The Yale expositor., 1898-11-18
CHAPTER *

This evening, when Edith had called
upon my wife was the first time she
had ever suggested or seemed to wish
for private interview, and the cir
cumstance disturbed and excited me
more than l liked. When at last,
after long delay, she came down the
walk, rose instinctively to meet her,
and tried to give to the interview as
cold and business-like a tone as l
could command.
what must you think OF me, Paul? ?"
she began impulsively. But l had
no resource left to me but to ask you
to meet me here. You-you are the
only friend-look about me as anx-
iously as l can-to whom I dare turn
for pity and help in a great danger
that threatens me, to whom l dare
trust a secret that weighs-oh, so
heavily!-upon my life. You once
here, on this spot, told me you loved
me dearly-that-that love is, of
course. dead now but to its memory
how dear and precious to me, you
will never know!-I now appeal when
l implore you to share my secret and
give me the help without which l
shall sink. All, you will pity and
forgive me when you know all! Hear
me, dear Paul, friend of my youth,
beseech your
Prudence, loyalty to poor Helen, who
believed in me so implicitly. distrust
Of myself, twenty other considerations
urged me to refuse her request; but her
little hot hands were grasping mine,
her lovely blue eyes full of entreaty
jxed upon my face. l had bent my
head, she whispered her secret into
my ear. It was a secret that startled
and panied me, more than l could have
believed possible. that filled me with
Indignation and pity, made me prom
ise her my most devoted unconditional
allegiance, and. kneeling by her side,
les forgiveness for my harsh judg-
ment and cruel words to her q year
before. Poor, poor child, IL I only
could have guessed!
Up and down the walk | paced fer
nu.ly ter minutes battling with my
wrath and agitation, until her anxious
lce recalled me to the necessity for
rrcmlt and cautious action; and tax
e nv place beside her we talked to-
,ether fer fully half an hour in earnest
;hisDers and discussed the most
vai.able measures for averting the
threatened danger. When we rose
part at last, she laid her hand on
ny arm with piteous gesture.
Il have trusted you; you will not
oetray me? You will give me your
solemn word of honor to tell no one.
aot even your wife, for she does not
ike me?"
what an idea?' l burst out i'm
oulsively. How could you imagine
such a thing, Edle? Why, she is al
ways praising you, admiring your
beauty, your grace, your cleverness,
wondering how escaped falling in
love with"
stopped abruptly, coloring furious
ly, whilst a lovely wave of carInine
frightened her cheek. After pain
bully conscious pause, during which
we did not dare look at one another.
The said softly, Withdrawing her hand,
which / had been unwittingly hold
ing
you will find I'm right; she does
lot like me, Paul, indeed"
why, Elder"
~Hew should I know?"-twistlng
ser rings slowly round and looking
Down. IL have tried to be nice
TO her, 10 make a friend of her; but
It's of no use. she will never like me-
TIM sure I can't guess why-can you,
Paul?"-with a swift upward glante
into my uneasy face.
OF course / knew then she was and
always had been an unblemished
angel, an innocent and shamefully in
Iured girl, that she had never wilful-