Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1901-05-08

trump" he said. perhaps no woman's
tracks have ever been there but yours.
II il your garden"
Only. l saw them before made any
tracks there" she said. quietly.
Il don't question your honesty. Miss
Brookin. but others might; and if peo-
pie were disposed to judge you kindly
they would simply suggest that YOU
had a powerful motive" To this she
disdained reply. She had picked up
Brodnar's letter from the table and
moved away. seeing which he said per
sistently: You will please answer my
question. j dislike greatly to annoy
YOU, but my duty is imperative. Your
secret will be safe with me; and
must protect the name of my future
wife-that you will admit"
Your wife? Have you supposed for
a moment. sir. that shall ever become
your wife," Frances came back and
stood before him. why, Mr.. Holbin,
there is not wealth enough in Virginia
TO bring about that!"
miss Brookin"-and Holbin sank
his voice TO the most courteous of
tones, and met her glances without en-
barrassment-''why is it that YOU dis
like me?"
II have not given the matter a
thought, sir. l simply accept the fact"
He was silent moment, his eyes cast
down.
You hate my mother" he said. sad
~ and bitterly, land am included: I
understand that. But admitting that
you have cause 10 hate her-and / do
not-you have none To hate me. Con-
slider the injustice. Let me say now
l did not expect ever to say il. but a
man is no man who will not defend
himself-.et me say now that. so far
from having cause to hate me. if pro-
found respect. il sympathy for your
loneliness. if genuine affection and the
tenderest love count for anything with
woman, Won have more than sufficient
cause 10 think well of me" Frances
looked upon him with amaZcment.
touched in spite of her resolution. He
was not SLOW 10 perceive this. MY
mother" he continued, ''is not from the
worlds standpoint a lovable woman.
but she is-my mother; and I am her
son. She is self-willed: but she is Just
Shall l admit it to you? She has made
my life unhappy; she has been the
cause of my living abroad"
Who was Louise. then? And why
should the mention of her name-have
killed my father" She covered her
face with her hands, and gave way
gently To her tears. He waited a few
moments until she regained her com
posure
There are turned down pages in
n q
and in the lives Of some women. An
other time | shall tell you the his
tory of Louise, and let you judge me
II You will. But I swear to You now
as though ! stood I'm the presence of
God. that / did not lead her of by
means of a mock MARRIAGE did mott
! GU may not understand it, but there
are times when the man is not alone
TO blame in these matters He is in
yolved through his chivalry; and in
trying to protect a woman he some
times ruins both the woman and him
self. l have sinned, but if you knew
how l suffered YOU would pity, not
blame me. Complete reparation was
impossible-but | have done my best:
and to-day my life Is as free from
evil as most mems"
In no other way could Holbin have
so touched the girls heart. At the
moment she did pity him. Recent
scenes in her own life rose before
her as he had spoken She turned
to him. generous and impulsivc
Forgive me if ] have misjudged
YOU" The words surprised and
alarmed her. He was not slow TO see
his opportunity and take advantage
of it,
IF you misjudged me. il was nat
ural; for never was man Saorc un-
fortunately situated 10 achieve the
dearest wish of his heart than / am"
Your dearest wish" she began.
The wish to make you my wife
Frances; YOU will think it a very nat
ural wish under the circumstances
surrounding us. I am afraid and vet
whatever may have been my mothers
interest in your fathers will, + knew
nothing whatever Of it. WHY. I have
been here a few weeks only. And
DO you suppose for ono moment that
] could share in any property extort-
ed from YOU by such strange circum-
stances? / am not the heir. If YOU
refuse to marry me. but i may heip
you, and ! will. Ny dear girl. upon
the day you are 81 if am sure that
YOU do not wish 10 take your property
with the cncumbrancc of a husband. T
shall in writing decline TO marry
you"
"Oh. Mr.. Holbin!"
For the rest-this miserable mvs-
tery-you arc answered already. Z
I believed that you were in any way
compromised. | would not admit that
1 love you"
please! please do not"
Il could not even remain I'm this
city and doubt you. But rs u man
who has seen many q woman the
innocent victim of mistakes and bad
advice, / am bound TO use every on