Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1899-11-24

nrst, so 1ar as Inc message was con-
cerned; while with every atom of man.
hood In him Stanton struggled to hold
himself back from what he knew would
be fatal plunge into that bewilderine
pool.
Why should she fascinate him till his
heart and brain reeled? No woman had
20 much as attracted him before; and
now. of all times, when it must not bel
"Is it because she knows that I am
married and thinks herself sufe?" he
asked himself. II hope she is safe. If
not, surely am not worthy of Esther
Thorndike's love. don't know. Some
times when she looks at me that way,
as though she were ready to put her
arms round my neck, feel as If l could
throw away everything to run to her.
1t would be throwing away everything,
and will not do It,"
Then he thought OF ignominious
fight, but there was just one day left
before his intended departure from Ma
pies. He determined to see it to the
end, true to himself and to his wife,
and If he still failed to find the oppor-
tunity to give her the message he would
at least conduct himself in such way
that he might write it in a letter and
send it to her after he was gone, asking
her to deliver it.
He even decided to take the initiative,
and invited the banker and his daughter
to spend the last afternoon in a sail to
Capri.
At the very last moment Mr.. Braddon
declared that he did not much like the
water, and decided to remain at home.
A cold shiver crept over the young law
yer as he heard the announcement; but
Miss Braddon had no intention of aban-
doning the trip on her fathers account.
With grim determination Stanton
clutched the door of his heart that
nothing should open it. 1t was very
new experience.
Miss Braddon had never made herself
30 beautiful before. She had never been
SO entertaining. The boatman was ac-
customed to carrying lovers to Capri.
OF all the world the Bay of Naples is
the place for them. 1t is the beautiful
homo Of love.
If Stanton had sought for opportuni-
ties to say: II love you," they were
without number; but to deliver his mes
sage was utterly impossible.
The sails were filing to return when
Miss Braddon said, abruptly:
"Mr. Stanton, you are not really so
happy as you wish to seem. wonder
II you would tell me why?"
ut is because / am not satisfied" he
replied, as abruptly.
II was afraid, at the time, that it
would prove an irksome bondage, and l
am very sorry" she said, as though in
all their conversation they had spoken
of nothing else but that one subject
which had not once been mentioned.
you were mistaken" Stanton re-
piled, calmly.
Like flash the dark eyes turned on
his.
DO you mean that it is not irksome? 2"
Not in the way you mcan," Stanton
said.
II hardly understand YOU"
Yet very much wish that you did"
"Why in PARTICULAR"
Because through you is my only
hope of being understood where, of all,
am most anxious to be understood"
do you mean with Esther Thorn
dike?"
"Yes."
why, you have never even mentioned
her name"
IF l were not bound by condition
that is most irksome bondage, l
should have gone to her, direct, long
ago, instead of living in the hope that
In some way might reach her through
YOU"
What would you have me say to
herr"
"rell her that am trying to be "a bet
ter man than when she saw me, and ask
her to give me freedom from the chains
she bound, and let me, as man, come
to her, as woman, and try to win her
love-"
Truly, Mr.. Stanton, you astonish
me. Is that what you have been think
ing of. all these days?"
II could have had but one other
thought"
What thought?"
To win your love"
And that you do not care for? she
asked. almost sadly, trailing a rope in
the water.
THAT is not the question:"
ut is for me, if love YOU"
Stanton turned, slowly, till his eyes
rested full upon hers. His face was very
pale. 1t was more than he had ever
dared TO dread. lie knew that il meant
death death to the hopes he had fcs-
tered and the dreams he had dreamed,
death to his self-respect, death to his
future. Yet he could most easily live
said:
In a look II death there be,
Come. and will look on thee
His lips moved slowly, but they moved
steadily, with all the force of his will
behind them, as he replied:
ANY living man who had the right
would be blind fool not to love you
and long for your love-"
But you have not the right?"
NO"
because you have wife?"
"Yes."
"But do not understand the arrange
ment, and does not Esther? And if YOU
asked her do you not think that she
would agree to some arrangement that
would set you free?"
after she has seen me and known
me, if she cannot love me and be nv real
wife and if for herself She ,yishar 10 Ia