, which had at last fallen
the outline of his face looked siokly; hi
e, voice shook.
If "Oh," she said, ''you know that ism
n so! But 1 feel / can't, mustn't MARI
you / have fallen low enough. Still
1T have only injured myself-for he is wei
l. rid of me l needn't injure any one else.
lie 81 would very much like to know" Ii
he said grimly, "if you ever cared for me?"
at was my excuse, wasn't itS'
I'd "And you wish me to leave?"
n She put up her hands to her face.
"Have you thought it carefully over?
" he went ON in steady, matter of fac
es goice lyon staked and lost everythin
u. COR my sake, you said, and it has cost IN
something Zoo, Not that reproach you
Of for, by heaven, do love you'll"
cs "You will soon get over that almost a
to soon as if l married you, and then yo
&c will see that was right and perhaps b
w grateful to me.
r SIS that ALP
as yes"
e, "You are quite decided"
Id "Quite
I'd 81 had better say goodby at once
IN "Goodby."
m ave are not likely to meet again in
e, hurry, are WEI"
re NO." admitted the woman
IN She held out her hands as by an impulse
H. and he Immediately took possession {
~ them.
a "Your cheeks are wet, " he said.
RI Are theyy"
We "Poor pale little facet Poor lonely II
e, tle womanl Here He produced volt
in minous silk bandanna, with which h
,e wiped away her tears. "There.