The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1901-08-22

care; and I did not. until you came.
But did then. And that IL why cried.
Somehow, / felt that In spite of all at
stake, IL ought not TO have happened
this way"
~ understand. But in my estimation,
my child. you have sacrificed nothing"
"You did not think o-but--but-"
He took up the thought.
But you are grieved because YOU
are saying: Now here Is gentleman
who, l have suddenly discovered, I
wish TO respect me for myself, and as
a refined, modest girl; and what must
he think Of one who is willing to be
locked up here in n room with him all
night the girl caught her breath
and half rose from her chair" and for
what? cannot even tell him. am
bound not to tell him. / must sit by
and see him sacrifice himself to friend
ship!'"
"Oh. sir. do you think" She bent
forward suddenly and, hiding her face
in her hands, rested them upon his
knees. He placed his own hand lightly
upon her head and wondered II u were
treason to have discovered that her
hair was mass OF curls and clustering
ringlets.
"That is only what you were saying
to yourself. not what ] am thinking.
When ] called you child absolyed you
from all the crimes OF womanhood.
There are many actions that flow nat
urally from childish hearts which carry
not the slightest flavor Of immodesty;
and yet woman may not copy them.
So in this. my young friend"
"Ah. you do not say my child now!"
"No. you have passed into woman
hood with the consciousness OF this
error. I say error, because II is a sit
uation that you should not have been
placed in-no. not TO save human life
not even 10 save your own; for the
unscarred whiteness of woman's soul
is the priceless pearl OF eternity. and
not to be staked on earth. But the
thought behind IL all was not your own.
You yielded under the pressure OF
fear and advice. Your objections were
overcome. and you obeyed an elder per-
son in whom you had implicit conf
dence. That is all. and I understand. !"
"Then they did not tell you about
mel" she whispered, breathlessly.
mo; you have told me all that know
OF you, here in the dark. You are ten.
der, modest, true and pure; and were
you my wife in truth. would not be
ashamed TO tell this story to the world
myself and own you as such after"
The words fell from his lips so tender
ly. 40 kindly. she took his hand in both
OF hers. and laid her face upon It, cry
ing silently.
"The blame Of II all is on our friend
the doctor" he continued, deeply
touched. and his voice little unsteady
What a tumultuous, headlong. hurri
cane sort OF fellow he is! There is no
blame for you: for look, 10 am here
how could you have resisted him? And
IL is only his judgment that was al
fault. after all--only his judgment
Why. n truer heart never beat thar
IIrodnar's."
Would II offend you II ask a ques
,ion?' She had waited for composure
and now did not lift her head.
why, no, of course"
"lou are right sure?'
Right sure
"Then. how could any gentleman
consent TO he placed in such position
as yours? You must have known how
embarrassing IL was to be for me-" Hi
asst inclination was TO whistle out hi
istonshment, but he restrained him
self.
"You forget. my child see you have
backslided into childhood-you forge
that in the first place ] was appealed 4
in behalf Of woman and no gentleman
may resist that. And then had no rea
son to suspect that ! was TO marry
girl. II might have been an expert
enced widow. Indeed"
But you are glad il wasn't, are yot
not?" she asked, anxiously.
ayes. my child"
"Does my question then indicate tha
am child?"
"les. my child"
81 don't see why"
because YOU are still--a child" Sh,
was not satisfied.
MIR. Somers. I want you TO thin
i
well Of me always, and the thought iha
may meet YOU sometime doesn't em
harrass me now. IL would not emba I
rass me II ! did meet you-eyen II
should meet you tomorrow. But wis
YOU to know all about me. and ! am &c
ing to tell you everything from the be
. | ginning
NO. indeed. YOU shall not he said
quickly. She lifted her head. startled
"Why motif ! choose? ! am no
afraid to trust you"
"No! no! Miss Frances"
"Ah, am woman again!"
"Yes, a woman of charm 50 swee
and a heart so true that Richard Sou
! ers must arm himself. Not your honor
but mine, the honor Of your husband
is at stake, and you promised to regar
that always"
"And I shall, sir; only tell me how.
"Why, ! have promised my friend no
to seek 10 find out, or permit anyon
to tell me anything about you. ] ma
,, not let even you inform me. You mus
not"
She was silent, disturbed. and won
'lerlng at his intense earnestnoss.
Then she said, in awe at the mysier
Of II all; "When we part tonight "
are TO meet as friends no more? Yo
may never take my hand in yours an
speak kindly to me again? oh, sir, yo
, do not know, you do not know wha
= your tenderness has done for the girl
no, the woman you call child. Yo
h do not know what ID Is to have misse