The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-03-21

her head buried in the cushions.
1t doesn't make all that difference to
you" he said roughly. You wouldn't
have gone with him."
She turned her face to him for mo-
ment She did not look her best; how
could she? But Mr.. Byers did not notice
that.
II love him. and l wanted to do it,"
Byers had wanted to do it" too, and
their desires had cashed. But in his de-
sire there had been no alloy of love; it
was all true metal, true metal of self.
He stood over her for a minute without
speaking. A strange feeling seized him
then; he had felt it once before with re-
gard TO thtis woman.
If it had been for You I'd have dam
ned the money and gone ahead" he
blurted out. in an indistinct, impetuous
utterance.
Again she looked up; there was no
surprise, no resentment in her face, only
heart-breaking plaintiveness. 80, why
coulant you be honest with me?' she
moaned. But she stopped sobbing and
SAT stra1ght on the sofa again. You'll
mink me still more of a fool for doing
this she said.
was the abuse never comm? Mr.. BY
ers began to long for it. If he were abused
enough he thought that he might be able.
to find something to say for himself.
You think that because-because
live as 90, | know the world and-and
50 on. | don't, bit. 1t doesn't follow
really, You know. Fancy my thinking
! could do anything for Julian! What
do l know of business? Well, you've
told me now"
IF it had been for you I'd have risked
- nd oh
Il don't know what you mean bv
that" she murmured, vagely. Byers
did not try to describe to her the odd
strong impulse which had inspired his
speech. II must go and tell the prince
about it," she said.
What are you going to do% he de-
manded.
DO? What is there to do? Nothing,
suppose. What can we do?"
Il wish to God ibid met a woman
like you. Shell you marry him nOw?'
She looked up; faint smile appeared on
he face.
Yes" she said. 1T doesn't matter
now; and he'll like it. Yes, I'll marry
him now"
Two visiOns.-one was of Mrs. Byers
and the babies in Portland pl-rose be-
fore Byers' thoughts.
He hasn't lost much, then" he said.
And you? You'll be just as happy.
1T was the whole world to me-" said
she, and for the last time she put her
handkerchief 10 her eyes. Then she
slowed it away in her pocket and looked
expectantly at her visitor; here was the
permission to 60
"Will you take the money! said he.
What morfey?'
What I've made. Ny share of it,
20, don't be silly. What do | care
what money you've nader
He spoke lower as he put his second
question.
will you forgive me?7 he asked.
Forgive your She laughed little.
yet looked puzzled. Il didn't think
about you like that" she explained.
You're not a man to me-
You're a women to me. What am I
to you, then?"
Il don't know. Things IN general-the
orld-business-th truth about myself.
Yes, you're the truth about myself to me-
She laughed again, nervouSly, tentatively.
almost appealingly as Though she wanted
him to understand how he seemed to her.
And you're the truth about myself
to me- he said. And the truth is that
I'm damned scoundreI."
'Are your" she asked as it seemed
half in surprise, half in Indifference. 80.
| suppose you're no worse than other
by, Mr.. Byers.' She held out her hand.
He had not meant to offer his. But he
took hers and pressed it, He had a
people. Only | was such a fool. Good.
vague desire to tell her that he was not
type of all humanity, that other men
were better than he was, that there were.
ituca1fich t,.,,o
make fools for moneys sake of women.
yes, of women whose shoes they were.
not worthy to black. But he could not
say anything for all this, and he left her
without another word. And the next
morning he bought the "call'' of a big
block of che stock; for the news of Prince
Julians marriage with Mrs. Rivers would
send it pp point or two. Habit is very
strong.
When he was gone, Mrs. Rivers went
upstairs to her room and bathed her
face. Then she rejoined Prince Julian
in the library. Weary of waiting, he
had gone to sleep; but he woke up and
was rejOiced to see her. He listened to
her story, called Mr. Byers an internal
rogue, and, with an expression of relief
on his face, said:
There's the end of that And now.
darling-?'
"Yes, I'll marry you now" she said
1T doesn't matter now"
Thus, as has ben said, the whole af-
fair had only three obvious effects-the
renovation of Lady Craigennoch's town
house, "a baronetcy for Sir Henry Shum
Services to the party are a recognized
Claim on the favor of her majesty and
abe marriage of Prince Julian. But from
it both Mrs. Rivers and Mr.. Byers de-
rived some new ideas OF the world and
of themselves. Shall women weep and
hard men curse their own work without
result. The temple of truth is not a ma
tionai institution. So, of course, one
pays to go in. Even when you are in, it
is difficult to look at more than one side
of it at once. Perhaps Mrs. Rivers did
not realize this; and Mr.. Byers could
not while he seemed still to hear her
crying; he heard the sobs for so many
evenings, minghng oddly with the click
90 L. 49, 49,,