The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1900-12-05

something for favorite niece. lie
would be content with comparatively
little. Now this house Of cards fell to
earth.
81 am very sorry. This. then, is
probably our last evening together.
must go back to town early tomorrow
morning, on business" Oh, the in
finite tenderness and sadness of his
tone! It held the cadence which the
French call tears in the voice."
Lucy pulled herself together with a
mental jerk. She felt as though she
had taken a plunge into cold water.
This, then. after all that had passed
during the last few weeks, was his
farewell. But. no. he could not mean
It.
mot necessarily. South Stamford Is
not quite out Of the world. 1t can be
reached by rail from Boston," she ven
tured to say.
rs that where you live? Child, 1t
is as far away from my world as the
antipodes. Besides, when man
knows himself too weak to resist temp
How can a man measure his
strength unless he tries it?"
"Ah, you know so little of the world.
When n mans lot in life is so hard
that he dares not ask a woman to
share 1t. what can he do but love and
run away? Perhaps he ought not to
love in the first instance, but human
nature is helpless; a man is only a
man."
Has the woman no right to be con-
sidered? Suppose she loves too?"
Lucy felt surprised at and little
ashamed of her boldness. But he was
making the conversation impersonal,
which gave her some excuse to speak.
He shook his head. "Ah. no: in that
case he is bound to protect her against
herself. How can a man worthy of a
name drag a woman he loves down to
poverty, even though she does not wish
TO be parted from him? Good-by, dear,
God bless you, good-by."
They were in the shadow of the pa
quick glance around, then caught her
in his arms and, holding her, kissed
her passionately, once, twice, thrice.
Never before had he so wholly forgot
ten himself. He loved the girl as we'll
as he could love anything except his
precious self, and her appealing eyes
and quivering lips broke down his self
control. 1t was done in an instant; he
released her so quickly that she had
not even time to struggle; then he
rushed her back to the hotel piazza,
and left her, without word.
Lucy sank into seat to collect her
breath. She was more indignant than
broken hearted. This, then, was what
the man called love. She thought of
her father. who. with her mother at
his side, had fought his way to inde-
pendence, indeed to prominence: he
was local judge and had represented
his district in congress. They found
passing rich on five thousand dollars
year.
Thank heaven l am not an heiress
to be married for my money" she said
to herself, at last, fervently.
Upstairs Mrs. Poindexter was at
her desk, writing to her brother.
Il have seen my nleces, in turn"
she said, ''and Lucy, of them all, | find
most congenial. l wish to keep her as
long as you can spare her. Despite the
fact that Mr.. Poindexter's estate re-
verts, at my death, to his relatives, l
own some property. in my own right,
and my ample income enables me every
year to add something thereto. If |
live few years longer. as may reason
ably be expected, the child will be
fully provided for. the advantages
which l can offer her meanwhile, are,
am sure. such as you and her mother
will appreciate"