Newport daily independent., 1902-10-29

he declared, discontentedly, following her.
 T have tried not My only safe guard lies in being deaf to every sound of your voice. Ah." turning suddenly toward him, and fixing her dry, miserable eyes on his, what made you do it? Why could you not have left me in peace in"
 Not happiness" he, said, swiftly. across her words.
 Not? You are remembering that l was foolish enough to resent lit- tie dull monotony. What is that empty years to come? Were there no other women--women whose hearts have passed through so many storms that they have lost the power of feeling keenly-upon whom you could practice your sophistries? Were there not"
 Tt was because you were so un- 1 like all other women I had ever known that I was first attracted to you. It was because in your half- naughty indifference you appeared l to me so alluringly unassailable that the desire grew within me to be he who should pierce the armor of your chilly reserve till it lay broken and useless at your feet. It was be- cause l knew your heart to be un- | touched by passion that I longed to stir within it thoughts of love. It was because you were so sweet, so true, so pure, so innocent, that"
 For your sport you have laid waste my whole life.'
 The words. gently spoken, shamed him as no bitter reproach could have done.
 At frst,' he admitted, the slow color rising to and then receding from his face, "in wanton careless ness I played a game so familiar to me. only on different lines. And then it became earnest; so desperately, painfully earnest! l ought to have drawn back, but l could not! It is so seldom a man resists his inclnations! And then I forgot everything; at least 1 shut out remembrance. For the first time I grew ashamed of my
 
 your side. when I should be raised by the influence of your pure love to your level-ah not''-as she shook her head sadly in the worlds eyes, perhaps. because it never can or will understand; but in yours, in mine, away, apart from everyone!"
 He went on vehemently, noting the growing pallor of her cheeks.
 T deserve every reproach from you I''
 'But that is the worst of it." she interrupted, coming nearer to him and resting her cold hands half ab- sently on his breast 1T cannot re- proach you-I don't want to. Don't you see that it is an awful battle be- tween my love for you and my deter mination to put you out of my life altogether? And I am so fearful lest it should be a one-sided fight-lest the victory should lie with the one it should not. Can't you understand? I have no heart, no mind, that is not dominated by you. There is only just the certainty that in that future of which you speak, you. forgetting that you had dragged me down, would learn to despise me, too! That alone goads my spirit to right doing. To all else I am blinded by my love-that love which makes all you say and do seem good in my eyes.
 'T was so proud to be no longer myself, but only yours; now l know I must be forever-no ones! And I may live" her voice rising to little unconscious wall, $50 more years!"
 He pressed her face down on his heart, that he might not see the agony in her eyes.
 What. then. do you mean to do?" he asked "'ro--leave you now-at once Don't" with light laugh that had a sob in it. tempt me to stay!'
 There was something in her voice which told him argument would be useless, and with a hopeless sigh he 1 let his arms fall to his sides and left her free.
 There was dead silence, save for the ticking of the clock, which sound 1 ed unusually loud. He felt, rather than saw. that she reached the door. It opened. then closed--and still she was not gone She was coming to- ward him. She had not strength to % after all. he thought, while wild, | fl,sa