Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1901-09-18
HER QUALNS Of
J ] CONSCIENCE.


absolute. / left by the first steamer,
landed at Plymouth yesterday, and
here amr'
There was an appreciable pause;
then she said softly:
"Ah-h! 1 have been here all the
time"
what do you say to sea voyage?
Wouldn't it bring back your roses in
double quick timer
"A sea voyageT" she echoed vague
ly. 81 don't think I quite
'Look herep' he said awkwardly, but
persuasively. I've settled it all, SUBJ
ject to your approval. When we're
married-eh? Now 1 want you to tell
me when we can start"
when we cam
"Start. You understand? How soon
will you join me in town and-and go
to church with me?'
They halted in their walk, and he
took possession of her hands.
Come" he said. There's no posi-
BILE reason for delay. We have waited
long. Let us lose no more time"
She released her hands gently, but
determinedly.
"My dear" she said, II have some
thing to tell you"
"Well?" he questioned, with dis
tinct suggestion of impotence.
"All this time, and indeed it has
seemed very, very long. l have had
nothing to do but think. The first
thing realized was that was free
free to love you as much as | could.
Perhaps a man cannot quite under
stand what that means for woman.
l tried not to think of my past life
my life with him. You know the blot,
the sin upon It,. fell short in my duty
and my faith, and 1 despise myself.
So must YOU"
She spoke deliberately, as was her
habit, and very low, with her hands
tightly clasped.
Dearest" he assured her, "you are
like all women
"Oh, no! Some Of them are good. l
have been weak and wicked. Perhaps
was tried too far. / used to say SO
IN the days when made excuses for
myself"
ITS over and done with" said the
man doggedly. "Why rake it up
again."
Eyes. I felt the uselessness Of doing
so, and turned my thoughts to the
future"
"Oh, sweetheart"
"There saw my salvation"
"Of course"
But not in the way you mean"
SIN what way"
II should not have allowed you to
come back" she said wistfully. "Will
you forgive me|
"You speak in riddles"
81 must send you away" she said,
meeting his gaze for the first time and
without fiinching.
He burst into a laugh of genuine
amusement.
Don't make it harder for me than
1t is already" she said, her lip CULVER
ing irrepressibly. Il am in earnest
indeed. For how can l allow myself
to marry you'll, creature of no &C.
count now, whose name has been ban
died about as a common thing, and
deservedly? oh, one can't pretend to
the contrary"
"What's all this?" he asked, his
mouth twisted into the semblance of
a smile under his short, dark mus
tache.
You must admit that all l say is
true. l am not fit woman to become
wife again."
"You mean," he said, that you
don't care for me any longer"
In the night, which had at last fallen,
the outline of his face looked sickly;
his voice shook.
"Oh," she said, you know that isn't
SO! But l feel l can't, mustn't mar
nv you. l have fallen low enough.
Still, l have only injured myself, for
he is well rid of me. l needn't injure
any one else"
II would very much like to know"
lie Sdlu IL SOu CfCL NatSN AOA
mef'
ut was my excuse, wasn't it?'
"And you wish me to leave"
She put up her hands to her face.
"Have you thought it carefully
over?" he went on in a steady, matter
of fact voice. You staked and lost
everything for my sake, you said, and
II has cost me something too. Not that
1 reproach you, for, by heaven, do
love you"
"You will soon get over that, almost
as soon as if l married you, and then
you will see that was right and per-
haps be grateful to me-"
as that allr'
"Yes."
."You are quite decided?"
"Quite."
81 had better say goodby at once"
"Goodby."
1--WE are not likely to meet again in
a hurry, are WEI"