Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1900-01-06

III.
OF all the world the Bay of Naples IL
the place for them. IT Is the beautiful
home of love.
If Stanton had sought for opportuni-
ties to say: 81 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. Iwond=r
II you would tell me why?"
at Is because 1 am not satisfied" he
replied, as abruptly.
81 was afraid, at the time, that It
would prove an irksome boz. dage, and
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 fash the dark eyes turned on
his.
DO you mean that II Is not irl<some?"
Not in the way you mean" Stanton
said.
81 hardly understand you"
Yet very much wish that you did"
"Why In PARTICULAR"
Because through you IN my only
hope Of being understood where, of all,
am most anxious to be understood"
DO you mean with Esther Thorn
dike?"
Eyes"
''Why, you have never even mentioned
her name."
'If were not bound by O condition
that Is most irksome bondage,
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"
tell 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 q man, come
to her, as a woman, and try to win her
love-"
Truly, Mr.. Stanton, you aston.sh
me. Is that what you have been think
ing Of, all these days?"
Il could have had but one other
thought"
What thought?"
ITO win your love-"
"And that you do not care for?- she
asked, almost sadly, trailing q rope in
the water.
THAT Is not the question"
ut Is for ne, II love you"
Stanton turned, slowly, till his ewes
rested full upon hers. His face was very
pale. 1t was more than he had ever
dared 10 dread. BE knew that it meant
death-oeath to the hopes he had fos-
tered and the dreams he had dreamed,
death to his self-respect, death to his
future. Yet he could most easily have
saidi
In q look IL death there be.
Come. and viii look on thee.
His lips moved slowly, but they moved
steadily, with all the force Of his viii
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 a wife?"
ayes"
"But do not understand the arrange
ment, and does not Esther? And If you
asked her do you not think that abe
would agree to some arrangement that
would set you free2"
after she has seen me and known
me, IL she cannot love me and be my real
wife, and II for herself she wishes to be
free, she can say so. It ls her right"
us 1t because you have discovered
that you really want q wife, real
wife, and your sense of honor forces you
to hold the place open for herr"
81 think not"
Surely you don't mean that you
think you love herr"
II don't know"
did you ever see her face?"
Never"
''Have you ever learned much about
her?"
II know absolutely nothing but what
she and you have told me-"
well, if you were not bound in honor
to her. surely for that one meeting you
would not still be thinking of her."
"Or perhaps we might have met again
and again, as the result of one meeting,
had 1t not been for that binding. Atall
events, for that meeting am indebted
to you, and by your help hope to meet
Der again"
surely you do not think she loved
you, Mr.. Stanton?"
81 hope that she will love me, some
day"
HAS no one tempted you to let sliI
such a slender thread g that?"
ut must be stronger than II seems
for NO one has tempted memo one but
the woman to whom have come fol
help to win my wife"
The boat was close upon the landing
stage. The carriage was already wait
ing there. As they stepped on shor,
Miss Braddon turned abruptly, anG
| said:
IF you and Esther should try to b.
more to each other, and fail, II woult
be worse than It Is row. You canno