Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-09-12
heaK. the indignant ejaculation.

had fallen in love with YOU
WITH you and the idea of your being
here. 1 couldn't have anybody else at
Bent, and I had to have you. 1t was
impossible for me to turn you out. 1
don't think it would have been gentle
manly"
1T was more gentlemanly to marry
me on false pretenses?"
We'll, perhaps not, but form of
| ungentlemanliness less repulsive to
me-O, just to me personally.
don't know whether you quite under
stand yet why | gave up Blent to you.
Just the same feeling has made me
do this-with the addition, of course,
that I'm more in love with you now"
Il don't believe it, or you'd have
trusted me-trusted my love foryou."
I've trusted it enormously-trusted
it to forgive me this deceit"
IF you had come and told me-"
| AT the very best you'd have taken
months"
"And you couldn't wait for me-"
| well, waitings thing l detest."
20, I've made up my mind" she de-
clared. Il shall go back to town to-
night
mo, no, that's not it. Harry did
|
stood. IF we can't agree, &c hack
to town-not you kept my f1y.
you needn't make fun of it, any,
how"
I'm not. I'm quite serious. You
stay here; | go away. | accept this
post abroad-the arbitration business.
I've got to send an answer about it
tomorrow"
mo, 1 shall go. I'm resolved upon
it. | won't stay here"
; "Then we must shut the place up or
pull it down. said Harry. ut will
/ look absurd. but-we never consider
the neighbors." For the first time. he
seemed vexed. 81 did count on your
staying here he exclaimed.
Il can never forgive you for deceiv-
ing me-
You said you wouldn't let your
| pride stand between us"
Its not my pride. lists the
revelation of what you are and what
you'll stoop to do. to gain"
What have l gained YETI" he ask
ed. only what you choose to give
me now"
She looked at him for moment.
The little scene in the corridor up
stairs came back to her. So that was
the meaning of it!
1--WE taken your freedom from you.
That's true. In return I've given you
Blent. | did the best | could"
20, do you really delude yourself
like that? What you did was utter
selfshness"
Harry sighed. They We're not get
ting on prosperously.
VERY WE'LL he said. we'll agree
on that. There's been a revelation of
what | am. 1 DON'T distinctly don't
justify myself 1t was lie, fraud
Yes" said Cecily, in low, but en-
phatic assent.
i gained your consent by trick,
when you ought to have been free to
give or refuse it. I admit it all"
And it has brought us to this
She rose as she spoke, picture of in
dlgnation. There's no use talking
any more about it," said she.
He looked at her long and deliber-
|ately, He seemed to weigh something
in his mind, to ask whether he should
or Should not say something.
And you conclude that the sort OF
4 person 4 am isn't fit to live with?" he
asked at last.
I've told you what I've made up
/
! you stay or go, too. But I'm going
] away from here, and going alone"
Because I'm that sort of person"
Eyes, if you like to put it that way,
yes"
Very we'll But before you go, a
word about you. Sit down, please"
She obeyed his rather imperative GEES
ture. I've been meek he smiled.
I've admitted all you said about me.
And now, please, a word about you"
about me? What is there to say
about me? o, you're going back to
that old story about my pride again!"
Once more he looked long at her
face. 1t was flushed and rebellious;
it gave no sign of yielding to any wea-
pom that he had yet employed
Tn not going to speak of your
pride. but of your incredible mean
ness" said he.
What cried Cecily, rudely start
led and sitting bolt upright.
There's no harm in plain speaking,
since were going to part of your ex-
ltraordlnary meanness, Cecily- and
really it's not generally fault of the
Tristrams."
Perhaps you'll explain yourself"
she said, relapsing into cold disdain
and leaning back again.
Il will | mean to. Just look at
the history of the whole affair" He
rose and stood opposite her, con-
straining her to look at him, although
he'd attitude professed lofty indif-
ference. Here was lin possession!
| was safe. l knew l was safe was
as convinced of my safety as I am
even now-when it's beyond question.
Was | frightened? Ask Nina. Ask
Duplay. Then you came. You know
what / did. For your sake, because
YOU We're what you are, because had
begun to love you-yes, that's the
truth of i'll gave it all to you. Not
this place only, but all | had. Even
my name-eyen my right to bear any
name. Nobody and nameless / went
out of this house for you"
He paused little, took place on
| the grass, and returned to her.
| What ought you to have felt, what
ought you to have prayed, them" he
asked. Surely. that it should come
back to me, that it should be mine
again.
|