The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1901-04-11
4 have been loving you almost from
hn fret van Va, ,v,ysk

/ huNe huON ii IL lTOul uly IuuuUeT. i ain
q poor actor. have not been able to
conceal much, even If l had wished to-
But my life has been transformed by
oil this. l have reached the place where
l can no longer be silent. l know that |
love you as man should love the wo.
man whom he asks with all the rever,
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 usual in her Sal.
walton Army costume. The face i'm 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 all through the
rest Of the interview between them he
thought, with n 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.
"Mr. Duncan" she said as she leaned
back. with one hand on the stump as If
for support, "can you speak to me-tell
-this-after what l 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. l was simply going
home with her from social gathering
at my house. She is nothing to me but
an acquaintance"
81 have been told that you were on.
gagged" said Rhena after slight
pause.
"Who told you that?' cried Stuart
impulsively. He stepped near Rhena.
Your sister," Rhena spoke calmly.
looking straight at Stuart, but she was
still very pale.
Louise? She deceived you. 1t is
not true. I never had thought of
Miss Vasplaine except that of a friend
an old acquaintance. Do you believe
me when l say so?" Stuart spok,
straight on and waited her answer
steadily.
Yes; believe you," said Rhena
quietly.
"Then you believe me when say
love you? YOU
"Yes; I believe-I think you are
true man, but what you ask is impossi
ble."
Stuart controlled himself. He fell
that whatever the crisis might bt
which now faced him he must be mas.
ter Of himself. 1t began to grow upon
him that perhaps he had not yet wor
the love Of this rarely strong and beau
tiful woman, as 1t should be his.
"Why impossibleY he asked, with q
gentleness and calmness that surpris.
ed himself.
1--WE live In separate worlds" re.
piled Rhena, with an answering calm
ness that was possibly as surprising to
her. II have cut myself purposely and
for always from the life I once lived
] have no wish to re-enter 1t. l have
chosen my life work. 1t is work SO
different from that of society and the
world of which you are part that to
60 back to your world would be to turn
traitor to all my deepest and best con.
victions. 1t Is impossible that should
be again as once was"
Stuart did not reply at once. He
looked Off over the valley beyond the
town to his own house as it stood there
on the slope Of the hill, palatial In It's
form and size.
"But l am not really in that world
any more. The cause Of humanity is
my cause now. Do you condemn me
to separation from you because am
what l am outwardly? l loathe the
forms and selfshness and heartless.
ness Of society as deeply as you do. |
would give anything to be other than
am at this moment. II 1t Is simply
that which keeps you from
He could not finish. 1t was signifi |
cant to her that he had not vcntured to
ask her If she loved him. Neither
had he yet spoken her first name. He
was man Of rare purpose and power
In the emergency that he now faced |
He would not expect what was per
haps not yet in her power to give. She
was moved deeply. When she spoke
again, Stuart had at first a gleam Of !
hope.
II believe you see the cause of hu.
manity as l see 1t, Mr.. Duncan. have
believed 1t since that night In the hall
when you told me the story of your
conversion. 1t was SO like my own ex-
perience that I was startled by 1t.
went home from gay party a few
years ago. was awakened by a voice. |
I saw and heard the divine messenger. |
l went out from my fathers house the
next day an outcast from kin and |
friends, and have never regretted it.
But the gulf between you and me Is
deep one, even with this common ex-
perience. If were to become your |