The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-10-22

CnanCe. NOtnlnR lay DelOTe MN but
ruin and misery and degradation. II
was all over now. He had played
desperate game, and his luck had failed
him at the critical moment. There
was no more to be said or done. Hence
forth his world would know him not.
AS he realized this with intense Bit
tcrness of spirit, he suddenly realized
something else, too--something that
filed him with surprise so overwhelm-
ing so bewildering. so appalling, that
1t drowned for the time being all other
feelings. 1t was Maisie The woman
to whom he had sold himself in order
that he might retain certain things,
had, by some strangely ironical freak
of fate, became far dearer to him than
the things for whose sake he had been
more than willing to sell himself. And
he had not known II until that mo-
ment.
1t has been said that we never APP
preciate a thing at it's true value until
We have lost It, and Dick bowed to the
truth of the old saying.
Now that Maisir was lost to him
forever he realized all that she had
been to hm-rcalizod that he was
honestly and genuinely i'm love for the
first time i'm his life, and with a woman
he had never admired before. And this
new strange love had grown up in his
heart so quietly ana gradually that he
had not expected its existence till the
present crisis had caused 1t To leap into
sudden passionate being.
Truly we are but puppets in the
hands OF destiny.
II love you" Maisie said again, her
soft voice strained and broken, her soft
eyes dim with bitter tears, "and l
thought thought you loved me-"
For minutes that seemed hours to
both of them, Dick stood still, staring
at the floor. with his hands thrust
deep in his pockets. Then he raised
his eyes slowly to her face, and made
a step forward
I'm not going to ask you to forgive
me-" he sad, "that would be a waste
Ci tine. Mine was the sin, and mine
must be the punishment. After to-
night you'll never see me again, hut l
should like to tell you the truth be-
fore | go. l began by telling you lies,
hut you're not the sort of woman a
man goes on telling lies to. Listen.
| It's true that I've always been bad
| lot and that | always meant to go on
| being a bad lot. It's true too. that /
| didn't care for you when | proposed to
| you and that ] only asked you to mar
| ry me so that I might have the means
| of going on as / had begun. So much
| for the past-now for the present" He
| paused for moment, then went on in
| lower tone: THE present is that I
| love you, but God knows how 1t has
| come about, for / give you my word
| OF honOr'I never knew It till this mo-
| ment. IL seems queer thing that
| man should love a woman without
| knowing II, but the world Is full of
| queer things. Yes. I love you. You
| are more to me now than all the
| things that | used to think made life
| worth living. 1 hate the old life and I
| hate the old associations. The mere
| thought OF them sickens me. have
| been blind, but I am blind no longer.
| Ny eyes are opened"
| He paused again and sighed hope
lessly.
| She looked at him.
You love me-" she said in breath
less whisper; you love me after all.
Is it true?"
Yes" he answered, with a hoarse
laugh. its true. AS true as that l
stand here the most miserable and
ashamed and degraded man on all
Gods earth. You're good woman
ana perhaps with your help I might
have got to be different in time. But
it's no use thinking about that now:
it's too late. Now there's nothing left
to me but to go. We've both had our
say. and-I won't ask you to shake
hands with me. Good-by."
And as he spoke he turned and walk
| ed slowly away.
Maisie stood there whore he left her,
her hands pressed together as IN a con-
Nrlsive clasp, the hot color flushing
and fading in her cheeks, q new,
strange light flashing in her eyes. Once
twice, she strove to speak, but her
trembling lips could not frame the
words she wished TO utter.
: hen he reached the screen he turned
AMI locked back last long look.
Sh" tound her voice then.
"Dick" she cried, Dick"
Tie did not move but stood there
lorF.nr at her in si'erce.
She came quickly toward him.
Don't CO." she said. II don't want
you to go. want you to stay"
dazed expression crossed his face.
"Stay?" he repeated stupidly. stay?
IL don't understand"
| Her eyes dazzled him With their
glow and tenderness as they looked
into his.
Yes stay" she said. Don't go away
from me. II can't spare you. New
er mind the past; let it rest Never
mind what you have been; that is over
and done with. 1t was not the fact
of your being bad that broke my heart
but the thought that you did not love
me. But now-noW-oh, you say Vol
loves me now, and that makes up fol
everything. l was al that 1 wanted
YOU to say. If you love me and ha.c
the old life. won't you-shal I-car't
we begin new life tOgether-you AM
T."
He drew a long. deep breath ant
passed his hands over his eyes. He fell
like I1ll in dream.
You could never trust me-" he said
and last, ami his voice sounded hoarse
and broken. You would always ra
memuer how ! deceived you once, ant
50 should i You had better let m,
go. The risk Is too GREAT"
She smiled UU i'm his face.
i am not afraid of the risk" sl.
said. II am WillrC to undertake Il
If you VIII share IT.
,, And ste held OUt her hands to hin,