Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1901-04-10

deeply. 1t was not an unusual sight
these days with either. but death never
lost its majesty to Stuart, and Rhena
was never more exalted in her feeling
my.
There. was hardly room in the trail
most of the way for two persons. Stu
art walked behind her. They We're ST.
lent for the most part, except ques-
ton or two about different sick people, |
until they reached the big stump in the
middle of the trail, the other side of |
which Stuart had found Rhena lying.
She turned her face n little as she
was about to walk around the old land
mark, and Stuart spoke to her. He was
very pale and trembled. 1t seemed to
him that great crisis had come for
him. When he had spoken the first
word, he ut once became more master
of himself.
sAIiss Dwight, wish to tell you
something. VIII you allow me to say
what have felt must say for a
long time?"
Rhena looked startled. Her lip trem-
bled. She seemed unable to answer.
Stuart went on. Now that he had
made up his. mind, he was like his ia
Their In the determination that drove
him to his purpose with IN iron energy
that possessed his whole positive nR
| ture.
II have been loving you almost from
tile first moment 1 saw you. You must
have known it from my manner. ain
poor actor. have not been able. to
conceal much, even If 1 had wished to.
But my life has been transformed by
all this. have reached the place where
I can no longer be silent. l know that I
love you as n man should love the wo-
man whom he asks with all the reyer-
ence and joy possible to him to be his
Wife"
He had spoken, and 1t was not what
he had once thought he might have
said. But he was not prepared for the
effect of his declaration upon Rhena.
She was dressed as usdal in her Sal
walton Army costume. The face in the
army bonnet Of blue, with Its plain RIB
bons, was typical of the army faces
seen everywhere. And yet while Stu
art was speaking and oil through the
rest of the interview between them he
thought, with q certain bewilderment,
that 1t was no longer the Salvation Ar
my girl who stood facing him. but the
society woman, Miss Rhena Dwight,
daughter of Allen Dwight, the million
aire of New York. And yet she was in
still another way removed from him by
the very circumstances Of her army
connections. Rhena was very pale as
she spoke.
"NIr. Duncan" she said Us she leaned
back, with one hand on the stump us II
for support, "can you speak to me-tell
-this-after what saw last night
after
"What!' cried Stuart, the color rush
ing to his face. do you mean your
seeing me with Miss Vasplaine? We
have been old friends. We were boy
and girl together. Twas simply going
home with her from,a social gathering
. at my house. She is nothing to me but
an acquaintance.'
~ have been told that you were en-
gagged" said Rhena after slight
pause.
"Who told you that?' cried Stuar,
impulsivcly. He stepped near Rhena.
"Your sister!' Rhena spoke calmly
looking straight at Stuart, but she wal
still very pale.
:, Louise? She deceived you. 1t is
not true. never had thought Of
Miss vasplaine except that Of friend
IN old acquaintance. Do you believe
me when say so?' Stuart SPOKE
straight on and waited her answer
> steadily.
Eyes, 1 believe you" said Rhen,
quietly.
: .rhcn you believe me when say
love you7: You
ayes; l belleye-I think you are {
true man. but whit you ask is impossi
> BILE"
y Stuart controlled himself. He fel
!, that whatever the crisis might b
which now faced him he must be mas
ter of himself. 1t began to grow upol
! him that perhaps he had not yet wol
4 the love of this rarely strong and beau
4 tiful woman, as 1t should be his.
H "Why impossiblef" he asked, with
\ gentleness and calmness that surpris
| ed himself.
j Eve live i'm separate worlds" re
piled Rhenn, with I'M answering calm
ness that was possibly rs surprising t
4 her. "I.have cut myself purposely an
4 for always from the life i once nvei
have no wish to re-enter 1t. I hav
chosen my life work. 1t is work S
4 different from that Of society and til
i world Of which you are u part that
| go back to your world would be to tur
| traitor to oil my deepest and best col
i victions. 1t is impossible that shoul
i be again as Ionce was"
N Stuart did not reply at once. q
looked off over the valley beyond til
y town to his own honse as 1t stood the1
i on the slope Of the hill, palatial In II
form and size.
nc "But am not really in that worl
any more. The cause Of humanity
y, y, my cause now. Do you condemn N
~ to separation from you because al
u what am outwardly? loathe IL
=, =. forms and selfshness and heartles
-. ~ ness of society us deeply as you do.
: would give anything to be other than
am at this moment. II 1t Is simpl
~ that which keeps you FROM
~ He could not finish. 1t was signil
70 cant to her that he had not ventured {
y. ask her IL she loved him. Neith'
w ny had he yet spoken her first name. e
Nc was man Of rnre purpose and pow
~ In the emergency that he now face
~ :. He would not expect what was pc
~, haps not yet in her power to give. 81
-. was moved deeply. When she spoil
~ again, Stuart had ut first a CLEAN