The Holly chieftain., 1900-08-24
CHAPTER Nv.

1t is nothing" she breathed pain
fully. You must let me go, Doctor
Cleland; you must leave me-"
Il shall not let you go!" Paul an
swered vehemently. You dare not
send me from you, Margaret-you can
not. II nothing else gives me right
to you. surely my love does."
She made no answer. but shivered as
II with cold
Cieland went on passionately:
III you can say to me, Margaret. that
you no longer love me. that the past
is dead and buried to you. or that you
have been self-deceived when you
imagined you did love me. then shall
go away and trouble you no more. 1t
may be that shall shortly be leaving
this country, perhaps forever; and
felt l could not go without knowing
the truth
He felt her shiver again. but her
strength came back, and she stood
erect. looking at him with eyes that
had something of the look OF hunted
animal at bay in them.
Margaret" he went on slowly. after
a pause, you must tell me. now and
here. have you ceased to love me! By
your answer l will abide; it will be
final with me-"
strange look crossed the girls
face.
III refuse to answer?"
II shall not leave you till you an
swer," said Cleland Margaret. II
you can say these words after me-
Paul, no longer love you'll shall be
satisfied and 60 my way. 1t is all l
ask"
Again the white hands moved con-
vulsively. 1t gave Clelsnd curious
ssnsation-as II she had wrung them
piteously. She began slowly:
Paul, I-no-longer--" Then her
voice dropped and broke into hall
sob and her face fell between her
hands.
In the silence that followed Paul
Cleland felt his heart quicken Its beat
ing. with an emotion that was hall
Joy, half pain. She loved him still
then! These proud, pure lips of hers
could not utter an untruth. But the
agony that could wiring that sob from
self-contained Margaret Crawford Al.
most frightened him. He could moi
even guess at its cause.
He spoke at last, in voice un
steady and uncertain.
Then you love me still, Marga-
ret?"
She looked up then and at sight ol
his agitation her own calm seemed tc
return. That one pitiful yielding te
weakness had startled her back to hel
old self. And her woman's heart. for.
getting its own pain and trouble, tried
to 6nd some comfort for his.
Paul" she said. gently laying heI
hand upon his with a touch thai
thrilled him through and through, 20
cannot hide the truth from you. ! de-
love you'll shall love you always; bu
there is reason why l can never al
low you to speak Of this, why we car
never, never be anything to sacf
other. There Is a terrible barrier be
tween US which can never be removed
Do not ask me what 1t isl canno
tell you. Do / seem cruel! Bellev,
me, 1t is because wish to save 20,
Paul. God has laid on us both heav,
burden; but he will surely give u.
strength to bear It,"
"You ask hard thing OF me. Mar
garet," said Paul Cleland. huskily
.You ask me to give you up forever
and l am not even to know why. II
knew your reason. might submit t.
your decree; but you cannot expec
me tamely to give you up without
knowing why am to do so!'
Margaret was silent. She felt tina
1t would be easier for her also coult
she tell him the whole truth: but wha
cruelty 1t would be to infiict on hin
the knowledge that his father hat
died--or taken his own life, as Pau
himself seemed to think-believing hi
/. son guilty Of SO fearful a crime!
No, she must never tell the truth
, For Pauls own sake. for the sake o
the dead, she must not.
"Will you not take my word for It |?
she said at last, very gently. 'Th
barrier between US 10 insuperable, an,
l cannot, must not, tell you the natur
of 1t. oh. spare yourself and M
further pain, Paul, by leaving me now
We must try to forget"
II shall never forget!" said Paul,
. little harshly. He was Scotchman
and "dour" and obstinate rather thai
passionate. "You are sacrificing you
own happiness and mine. Margaret. Il
4 some absurd notion Of honor. 70,
N think I am coward enough fn shrin]