Waterbury Democrat., 1901-03-01
SOLD BY ALL DRUGGISTS.

an old acquaintance. Do you believe me when 1 say so:'' Stuart spoke straight on and waited her answer steadily.
 Yes; I believe you," said Rhena quietly.
 'Then you believe me when I say love you? You"-
 "Yes; I believe-I think you are 8 true man. but what you ask is impossi- ble.'
 Stuart controlled himself. He felt that whatever tine crisis might be which now faced him he must be mas ter of himself. It began to grow upon him that perhaps he had not yet won the love of this rarely strong and beau tiful woman, as it should be bis.
 "NNhy impossible:' he asked, with a gentleness and calmness that surpris- ed himself
 We live in separate worlds" re- piled Rhena, with an answering calm ness that was possibly as surprising to her. T have cut myself purposely and for always from the life once lived. l have no wish to re-enter it. I have chosen my life work. It is work so different from that of society and the world of which you are part that to go back to your world would be to turn traitor to all my deepest and best con- victions. It is impossible that 1 should be again as I 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, palatal in its form and size.
 But 1 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 I am what I am outwardly? I loathe the forms and scltishness and heartlass- ness of society as deeply as you do. I would give anything to be other than am at this moment. If it is simply that which keeps you from
 He could not finish. It was signifi- cant to her that he had not ventured 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.
 T believe you see the cause of hu- manity as I see it, MT. Duncan. 1 have believed it since that night in the hall when you told me the story of your conversion. It was so like my own eX- pcrience that 1 was startled by it. I went home from q gay party a few years ago. I was awakened by q voice. I saw and heard the divine messenger. I went out from my fathers house the next day an outcast from kin and friends, and I have never regretted it. But the gulf between you and me is deep one, even with this common ex- pcrience. If I were to become your wife"-Rhena spoke the word with diff ficulty--''it would be at the expense of the life of service I have chosen. It would be-
 She broke off as if afraid to trust her voice. Stuart would not even then take advantage of her emotion to look at her. His gaze was still down the valley.
 "Is our Christian faith nothing as a common basis for q common work to- gether? Can we not do more thus than to go our own ways alone:' he asked, and his heart was hungry for the love of her, and still he would not take what she did not yet have to give.
 Rhena answered quietly: T cannot. It is not for ne to thank you for the greatest honor good man can give q woman. l am unworthy of it.''
 'No. no.' Stuart cried at last turning to her. "I love you. Let me say it even if it may be for the last time" And then ne did what he had not thought of doing when he began. But he faced the possibility of an answer ing love in this woman, and he longeo for her too much to leave the matter without fully showing her his heart.
 He took Rhena's glove from his pock- ct, the glove he had picked up on the trail that night. "Sec.' he cried, as he showed it to her. T p? ?sscd along this path one night, and it was q night of great beauty to me. I found you lying over there close by the mouth of that pit. I caught you up and carried you down to safety. And for little while you were mine in my hearts thought, and you could not say me nay.'' His voice broke in sob. A man can sob only under certain emotions. Stuart had never felt that before.
 As for Rhena, she caught her breath and then stood pale and still. ssThey told me Dr. Saxon brought me in. Why did they not tell me the ttaith? Why did he not tell me? owe you my life. 7 !: II Maa both . l1&stlQn and atAte.